The Villages - February 2020 - 10

MEG GIUSTI
Meg Giusti grew up in Maryland, a daughter
among sons. It was a position that primed her for
competitive sports.
"I guess I was like a son to my dad," she said.
"He'd throw Wiffle balls to me in the backyard,
warning me not to blink."
Wiffle balls became basketballs, and Giusti went
on to coach games. In college, she discovered golf,
which engrossed her from the very first swing.
"I knew it was for me," she said. "I'd find the cutest guys to golf with. I'd ask, 'What tees are you
playing from - white? Do you mind if I play?'"
A wry smile creeps across her face as she describes how the men reacted.
"After the first couple of hits, they got it," she
said. "Without a doubt part of the fun was shocking them."
Decades later, Giusti still shocks players on the
course, although it's both her attitude and her skill
that make an impression.
"Relax, swing and have fun - I say that before
every round," she said. "We're so fortunate to be
doing what we're doing. We could be at home doing laundry."
It's not that Giusti is immune to stress, she simply
channels it into positive energy.
"I was playing in what I call a big-girl tournament and there was a lot of pressure," she said. "I
was on the last hole and I just had to back away. I
started laughing all of a sudden, thinking it doesn't
matter if I make a fantastic shot or a horrible shot.
The world is going to go on - I'll wake up tomorrow and it will all be the same."
Perspective, Giusti said is the key to truly enjoying the game.

"It's been a great pastime
- a great passion. Best
of all, I've met wonderful
people through golf, played in
tournaments with people all
over the United States."
Meg Giusti
10

FEBRUARY 2020

"The hardest lesson I've learned is this: being
competitive doesn't mean every shot has to be perfect," she said.
In 2012, Giusti and her husband Chris made
their way to The Villages. Having won various competitions over the years, including The Villages Golf
Championship, she's grateful for her success. But
accolades aren't her ultimate goal.
"It's been a great pastime - a great passion.
Best of all, I've met wonderful people through golf,
played in tournaments with people all over the
United States. Last year I got to stay at Jack Nicklaus' house. I got to play golf with Annika Sorenstam's mom. Some days I have to pinch myself."
As for the future, Giusti and her husband are
planning a trip to Scotland, but in the meantime,
they'll be playing local courses with golfers of all
skill levels.
"I like playing with higher handicap players and
just encouraging the heck out of them," she said.
"Some people are just taking this up. We're all out
here to have fun. It's not about golf. It's an excuse to
keep on and keep up with friends."

The Villages - February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - February 2020