Greece’s Alkyonie Aharidis is excited to commence her third season on the LET Access Series (LETAS) and feels this year will be positive.
The 23-year-old who has split her off-season between the Netherlands and Dubai had her best season to date in 2022 but feels a lot more is about to come.
Q School, the toughest week for any budding professional golfer, didn’t go Aharidis’ way as she failed to progress to final qualifiers.
Despite the seven-time Greek national champion feeling extremely comfortable and prepared heading into Marrakech, Aharidis felt her execution wasn’t quite there and has been working diligently in the off-season to strengthen her previous weaknesses.
Standing at just above five foot one, Aharidis admitted that her lack of length has been an insecurity in her golf game.
Aharidis said: “My height is one of my biggest complexes in my game so far. I have at times felt not worthy to be a professional due to my length.
“My coach, Jamie has helped me put a good perspective on it. It will never be my biggest strength, but I can focus on my short game and that’s where I can excel at.
Impressively over winter, Aharidis has started a new gym programme and after two months has gained 20 yards off the tee and is excited to see the changes in action this season.
Despite playing under the blue and white Greek flag, Aharidis is incredibly multicultural having a Greek father, a French mother and a well-travelled childhood living in Greece, the South of France and Dubai.
The latter is where a 8-year-old Aharidis first picked up a golf club after learning the sport alongside her father.
“I loved it because it allowed me to spend time with my Dad, who is a pilot. It’s such a difficult sport and I’ve just loved always trying to get better at it.”
Family is everything to Aharidis and she counts her mum and dad as her biggest inspirations.
“My dad worked three jobs and he grinded, and my mom helped him. He managed to pay for his own pilot school, he really inspired me to dream big like he did!”
“So, if he can do it, I feel like I can. I can do even more since he’s giving me so much opportunity and support.”
Aharidis decided to pursue professional golf instead of going to university after Covid-19 hit and derailed her plans.
“After Covid, I was playing in a lot of amateur tournaments around the world and some LETAS tournaments too.
“From there it clicked that this is what I wanted to do full time. It’s a privilege that I can earn a salary from my passion.”
Aharidis recalled her first event on LETAS as an incredibly positive experience.
“The first one was in the Czech Republic was 2022 and I made the cut. So that was my first pro event, and I made the cut.
“From there I was like, wow, I can do this. It gave me belief.”
But believing in her game is something Aharidis struggled with in 2023 and has been working with a mental coach to change her attitude in tournament weeks.
“Last year, I was focussed on making cuts and that was taking away my potential of being in the top ten or even winning.
“So, this year I’m just ready to be confident in myself, to fully enjoy the season and I really believe that really good results will come in.“
Aharidis also credits meeting fellow LETAS players, Fie Olsen and Carolina Sandstrom as a turning point in her game.
“I am super, super grateful that I’ve met Fie and Carolina because they made me realize how to wind down after a round and that it’s okay have fun during tournaments because I was strict on myself.
“Since I’ve met them and shared with them, I’ve played much better because I’ve been way more relaxed and having fun and being able to do little things like draw or watch movies or visit the places we play.
“I really believe in karma, which means do good and you’ll receive good and do bad, receive bad.
“The more I have that mindset and be positive and try to be kind, the better things will be and since I’ve met people like that, it’s been really crucial. It’s really helped me improve.
“So I just want to spread the positivity and the good energy this season.”
The LET Access Series schedule gets underway next month at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open, April 12-14.
In the meantime follow all the action at @LETAccess on Instagram and Twitter – #RaiseOurGame. #accesstolet
