b'Lady HypeGOLF IDAHOby Amber Balbas mind, so I was all in. IGA Board MemberAfter four hours of trying to get this EVERYONE HAS something theyball into the hole 18 could call their passion.times without having That thing that people thinkan aneurysm or throwing of when they hear your name.anything, while the For me, its golf. I dontmens golf team observed love many things more than theand laughed (a lot, Im gift of this game.sure), I fully expected Whether I am watching it,that to be the last time playing it, or learning aboutI visited a golf course. it, golf brings me so much joy.Ive learned so many In fact, the word has becometimes though that my so synonymous with my name thatplan is usually far people are often shocked todifferent than what God learn that I have not been ahas planned. Amber, we golfer my whole life, not evenare starting a womens in high school.golf team here at Corban I was born into softballAmber Balbas University. We would and about every other teamlike you to be the first sport my dad could get meplayer and if youre in. These sports taught me to bethird base for my college softballinterested and your softball competitive and tough as nailsteam, I endured a terriblecoach gives the okay, wed also (physically am still working onshoulder injury that resulted inlike you to be the team captain. the mental part), never give in,surgery. I was told I wouldntThose were the words out of Coach keep my chin up, and always be thebe able to throw from third as ISislers mouth after that round loudest voice out there.could before, so my scholarship(and no, it wasnt a joke I I loved softball and all thatand roster status would likelyasked. multiple times). came with it. I wasnt always thedisappear. In desperation to atI slept on it, prayed about it, team MVP, but I was consistentlyleast get my swing back, I triedand before I knew it, I had a set the girl who received the mostall sorts of rehab.of King Cobra golf clubs, multiple encouraging, or spirit ofLooking to help, a friend onfancy polos, a bag with my name the game, or warrior awardthe mens golf team invited meon it, and soon, four other girls every year. I was known as theout to the driving range to tryexpecting me to lead the way to, ultimate hype girl. Even off theto swing his golf clubs to easewell, I wasnt really sure where field, you could find me at everyback into it, hopeful that maybeyou go with golf, but I just knew track meet screaming the loudest,I could at least bat. After a fewthat we were going and we would at every soccer game waving ourtimes out there, I was asked ifhave some big smiles on our faces!school flag, and at all those pepI wanted to play a round with theBeing new to the college golf assemblies being the No. 1 fan ofteam (all boys at the time andscene, I didnt know how tournaments every athlete there.their coach). I had no clue what Ioperated or even what the proper In my freshman year playingwas doing, but they didnt seem toetiquette was. l did know that 6 GOLF IDAHO|SEPT 2024'