FIELD TWP- Muscle memory is essential to the game of golf as a player learns to shape and groove their swing, but for North Woods senior golfer Tori Olson perhaps the most important muscle memories are the ones she holds in her heart.
Family and friends gathered with Olson at the school last week as the three-time state tournament qualifier signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf for the University of Minnesota-Crookston next year. But if not for the memories she carries in her heart of her grandparents, Roger and Sylvia Makela, she might never have reached this moment at all.
“The first time I got a golf club in my hands was with my grandma and my grandpa, they used to take me all the time,” Tori said. “At first I didn’t like it.”
But they persisted, and Roger in particular, as he always had custom-fitted clubs just for her so she would learn to swing properly, according to Tori’s father, Todd. And over time, Tori came around.
“Now I am so thankful that I got into golf, it’s like my favorite thing in the world,” Tori said. “And I probably never would have been in golf without my grandpa.”
But it’s safe to say that Roger Makela wasn’t the only golfing influence on Tori. Growing up in a family that includes North Woods girls golf coach Kandi Olson and a pair of older siblings, Tate and Coley, who’ve made their own marks golfing at the collegiate level, it would have been odd if Tori hadn’t come to love the game.
“Both of them were just great role models,” Tori said of Tate and Coley. “They’ve always helped me and given me tips and insight on the game. It was like they were my mentors. They were a big part in my growth, too. Having them as college athletes and golfers as well, it’s been amazing to have them by my side helping me.”
“I’m so proud of her,” Coley said. “I’m so happy she made this decision. I think this is the right place for her to go.”
“It’s been so exciting to watch Tori grow,” Coach/Mom Olson said. “In just her sophomore year she had to start taking over leadership roles in the golf world. To see how she managed that and continued to grow throughout the next couple of years was really exciting.”
A gifted volleyball player as well, Olson might have drawn some interest from college coaches for that sport, too, but there was no question about what Tori wanted to pursue.
“It’s always been golf,” she said. “I’ve been pretty passionate about golf.”
And it’s that passion that’s driven her to put in the extra work necessary to excel and be successful at the next level.
“After practice, I would be the girl that would want to play three more holes,” Tori said. “I was committed to golf in the summer and I would go and hit buckets and buckets of balls. I did summer tournaments, Junior PGA tournaments, putting in that extra time and I always tried to stay connected to the game.”
Tori expressed appreciation for her experience at North Woods as she contemplated the move to Crookston.
“I’m so very thankful for my golf team at North Woods,” she said. “I’m thankful that I got to be a leader and be the number one scorer and help the team. Going into college, I love that I’ll be at the bottom again, because that’s how I’m going to get better and improve. I’m focusing on improving, having a great time and a positive attitude and meeting people who have more experience in the game than I do.”
And something significantly different is that she won’t be calling Crookston’s golf coach Bryant Friskop “Mom.”
“It’s definitely going to be a change because I’ve had my mom, my sister, my brother and my grandpa all be a part of the coaching staff at some point,” Tori said. “I met him and he’s a really great person and he seems to know everything you need to know about golf. I think it’ll be a good thing for me to try something new, and I’m very excited. I would love to make the traveling team as soon as possible.”
It’s also going to be a change, and a welcome one, for Kandi.
“The stress of having to coach them and be a mom is often challenging to deal with,” she said. “Now I can be a mom and just go enjoy and watch my kid participate in things. Of course, we still have a season coming up.”
Friskop is also pleased to have signed Tori, as evidenced from the announcement of Olson’s signing on the Crookston website.
“I’m excited to have Tori join our squad here for U of M Crookston Women’s Golf,” Friskop said. “Tori is a very impressive young woman who has a strong drive to be the best she can be both in her golf future and her academic future. Tori has a powerful swing that’ll translate to the collegiate level. I can’t wait to have her here next summer to get to work!”
Tori said Crookston will be a good fit for her.
“I wanted to stay in Minnesota,” she said. “I want to become an elementary teacher. And golf. They just hit all the boxes. They offered me a scholarship, and I really got a good warm vibe from the school when I visited there. It’s a great community.”