Brody already shining on Michigan high school golf stage as she heads towards pro dreams
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (BVM) — Kate Brody is still in the midst of just her second high school golf season. But she is already more accomplished than most of the golfers she is competing against, and has lofty goals as she continues her golf career.
Brody has been around golf her entire life, which has been in large part due to her family’s background in the sport. Both of Brody’s parents work at Warwick Hills Country Club, a course she has been around her entire life. Although she also played basketball, volleyball and soccer, while additionally competing in swimming and track in her youth, Brody was destined for a life in golf.
“My whole family golfs, so it is in my blood,” Brody said. “But growing up at a golf course where my parents worked, I had access to playing at such an early age. I always had so much fun when I was at the golf course, it was my favorite place to be. The environment at my home course was so fun and just a great place to spend my summer days.”
But Brody’s family history in the sport goes beyond just growing up around a golf course. Her mom, Jenn, grew up in the Upper Peninsula, with limited practice and playing opportunities. Yet, she developed into a star on the links, playing college golf at Michigan State University, and later becoming a professional golfer for seven years — which included a stint on the LPGA Tour. For Kate, her mom’s success story is something to look up to.
“I really want to be just like her when I grow up, in every way,” Kate said about her mom. “She is very supportive and understands everything that I go through when I’m playing golf, whether it is good or bad. It is truly inspiring how successful she has been in the game of golf, not coming from much. That just shows me how hard work and making the best out of the situation you are given in life can make anything possible.”
Meanwhile, Kate’s dad, Doug, was destined for a career in golf early on in his life as well, studying golf management at Ferris State University. Years later, he became PGA Head Professional at Warwick Hills Country Club, giving his family the opportunity to grow in the sport.
Kate’s younger brother has done just that as well. At just 13 years old, he is also emerging on the golf scene. The siblings often compete against each other, which pushes both of them to work harder and become better.
Kate began playing junior golf at Warwick Hills at age 5, and it wasn’t before long that she knew she had a special talent on the links. In the 10 years she’s played in the club’s junior championship, she won it an astounding eight times.
By the time she was 11, Kate began playing in competitive tournaments outside of just the junior club championships. After a year of doing so, Kate knew golf was her sport.
“After about a year of playing competitively, I realized that golf was my thing,” Kate said. “I knew that I was talented and good at it, and that golf is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
The 16-year-old became an instant star in her first season playing at Grand Blanc High School last fall. Kate would post an impressive season scoring average of 73.7, winning five of seven tournaments that she played in. In fact, she even came from behind to win the first prep tournament of her career, a pleasant surprise for the golf star.
“I was not expecting to win as many tournaments as I did,” Kate said. “Especially my first one, where there was great competition. I was two strokes back of the lead going into the second day of my first tournament, shot 71, and ended up winning by three. I was extremely happy and very proud of myself. It was a great way to start my freshman season.”
Kate’s impressive season would only keep getting better, as the freshman placed third individually at state, while helping her team to a fourth place overall finish. After her spectacular season, Kate was named Saginaw Valley League MVP.
The Grand Blanc sophomore is proud of her overall accomplishments last season. But like all great athletes, she believes there is even more she could have achieved, and remains hungry for further success.
“I was hoping to win state and get Miss Golf, but I came up just short of both,” Kate said. “I was disappointed with how I played the second day of state, but getting third as a freshman was a good accomplishment for me. Winning an individual state title is a dream of mine. It would feel so great to win, while representing my team and school, and I’m glad I still have three more years to accomplish my goals.”
The standout golfer credits the mental part of her game as perhaps her best asset on the golf course. Never getting too high or low is important for Kate, but it is hard to not get excited about what she has in store for the future.
As a sophomore this fall, Kate has improved her overall scoring average to 71.6, and 34.7 for nine hole rounds. She has already won four events on the year, and has shot 67 at two different tournaments, something she is rightfully very proud of.
Kate hopes she and her team can keep the success going and make a postseason run. She has already checked off one of her season goals, which was to have a scoring average under par. Her other goals include winning two things she came up just short of last season — a state championship and a Miss Golf honor.
Despite the success, the 2020 fall golf season in Michigan and around the country has had a different feel this year due to COVID-19. For Kate, it’s been tough to lose part of the team aspect of the sport due to the virus.
“It’s a bummer with all of the rules and regulations,” Kate said about this year’s season. “We can’t do a lot of things as a team, and we can’t even take our team van. We also haven’t been able to have awards after tournaments. I understand why everything is the way it is, but I still do not like it.”
This season isn’t the first time Kate has had her golf career affected by Covid. Last year, the impressive sophomore qualified for the Drive, Chip & Putt national finals, scheduled to be held at Augusta National this past April. With the Masters postponed, it will now be held next April, but that hasn’t made Kate any less excited for the opportunity.
“I am so excited to get a chance to go compete at Augusta,” Kate said. “It is such a beautiful place and I cannot wait to go. Since it is only a total of 6 shots, I am going to have to be on it right then and there, which is going to be tough. But I think if I can control my nerves, focus, and get locked in, winning is definitely a possibility.”
Kate had been previously trying to qualify for the finals at Augusta for four years, and in her fifth and final year, finally made it.
But the Drive, Chip & Putt competition will not be Kate’s first major golf experience. In 2019, the 16-year-old took home three Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) championships, winning the GAM Junior Kickoff, the GAM Girls Junior-Am stroke play, and the 14 & Under match play championship.
This past summer, Kate won the Michigan Junior PGA Championship, with rounds of 72 and 71. The victory would have qualified her for the National Junior PGA Championship in St. Port Lucie, Fla., but that event was unfortunately canceled as well this year.
With all her incredible success at such a young age, Kate is already catching the attention of many college golf programs. While she is still keeping her options open on who she might want to play for someday, Kate will seek a program that feels like a perfect fit, and also pushes her to be better, on and off the course.
But Kate’s ultimate dream ever since she began playing competitive golf was to follow in her mom’s footsteps, and become an LPGA Tour player. She may only be a high school sophomore, but Kate has already put together an impressive resume. If she continues on the pace she is at, her dream just might come true.
“Ever since I started playing in competitive tournaments, I knew the LPGA was a dream of mine,” Kate concluded. “Golf is a big commitment and a very time consuming sport. To play it for a living, you need to be extremely dedicated and in love with the game. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication, but anything is possible when you put your mind to it and believe in the beauty of your dreams. I think that the possibilities are endless, and if I keep working hard, I believe the sky is the limit for me.”
