If Caitlin Clark isn’t on a basketball court, chances are you can find her out on the links.
Clark’s athletic abilities know no bounds. The WNBA sensation has already emerged as one of the best hoopers in women’s basketball, earning Rookie of the Year honors this past season, as well as a selection to the 2024 All-WNBA First Team.
While the offseason for the WNBA is in full swing, that isn’t stopping Clark from competing. She is swapping out a jump shot for a wedge shot this week, as the superstar is taking part in an LPGA Pro-Am tournament titled “The Annika,” hosted by golfing legend Annika Sorenstam. Clark will be partnered with Nelly Korda, one of the best golfers in the world, at the event, and there are sure to be plenty of eyes on the 22-year-old.
Golfing has become a staple for Clark in her downtime from basketball. While she doesn’t have the time to work on her golf game during the season, she takes advantage of the time she can with the WNBA in offseason mode.
“That’s what I was looking forward to the most with basketball ending,” Clark said in a 2023 interview with Golf Digest. “Our coaches were like, ‘You need to get away from the gym,’ even though that’s really hard for me to do sometimes. I still want to be active and do something, so I’m going to go to the golf course.”
But just how good is Clark at golf? Here’s what to know about the WNBA superstar’s game on the course.
Caitlin Clark’s handicap
According to Golf Digest, Clark does not maintain a handicap. However, she did tell the outlet that she is capable of shooting “in the low 80s.”
Based on that range for her scores, her handicap is likely somewhere between 10-20, meaning she has the potential to play a round of golf at 10-20 strokes over par.
Is Caitlin Clark good at golf?
Shooting in the low 80s for someone who is doing it in their free time is an incredibly strong score, so, yes, Clark is good at golf. She won’t be jumping on the LPGA Tour anytime soon, but considering she is taking part in Pro-Am competitions, she must be good enough to hang with the best female golfers.
She posted a video of her recently on the course in October. She came inches away from sinking a hole-in-one, an incredibly rare feat for any golfer, no matter the skill level.
Come for Caitlin Clark nearly getting a hole-in-one.
Stay for the commentary. ⛳ pic.twitter.com/4b2jofgCv0
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 14, 2024
The most important part? Clark sank the short-range putt for a birdie.
Of course, the basketball sensation is always aiming to improve. Clark is an incredibly competitive person, and that drive is not limited to just the hardwood. When she isn’t playing basketball, she is most likely on the links working on her golf game, and she said that the sport helps with her “mental toughness.”
“Something I can always improve on is my mental toughness,” Clark said in a 2023 interview with Golf Digest. “You have one bad shot on the golf course or on the basketball court, you gotta move on to the next. Obviously, in basketball I have four other girls on the court with me that I can lean on if I’m not having a good day or shooting well.
“If I’m on the golf course, it’s all on me. You have to accept that not every day is gonna be great for you. That’s helped me by translating that to basketball.”
According to Golf Digest, Clark spends her time golfing at courses in her home state of Iowa. She plays at places such as Brown Deer in Coralville, Finkbine in Iowa City, and The Harvester Club in Rhodes, which is just outside of her hometown of Des Moines.
While Clark’s competitiveness may not stop when she’s on the golf course, getting to play a sport with such a quaint setting like golf takes the WNBA star’s mind away from the hardships of being a professional athlete.
“You can clear your mind, do something you really love, and have the peace and quiet of just your friends around or even just yourself,” Clark said. “I love being able to escape reality for a little bit.”
