Megan Ratcliffe Keeps Golf All In The Family
Robert Ratcliffe Couldn't Be Happier To Caddy For Daughter Megan At The BC Women's Amateur At Duncan Meadows. While Megan Would Miss The Cut, It Was Still A Great Two Days For Father And Daughter - Image Credit Alfie Lau
by Alfie Lau
When your dad is the National Development Squad Lead Coach for Golf Canada, a role which has him work with Canada’s top junior golfers, it would seemingly be hard for 16-year-old Megan Ratcliffe to carve her own golf identity.
But for the opening rounds of the British Columbia Golf Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur at Duncan Meadows, there was Robert Ratcliffe looping for his daughter. “I’m just being a supportive dad, trying to help Megan wherever I can,” said Ratcliffe. “It’s been a lot of fun and it gives me a different purpose this week.”
While Megan would narrowly miss the cut of her first BC Women’s Amateur by one stroke – her 161 (+17) total included rounds of 81 and 80 – father and daughter wouldn’t change a thing about the quality time spent together on the golf course. “It’s nice to have him out with me,” said Megan. “He’s really good at challenging me. Every time he caddies for me, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Megan is slight and still growing, so that means that while she hits her driver straight, she’s giving up yards to other competitors. “I think she’ll have to work on her strength and get into the weight room,” said Robert. “When you see the other girls 20 or 30 yards past you, that means that you have to find some more length.”
Megan agreed: “I hit my driver really well and I hit a lot of fairways, but I’m also hitting first on my seconds. As for the caddy-player relationship, Robert said his job is just to focus his player and make sure she has the right club and yardage for each shot. “There’s no teaching on the course,” he said. “Sometimes, there’s a quick reminder of some fundamentals, but I’m just a caddy on the course for Megan.”
The Ratcliffes call Bowser home, and with Megan being home schooled, that leaves a lot of time for her to work on her golf game. And surprisingly enough, the passion for the game comes from within Megan.
“All her mother and I asked of her was to give golf a try,” said Robert. “We put no pressure on her, but once she started golfing, she’s been passionate about it. You have to remember, I don’t have the time to take her to the course with my Team Canada duties so it’s Megan who wants to go to the course, it’s Megan who’s always working on her game.”
“I’m having fun and doing what I want to do,” said Megan. “Sure, I feel some pressure because of who my dad is, but the pressure has never come from my mom and dad.”
Megan will tee it up again at the British Columbia Junior Girls Championship at Cordova Bay this week, while Robert is flying off to Wichita, Kansas for some teaching responsibilities. Don't be surprised to see Ratcliffe back cheering his daughter on in the later rounds of the BC Junior Girls at Cordova Bay.
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