Bond realizes it’s fun, too, to see how far you can hit it. She admits her favorite shot to play is the big club off the tee. “I just love to hit my driver,” she says. But when it comes to scoring, those little shots can make a big difference. Sealing victory at the Massachusetts Open meant sinking a 5-footer. Bond doesn’t remember it going in, but undoubtedly she remembers practicing all the short shots that led up to the opportunity.

Bond first picked up a club at age 8, and her goals in the game kept getting larger with each success. “I played junior golf to play college golf to turn professional,” says Bond, who never had a doubt about pursuing a career in the game. Bond teed it up for her high school team in Delray Beach, Florida and then made the team at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She went on to play the Futures Tour and Florida Mini Tours, and eventually earned her membership in the PGA. “Golf was always in my family,” says Bond, “but I was never pushed. I just really enjoyed the sport.”

Bond shares her enthusiasm for the game every day with golfers of all abilities on the lesson tee. Most new students tell Bond that it’s great to be able to take lessons from a woman. Bond is currently the only female Head PGA Professional in Rhode Island. Students are often initially curious about Bond’s playing experience, wondering if she is allowed to compete in the PGA Section events. With the small talk out of the way, Bond gets down to business and turns the attention to the student’s game. “I try to keep the lessons simple and fun,” says Bond. “I let students know that they can learn things at their own pace and make progress based on how much time they’re also willing to put in on their own.”

Evidence of success for Bond’s students has come in the form of lower scores and handicaps as well as better ball striking and accuracy. But even more meaningful was the success felt by an older gentleman Bond had been working with. “He cried at the end of a series of lessons because I had done so much for his self-esteem,” recalls Bond. “I got him to like the game. He said I spoke with ease and made it easy for him to learn. It got him out in the fresh air, and he and his wife now play together.” Bond has helped countless students enjoy the game more, either through improved skills or refreshed confidence. She enjoys teaching because it allows her to meet so many different people who want to get more out of the game. “When my students come back with their results, it’s really great to see how far they’ve come,” says Bond.

With a full teaching schedule and active family life, Bond doesn’t get a lot of time to practice her own game. But when chances to play present themselves, Bond prefers the Misquamicut Club in Rhode Island. She also enjoys playing the Wellesley Country Club where she was formerly a teaching professional. Traveling to play golf would likely involve gathering up the kids and hopping a plane to Disney. A five-year resident of Hope Valley, Rhode Island, Bond shares her home there with husband, Christopher, and children Lindsey (7) and Christina (4). Family pets include two Golden Retrievers (Molson and Rock) and two cats (Labatts and O’Douls).

Bond has a few superstitions about her game when teeing it up in competition. She dons a new outfit for any major event, usually black and white, and only plays a #4 ball (tribute to Bobby Orr). Upon reaching the green, Bond will always mark her ball with a nickel, heads up. Whenever she runs into trouble out on the course, Bond simply tells herself to take one shot at a time. “Suck it up!” she says, “You can do this!”

A confessed “Martha Stewart wannabe,” Bond makes time for fun stuff around the house with her kids, but you can bet you’ll have her full attention on the lesson tee. Drop her an e-mail at CSLCBOND@AOL.COM to find out more about how you can improve your short game and enjoy better golf. Thanks, Susan!