Titleist Order of Merit awarded to new mother

Christina Proteau of Port Alberni played the 2014 season while expecting her first child.

On March 28, 2015, ten amateur golfers from across B.C. were honoured with the Titleist Order of Merit at the British Columbia Golf annual general meeting. The awards recognize top-performing amateur and junior golfers across British Columbia who have achieved success in the golf season. One of the winners for the 2014 season was Christina Spence Proteau of Port Alberni, who golfed the 2014 season while expecting her first child.

"It felt really great to receive the Titleist Order of Merit," said Proteau. "It was a really nice recognition to receive after a year's worth of accomplishments. It's also really nice it's presented in the spring before the next golf season starts, as it's a great way to start off the next season."

Proteau has been golfing since she was seven years old. She's been married for seven years to her husband Jim and their son Jameson was born on December 7, 2014.

Proteau won the B.C. and the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur titles in 2014 and was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. In addition, with partner Shawn Farmer she qualified for the inaugural U.S. Women’s Four-Ball.

Playing golf while pregnant introduced some new challenges to an already challenging game for Proteau.

"It's just a different ball play in general," said Proteau. "I normally hit the golf ball fairly straight or with a bit of a fade, but while pregnant I was definitely hitting a draw or a low hook at times—and that got worse as my body grew throughout the season. The biggest issue early in the season playing some local tournaments was nausea and general pregnancy sickness. That passed and in June, July and August I was feeling pretty good. But as I started getting bigger, I started getting more tired as well."

Proteau stuck to a pretty specific stretching routine morning and night throughout the season and was extra aware of what was going into her body.

"I doubled my attention to it when I was playing golf," she said. "In a way, it was great and made me realize I need to be more conscious of that every season. You're just that much more aware of what you're eating, drinking and how much you're stretching. At the 2014 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur in Noblesville, Indiana, a lead trainer would stretch me out before and after rounds and it was great getting that little extra."

A lot of women told Proteau they had played some of the best golf of their life while pregnant.

"The nice thing is you don't grow overnight, it's very gradual," she said. "My swing adjusted to it. It was just a bit shorter and slower than normal. It was more about getting used to my new body and my new swing. I definitely have a different swing now and I no longer feel like I'm standing four feet away from the ball because my belly is gone. But it's actually harder this season getting used to this new body."

The new season

Gearing up for the upcoming season, Proteau said her expectations have shifted since last year when she was pregnant. This season, she is looking forward to simply getting out on the golf course and really enjoying it again.

"I really took for granted all the time I had on the course over the years," she said. "Now was the right time to have a baby for us and I'm so happy with where we're at with Jameson, we're so in love with the little guy. I'm looking forward to playing some tournaments, but I'm not sure what to expect. I'm just going to take it week by week."

Right now, if Proteau has an hour or two a week to put towards golf, that's pretty good. She's been golfing for so long, she's confident she can get back to tournament form. It just may take a little longer and require a bit more patience.

"Sometimes when you drop all expectations, you perform better," she said. "Anything could happen this season. Last year with the pregnancy was a total unknown and this season is a total unknown as well. It's exciting in a way and I'm curious to see how things go. As much as I love the game, I love my son so much more. I've had so many awesome experiences and memories through golf and I continue to have those along with my husband and now Jameson."