Emma Talley has enjoyed doing media work and also coaching.
Emma Talley believes she is playing the “best golf” she’s ever played and that’s saying a lot.
She was a NCAA champion during her All-American career at Alabama and also won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, something only four other women have ever done. She won three state high school championships for Caldwell County.
Talley joined Symetra Tour in 2016 and earned her LPGA Tour status in 2018.
“I am focused on playing golf and playing golf well for two or three more years,” said Talley. “Most of us play eight to 10 years because the lifestyle is just not sustainable. The travel is the hard part. The golf and friendships are fun. It has been fun being with my husband (caddy Patrick Smith) at different places and seeing the world.
“But the travel is still hard. Missing flights, not getting your golf bag, finishing a tournament on Sunday and being back on the course in another city on Monday. I am just lucky my husband does all the travel planning. He is very smart.”
While Talley, 30, remains as competitive as ever, she is still contemplating what life without competitive golf might be. She did work for the Golf Channel last season and probably will again this year. She’s also done work for LPGA media.
“I would like to play forever but you have to be realistic,” the Princeton native said. “I would like to have children. I will definitely keep playing the next couple of years but I do like doing the media stuff. The girls here now (on the LPGA Tour) are my best friends and all of them trust me. Ten years from now, I don’t know. That’s why if I want to do media work, I need to do it now because in 10 years there will be a whole new crew of players out here.”
She’s also exploring another potential career avenue as a volunteer coach with the Western Kentucky University women’s golf team.
“I am saying yes to every opportunity I can. Golf has given me everything and I sort of feel like it is time for me to give back,” Talley said. “This can be a hard life and to have these things to do on the side has been incredible. I want to be an asset to the girls at Western. Western Kentucky is home to me, so this is kind of like coming full circle.
“College golf is just the best. It’s a bunch of girls who want to play and be good but you are basically the same age with no huge responsibilities. The coaches book everything for you. College golf is the absolute best. I hope I can leave a good mark on the team as players but more importantly as people. I can sort of be like a big sister and let them know things are alright.”
So could coaching be in her future?
“I have no idea. I want to keep all doors open. But I have really enjoyed being with them. It has been super fun,” Talley said. “I have no real idea what I want to do next. I am saying yes to things to give back to golf and I can manage my time pretty well, so I have time to give back and just see where it takes me.”
One Response
EMMA, MY NAME IS MIKE WEBBER AND I WAS MARRIED FOR 42 YEARS TO SUSAN (MCLIN) WEBBER WHO WAS A NATIVE OF PRINCETON. SHE PASSED AAWAY THIS FEBRUARY BUT AFTER DISCOVERING YOU WERE FROM HER HOMETOWN WE ROOTED FOR YOU. MY FATHER CHARES WEBBER PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR BAMA. I AM ACTIVELY RETIRED AS A NEWSAPER SPORTS WRITER BUT HAVE BEEN PLAYING GOFL SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. I WISH YOU THE BEST AND KNOW MY WIFE WOULD ALSO. WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO I KNOW YOU WILL GIVE IT YOUR BEST. MY WIFE ALSO WENT TO WESERN KENTUCKY. GOLF BLESZS YOU, MIKE;