Harford’s Journey to LPGA Tour Bolstered by Longtime Myrtle Beach Roots

With Classic Swing Golf School’s Ted Frick her mentor for the past 13 years, Haylee Harford has now achieved her lifelong goal of reaching the LPGA Tour. Join us for an in-depth conversation with Haylee and Ted on the preparation involved in getting to this point, the LPGA and PGA TOUR players whose games she most tries to emulate, and the ambitious goals Haylee has set for her rookie season in 2022.

 

 

Haylee Harford:

Yeah, it’s a dream come true, honestly. Since I started the game at five years old, it’s something me and my dad have always had our eyes set on. So to finally reach this is super exciting and I’m not sure if it’s even set in yet.

Speaker 2:

As you’ve had a chance to reflect since December, when you officially got your LPGA Tour card, what have been the biggest hurdles physically and mentally that you’ve had to clear in order to reach the highest level?

Haylee Harford:

Yeah, it’s been tough. I think the biggest thing is the lifestyle adjustment and just getting used to traveling and scheduling each week and going from one location to the next. I know on the Symetra Tour, some of the locations we’re at are very remote and just figuring out that week how to manage the golf course and what to do outside of golfing and how to best prepare for each week and stay mentally strong and physically taking care of your body. For me, that’s just been the adjustment and learning how to do that and learning from other girls as well.

Speaker 2:

Now the two of you have worked together now going on 12 years, I believe?

Haylee Harford:

At least.

Ted Frick:

Yeah. I think it’s 13. It’s 12 or 13, so that’s a good number, yep.

Speaker 2:

13 years. So this question really is for both of you, we’ll start with you, Haylee. When you think about your progression from junior golf to college golf, becoming a professional to now reaching the LPGA Tour, give us a sense of the scope and intensity of the off-course preparation that was involved, the practice that was involved get to this point.

Haylee Harford:

Yeah. I mean, it changes I feel like at every level of play. Growing up in junior golf, I played other sports as well and just tried to enjoy it and was traveling and enjoying the game. And then once I got to college, it got a little more serious, but at the same time, you’re managing your studies on top of golf. So your days kind of revolved around both. But when I really hit that into professional golf, I mean every day became, “This is my job, now this is my career.” And I’m thankful for that, but just managing like, “Okay, how many hours am I going to practice? How many hours am I going to train?” And that’s been the biggest thing I think.

Ted Frick:

Yeah. The intensity level I think at each stage, though, I think it was always about our plan. In junior golf, it was like, in order to get recognized nationally, she had to do the AJGA schedule. So it was always about scheduling. And then once she got recognized at the college level, it was about your junior year that you decided you were going to take on professional golf? Junior year of college.

Haylee Harford:

Yeah, I’ve always had my sight set on playing professionally. I think the biggest thing is growing up, everyone always tells you like, “Hey, you need to have a backup plan, not everybody makes it.” And for me, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do, but it wasn’t until junior year that I was like, “Okay, forget all this other talk. This is what I’m going to do.” And I really just kind of hit the ground running with it.

Ted Frick:

Yeah, that’s when we’ve had to bring in like investors and investment groups and the money that we’re going to go through. So I keep on saying, I mean, it’s been about the plan that we put together. So now she wakes up every day and has a plan for each and every day. So we’re just trying to work the plan and it gets more intense.

Speaker 2:

Haylee, you’ve always had the goal since you were a little kid, Ted, you’ve had probably the closest front row seat of anyone in gauging that progression from the start of that goal to where you’re at today. At what point for you as an instructor did it really sink in for you that, “Hey, we’re really on something here where we’re really going to get to this level”?

Ted Frick:

Well, I would say early on, though, like at the age of 12 or 13. So you can see a ball striker. She’s a ball striker and that’s her gift. It was about getting her into more intense levels to see how she handles that situation, the pressure. Then you find out she has the attitude, she does not quit, she has the drive. So I saw it very early on. It’s just been a matter of getting there. I mean, and that’s where that, the two years on the Symetra Tour, the adversities and the challenges and she overcame that. So we’re really looking forward to this year, one year at a time. But I saw it very early on.

Speaker 2:

Haylee, when you think about the players, some of the big names in golf both past and present, who are the ones today who come to mind when you think of those golfers whose style of play and preparation you would most like to emulate?

Haylee Harford:

Yeah. I mean, right now, just looking at the LPGA Tour, Nelly Korda last year, she had an amazing year. So I look at all aspects of her game and I’m like, “Okay, how do I get to her level of play?” I mean, she’s won numerous events last year and just admiring different aspects of her game and how she trains and each week how she handles herself, that’s definitely something I would work towards. And I think it’s nice to look back at old players as well, and look at their styles of game and how the game has progressed. And one person we’ve been looking at is Seve Ballesteros and his short game, and just the art that he did around the greens. And that’s something that going into this next level of play, I think my wedges are a huge thing for me to keep working on and get better at.

Ted Frick:

Yeah, and I would throw Adam Scott in there.

Haylee Harford:

I do like Adam.

Ted Frick:

I mean, over the years, as a great ball striker. Again, some of the players, they have certain gifts – putter, wedges, ball striking. She came out of the gates as a ball striker. The other areas are just a complete learning experience. So what we do is we do research, we read, we watch to videos, we learn from other teachers and how other players are practicing and we’re trying to learn from the greats. As far as we’re concerned, we think Seve had the best wedge in his hand at that time. So, oh yeah.

Speaker 2:

Haylee, how would you ultimately define success in your rookie season on tour, and define your or ultimate goals for 2022?

Haylee Harford:

Yeah. I’m definitely setting my goals high. I know I have what it takes to play with all the best on the LPGA Tour. So coming from this year, I’m looking at wins, I’m looking at playing in majors and possibly winning majors. I definitely know I have what it takes and I just want to keep working until I can get there.

Ted Frick:

Yeah, she’s ready. So it was about getting here, like we said, and it was tough, just a lot of adversities, but that’s where we learned. So it’s still going to be the same thing. I mean, we have starting out the season, we’re going to have to qualify to get into events. Once we get into events, it’s like, “What are we going to do once we’re there?” She is ready so we’re preparing, that’s it.