Sunny mornings on the course, bus-ride laughs and a tight-knit roster have defined senior Taylor McKenzie’s time in Ardmore girls’ golf. “To improve my game and have fun!” McKenzie said of her priorities this season.
She said the dynamic inside Ardmore girls’ golf makes that possible. “There are only five of us, and we’re all pretty close, which fosters a really positive atmosphere.”
Short-game work sits at the center of their goals. “Our biggest goal is to improve our short game,” she said. “My favorite way to practice our putting is by playing a game called Poison. The game requires you to make putts at two separate holes, then knock out the other players to be the last one standing. I love it because it’s a fun way to get the whole team involved.”
In the lineup, she has earned a prominent spot and title. “Team captain and 1st/2nd bag,” she said. On the tee, she looks for ways to lean on others’ familiarity. “I always let someone else hit first off the tee box,” McKenzie said. “Especially if I am fortunate enough to be playing with a girl whose home course we are playing at.”
McKenzie said she is far more concerned with how people feel around her than with any score. “I want to be remembered as a good leader who made everyone feel included,” she said. “I never want someone to think of me and say, ‘oh she wasn’t very nice to me’ or ‘she made me feel bad about myself.’”
Her go-to song before a round is a classic. “Heartache Tonight by the Eagles,” McKenzie said.
One trip stands out as a favorite memory. “We went to a conference tournament in Poteau last year,” she said. “We stayed in a hotel as a team, and we had a lot of fun. The course was very beautiful as well. I got to play with one of my teammates, which just made the day better.”
Off the course, she stays deeply involved at school and beyond. “I am also involved in pom as a captain. I am student council senior class president, Leaflets president, National Honors Society treasurer, and in the ACE program. I dance at SC Dance in their company. After high school, I will attend the University of Oklahoma and major in aviation – professional flight.”
