2023 was a tough season for the Netherland’s Pasqualle Coffa.
After losing out to 12-year-old Louisa Uma Landgraf in a playoff and placing runner up at last year’s Terre Blanche Ladies Open, Coffa’s game looked good.
Yet as the season progressed, Coffa struggled mentally and withdrew from three events. Putting 2023 behind her, this off-season Coffa has worked on her game physically and mentally and feels in a much calmer, stronger place.
Speaking about 2023, Coffa said: “Last year was tough. I really lost the whole plot of the game. I was focusing on performing well and getting the job done instead of enjoying myself.”
Friend and former LPGA player, Katie Burnett, has been helping Coffa get in the right headspace this off-season and now the Dutch player cannot wait for her 2024 season on LETAS to begin at Terre Blanche Golf.
“I’m excited to start the season. It can’t come quick enough. I always like to go back to Terre Blanche. It’s one of my favourite courses in Europe, it’s super pretty.
“I do like the course. It’s a little bit hilly but the course creates shots for you instead of you trying to figure out what kind of shot would be smart.”
Coffa started learning golf later than is typical for professionals. The Dutch player first picked a club up on a family holiday in Portugal at 16 to accompany her father.
Yet, Coffa doesn’t see her late start to the game as a huge disadvantage.
“I feel like some of these kids are so into golf their whole lives that they don’t get to experience other parts in their life. I had the party life when I was 16, I was just hanging out with friends and doing the fun stuff. So, once I had that, I was ready to work hard and do everything for it.
“I think I’ve matured into the sport as well. Yes, I would have loved to start golf earlier, but you never know what happens then. Maybe I would have lost the love of the game and not really continued.”
Golf was not Coffa’s first passion, horse-riding was. The Dutch player still enjoys horse-riding and wants to do more of it in her off time.
“You can compare them as sports. I mean it’s just you and your horse. Where in golf it is you and your golf clubs. So, I think there similar as highly individual sports. I think I’m much more suited to individual sports.
“I used to do some team sport in school, and I got very, very competitive. Once someone was not putting in the work, I could get mad or be so into it.”
Pasqualle is one to show passion and emotion on the course.
“So I’m trying to stay calm (ish) but I just enjoy the game. Like if something crazy happens, I would celebrate it. Definitely.”
Coffa also credits her boyfriend, Challenge Tour golfer Lars Keunen as a positive influence on her game.
“So, we met when we were 18 and I had literally just started playing golf and I sucked at it. He has seen me grow so, so, so much. So, it’s been it’s been a fun journey. We feed off each other as well.”
Coffa’s primary goal for 2024 is to earn back her full Ladies European Tour playing rights but knows she needs to focus on her processes to get there.
“My short game is one of my strengths and then my accuracy off the tee. Once you hit a lot of fairways you can hit a lot of greens.
“I’m just trying to get myself focused on my process and it sounds boring but for me, it’s just very important to enjoy my golf and enjoy my life besides golf.
“I know I’m putting in the work and that will lead me to my card. So yes, it is a goal and it’s a goal to get my first win as well but I’m not really trying to focus on that. I’m just taking one step at a time and enjoying my goal of getting better.”
“I think LETAS is a great tool to grow your game and experience tour life. In the past few years, the tour has been growing so much. The cuts are getting lower and lower. The girls that came through last year are doing so well.
“It’s serious golf. I always say that good golf will raise standards in women’s golf. I feel like the better the tour gets, the more sponsors we could get, the more the game can grow.
“So, I think it’s great and I’ve accepted LETAS is where I am now and I’m excited for the season.”
Follow all the action throughout our 2024 season on our socials on @letaccess on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and LET Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame.
