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Destined to Be a Blue Devil: Heflin Gains Valuable Experience in Fall
2/17/2022 11:56:00 AM | Women's Golf
By Charlotte Tannenbaum, Duke Athletics Communications Student Assistant
DURHAM – Rylie Helfin is one semester into living her dream. The young golfer set her sights on playing for Duke all the way back in middle school. Now a college freshman, she looks back on all that she's learned since she arrived.
Heflin's interest in golf started at a young age.
"I've been playing ever since I was about three or four," said Heflin. "My dad got me into it. He bought a little plastic putter and would take me out with him and let me hit balls on the green."
Today, golf for Heflin looks significantly different. She can be seen playing in televised tournaments competing against the best young golfers in the country. And she's loving playing for the Blue Devils.
"Everyone has much more of a game face and is more competitive in collegiate golf," Heflin says. "The team has been super supportive. They've guided me and helped me a lot already."
As it turns out, Heflin was familiar with the Duke team long before she joined it. "They were my idols. I've been looking up to them ever since I visited. To be on the same team as them now is surreal."
With the support of her coaches and teammates, she has been able to make a successful transition into the collegiate scene. Though she's settled in now, it wasn't easy at first. Heflin remembers the East Lake Cup as one of the most important learning moments in her golf career.
"It was the first match play that I had ever played competitively. And it was on television," recalls Heflin. "It felt like it was a completely different game."
Following a first round that didn't meet her expectations, Heflin felt the pressure of playing in the new environment.
"I was really upset and honestly on the verge of crying," she remembers. "Coach Brooks started to walk with me and he was asking why I thought I was playing the way that I was, and what I thought I could do differently to help. I told him everything was getting to me. I was overthinking stuff and not trusting my game. And he said something I never would have expected to come out of his mouth. He said, 'it's okay to lose.' And I really needed to hear that."
This simple sentiment from her new coach was enough to turn the day around for Heflin.
"Coming from him - the winningest coach in women's golf - I was like, WOW! It was such a stress reliever - from there I played so well the rest of the round. And I did lose the match, but it was such an incredible learning experience."
Heflin's relationship with Coach Brooks began far before she became a Blue Devil. In fact, the legendary coach was her whole reason for wanting to come to the school in the first place. As early as middle school, Heflin set her sights on representing Duke and playing for Coach Brooks.
"During my seventh grade year, I attended a college golf camp because I knew that Coach Brooks would be there," Heflin says. "I swear there were like a hundred kids on the range, and he came up to me. I was the only one he talked to. He said I had a great swing and that he was excited for my future."
Brooks may not have known that the young girl that he talked to would one day be on his team, but Heflin had no doubt. She was determined to become a Blue Devil. As she continued her college recruitment process, the player always came back to Duke.
"The connection I had with him was unlike any other coach I continued to talk to," she says. After a semester of playing for Brooks, the freshman is glad that she trusted her instincts.
"He has already taught me so much on and off the course. He is so knowledgeable, but he also understands the importance of balance and doesn't put too much pressure on any of us. He's so supportive."
Brooks holds Heflin in equally high regard.
"Rylie arrived at Duke with great skill, a positive attitude, and passion for the game and for our team. There is nothing more a coach or a team could hope for, " he says. "Rylie is learning that these skills and character traits are all she needs - as they already are. The fall season helped her grow, just as remaining seasons will help her."
With his 38 years as Duke's head coach, Brooks is well-versed in supporting players in their development to their full potential. His praise of Heflin bodes well for her remaining seasons as a Blue Devil.
"Most skilled golfers get better not by changing, but by learning who they already are," says Coach Brooks. "Rylie is excelling in this process. It's been fun to be a part of it."
Over the course of the semester, Heflin, too, has noticed the growth in herself.
"I've gained a lot of confidence. Not only in myself as a player, but honestly just as a whole. I do truly believe that this fall proved to me that I do belong on this team."
With a semester under her belt, the freshman now sees what her coaches and teammates have seen in her from the start. Rylie Heflin's future, here at Duke and beyond, is certainly one to watch.
#GoDuke
DURHAM – Rylie Helfin is one semester into living her dream. The young golfer set her sights on playing for Duke all the way back in middle school. Now a college freshman, she looks back on all that she's learned since she arrived.
Heflin's interest in golf started at a young age.
"I've been playing ever since I was about three or four," said Heflin. "My dad got me into it. He bought a little plastic putter and would take me out with him and let me hit balls on the green."
Today, golf for Heflin looks significantly different. She can be seen playing in televised tournaments competing against the best young golfers in the country. And she's loving playing for the Blue Devils.
"Everyone has much more of a game face and is more competitive in collegiate golf," Heflin says. "The team has been super supportive. They've guided me and helped me a lot already."
As it turns out, Heflin was familiar with the Duke team long before she joined it. "They were my idols. I've been looking up to them ever since I visited. To be on the same team as them now is surreal."
With the support of her coaches and teammates, she has been able to make a successful transition into the collegiate scene. Though she's settled in now, it wasn't easy at first. Heflin remembers the East Lake Cup as one of the most important learning moments in her golf career.
"It was the first match play that I had ever played competitively. And it was on television," recalls Heflin. "It felt like it was a completely different game."
Following a first round that didn't meet her expectations, Heflin felt the pressure of playing in the new environment.
"I was really upset and honestly on the verge of crying," she remembers. "Coach Brooks started to walk with me and he was asking why I thought I was playing the way that I was, and what I thought I could do differently to help. I told him everything was getting to me. I was overthinking stuff and not trusting my game. And he said something I never would have expected to come out of his mouth. He said, 'it's okay to lose.' And I really needed to hear that."
This simple sentiment from her new coach was enough to turn the day around for Heflin.
"Coming from him - the winningest coach in women's golf - I was like, WOW! It was such a stress reliever - from there I played so well the rest of the round. And I did lose the match, but it was such an incredible learning experience."
Heflin's relationship with Coach Brooks began far before she became a Blue Devil. In fact, the legendary coach was her whole reason for wanting to come to the school in the first place. As early as middle school, Heflin set her sights on representing Duke and playing for Coach Brooks.
"During my seventh grade year, I attended a college golf camp because I knew that Coach Brooks would be there," Heflin says. "I swear there were like a hundred kids on the range, and he came up to me. I was the only one he talked to. He said I had a great swing and that he was excited for my future."
Brooks may not have known that the young girl that he talked to would one day be on his team, but Heflin had no doubt. She was determined to become a Blue Devil. As she continued her college recruitment process, the player always came back to Duke.
"The connection I had with him was unlike any other coach I continued to talk to," she says. After a semester of playing for Brooks, the freshman is glad that she trusted her instincts.
"He has already taught me so much on and off the course. He is so knowledgeable, but he also understands the importance of balance and doesn't put too much pressure on any of us. He's so supportive."
Brooks holds Heflin in equally high regard.
"Rylie arrived at Duke with great skill, a positive attitude, and passion for the game and for our team. There is nothing more a coach or a team could hope for, " he says. "Rylie is learning that these skills and character traits are all she needs - as they already are. The fall season helped her grow, just as remaining seasons will help her."
With his 38 years as Duke's head coach, Brooks is well-versed in supporting players in their development to their full potential. His praise of Heflin bodes well for her remaining seasons as a Blue Devil.
"Most skilled golfers get better not by changing, but by learning who they already are," says Coach Brooks. "Rylie is excelling in this process. It's been fun to be a part of it."
Over the course of the semester, Heflin, too, has noticed the growth in herself.
"I've gained a lot of confidence. Not only in myself as a player, but honestly just as a whole. I do truly believe that this fall proved to me that I do belong on this team."
With a semester under her belt, the freshman now sees what her coaches and teammates have seen in her from the start. Rylie Heflin's future, here at Duke and beyond, is certainly one to watch.
#GoDuke
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