Fixing Cindy
A story on Cindy Miller, Golf For Women Magazine LPGA Teaching and Club Professional National Champion

Cindy Miller of Silver Creek, N.Y., an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Class A Member, didn't always believe in herself or her golf game, but she's having the time of her life now after winning the 2004 Golf For Women Magazine LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Championship at the age of 48.

On July 14, 2004, Miller dueled it out with Cheryl Stacy of Findlay, Ohio, in a two-hole sudden-death playoff to win the championship. Miller is the oldest woman ever to win the title in the championship division.

"It was like a gift," said Miller of they putt Stacy missed to give her the championship. "It was a miracle. It was just my time to win. Twenty-five years later, and you can get this much better."

Miller came into the event with a mission of just making it into the top 10 and praying that the high temperatures didn't affect her like in years past.

"I had to think only of the task at hand," said Miller.

Not only did Miller overcome the heat, but her opponents as well. Miller was just thrilled to be in the top two and doesn't even remember her winning stroke.

Miller has overcome a lot of obstacles on and off the course to get where she is today.

An interest in golf was not always there for Miller. As a child, she was more-or-less dragged to the golf course by her parents who both played, and it wasn't until her mom took her to an LPGA event at the age of 17 that she had a change of heart.

"I immediately said, 'this is what I want to do,'" said Miller. "Until then, I thought golf was dumb."

After the new-found interest, Miller went to the University of Miami, one of the only two schools that offered a women's golf program at the time.

In her first year at Miami, Miller qualified as a walk on, but there was no way she could stay at school unless she got a scholarship. The next year, she had improved enough to earn a scholarship, and by the time she graduated with a degree in education, Miller was captain, All American and number one on the team.

After college, Miller took her dreams of playing golf one step further and qualified for the LPGA Tour in 1979. Miller continued playing on Tour until 1981 when she lost her card.

"I was good enough to get there but not good enough to stay," said Miller.

She eventually gave up her dream of an LPGA career to start a family with ex-PGA Tour player, Allen Miller.

Miller said, "I went from Tour player to Tour wife."

They started a family soon after getting married and have three children today-Kelly, Jamie, and Matt.

In 2000, Miller decided it was time to rededicate her energy to golf. She said she had spent enough time teaching the game to others and was ready to work on herself and her game.

"My mission is to prove something," said Miller.

Seeing the Women's Senior Golf Tour, Miller wanted to get out and play again because she knew she could compete on that level, so she began the process of what Miller likes to call "Fixing Cindy."

Miller got involved with a few programs that would help with her mental focus on the course. The first was EEG Biofeedback training, which she participated in for three years. Secondly, Miller used a program called Interactive Metronome to help her become more rhythmical and smooth. She completed 12 one-hour sessions and is now certified to train others. Lastly, Miller used a "Freeze Framer" to register her heart rate and breathing, helping her learn how to better stay "in the zone" during a round of golf.

Inspiration was also found in a book by John Ortberg, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat." Miller's way of getting out of the boat was to focus on playing rather than teaching.

"I realized I can play golf," said Miller. "I've learned to believe in myself. I don't have to hit perfect shots all the time."

Playing on the Women's Senior Golf Tour and Futures Tour is not Miller's only passion. She also still enjoys teaching as the director of instruction at the Wehrle Golf Dome in Williamsville, N.Y., and as an instructor for a local chapter of LPGA-USGA Girls Golf.

Miller's "Fixing Cindy" program has certainly paid off. In addition to her recent win at the T&CP Championship, she was named one of Golf Range Magazine's Top 50 Golf Instructors in America. In 2001, she was voted LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Teacher of the Year for the Northeast Section and one of Golf For Women Magazine's Top 50 Golf Instructors. This year, she was also nominated for Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers and will have to wait until 2005 for the results.

Miller also tees it up in her businesses called Tee Shots and Cindy Miller Golf. She arranges golf lessons, corporate golf outings and custom logo products for such companies as the LPGA and General Mills.

After accomplishing her goal at the championship, Miller has set more goals. She wants to make the cut at the 2005 McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola (she earned a spot in the field by virtue of her T&CP Championship victory), as well as qualify for and make the cut at the 2005 U.S. Women's Open.

To find out more about Cindy Miller visit teeshots.com, and cindymillergolf.com.