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ASK LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR PRO MARIA VERCHENOVA!
Hi ISUCKATGOLF fans!, 
I am Maria Verchenova, leading golf professional in Russia and been playing on The Ladies European tour for the last 5 years. It's been great fun coming out of a cold country to now spending week after week playing and competing with the best women golfers in the world!
Apart from this I had a great experience doing modelling, tv shows, recovering from my back injury and doing coaching at that time, and having my dad as a coach for the first 6 years of my golf career.
It was great fun and I am more then happy to share it with you, feel free to ask your questions and I will come back to you as soon as I can!
Ask MARIA VERCHENOVA Here! (Free!)
Visit Maria's "FUN PAGE"
Maria Verchenova was born on the 27th of March 1986 in the Russian capital Moscow and is the first Russian to achieve a full-time membership on the Ladies European Tour. Maria took up the game of golf in 1998 at age of twelve. After numerous victories as an amateur, she turned professional in December 2006. In her rookie year of 2007 on the Ladies European Tour, she showed strength, finishing in the top-10 in Wales. In 2008, Maria contended for the lead in the Dubai Ladies Masters, dueling with golf legend Annika Sorenstam for the first two rounds before finishing in a respectable tie for 33rd in one of the strongest fields of the year. Now gearing up for her 6th season on the LET tour, Maria has twice finished in the top 10, and 2012 may well be Miss Verchenova's break out year!
Aside from Maria's obvious talent on the golf course, she's also a bit of a knockout! Which certainly adds to the buzz around this Russian pro! Known around the web as "Golf's answer to Anna Kournacova", Maria's has a natural beauty and charm which often equates to larger galleries whether she is in contention on the course or just warming up on the practice tee. Maria handles the added attention with a natural grace and appreciates all her fans, often taking the time to sign autographs and acknowledge the crowd for their support.
We are very excited to have Maria Verchenova as an expert on our site! She graciously agreed to answer you golf or other questions for free! So ask away. This gal can certainly help you get your game back on track. We also bet she has some awesome tips on how to play in the cold!
PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Advantage playing in the cold?
Is This A Hole In One?
ARE YOU AT AN ADVANTAGE WHEN PLAYING IN THE COLD?
(March 2012)
Growing up and playing golf in Russia, do you feel you're at an
advantage at all when playing in bad weather or when it's cold?
Honestly, it was very hard for me to practice in winter when I was a junior, because most of the time I either didn't practice at all or did my practice in a "winter center". Summer in Russia we have lovely weather. So it was always a disadvantage for me growing up in a cold climate, with no real advantages that I can think of even now.
WILL YOU BE PLAYING IN THE U.S.?
(March 2012)
Do you have any plans or aspirations to play in America on the LPGA Tour?
For now, I am planning to stay in Europe. I am very much like a home girl, so I just can't move to America full time without my family. But as I did in a past, would love to get my card for LPGA and then play just a few events, while playing on LET (Ladies European Tour) full time.
(March 2012)
Who are your friends on the LET tour? Who do you enjoy playing with most?
Stefanie Michl, we always used to share a room together. She is probably one of the most dedicated girls on tour. That's why it was great fun to stay next to her and keep pushing myself.
Playing it's a different story for me. Once I leave my hotel room I was almost always doing my job playing or practicing before tournament. I did this just with my caddy. When playing in competitions it's always fun to have friends in my group, so we can chat a little.
Do you find it distracting at all when fans ask for your autograph while on the course? What is the best time for someone to get your autograph?
I don't think i would do it myself, if I went out to watch the boys playing, cause I know it's very distractive. But I hardly ever say no to kids. They are too cute. After the game I am very happy to spend time with my fans, I appreciate that they came over to watch me play and that's my little thanks for them.
(March 2012)
Maria,
I’m a big fan of yours. Thank you for taking my question. I’ve been playing for about 4 years and am not a very good putter at all. I’m not a good lag putter, and I often 3 putt. I’m using an old “Bullseye” style putter, and would like your opinion as to whether I should stick with a normal putter, or go to a belly style since I’m currently so bad? Could you recommend a specific putter or brand? Even if it’s not the putter, which I’m pretty sure it’s not, I’d like to start my quest to be a better putter with the proper weapon! If you have any drills that might help me as well I’d appreciate it.
Thanks!
Bob Z.
Bob,
Of course it's very important to find a good putter.
I really can't help you with it, cause its up to you what you like.
First what you should think off is how you want your putter to look like.
It's very important that you will like how it looks.
I prefer classic ones(Scotty Cameron is really good)
Take few putters out on a green and try it out. And choose one which you like the most.
For drills I really like Tests, so the only thing you need to do is to putt into the same hole from 7, 10 , 15 meters and count how many balls did you get in out of ten balls or within half a meter.( 8 out of 10 is really good).
Best of Luck
(JUNE 2012)
Maria, Hello!
I think you’re terrific and aspire to play as well as you do one day. Right now I’m just beginning the game, and would like to know what were the best tips you remember getting from when you first started! I figure they worked out for you, why not me?
Thanks Maria, look forward to your answer.
Morgan
Dear Morgan!
To make things easier you should remember few things:
1.work on a basic staff in your swing, try to improve 1 thing at the time( its like building a house, you can't built everything straight away), so try to improve it little by little. For example: if you work on your back swing, then take few good weeks to make it right and then do other staff.
2.Always ask on you golf lessons what is the reason you doing different drills, it's very important to understand how your golf swing works, so you can improve and work on it yourself.
3. Short game and putting is a main key for good results, try to get stability and turn this practice into little games as well, when you play with your friends for something. Me and my sister used to play against each other everyday on putting green, it really helped her a lot.
4. Have fun and don't forget to go out on a golf course and bring all your game with you from the driving range, don't become practice God! Golf is all about playing...
Enjoy!
Maria Verchenova
(August 2012)
Maria,
I just love you and am your biggest fan! Can you tell me what your schedule looks like the rest of the year and where I might be able see you play?
I’ve been playing for 3 years and am shooting in the mid to high 80’s, which I think is pretty good so far. I’m 14. Do you have any tips or exercises I can do to get more distance? I know I’m young and will get longer as I get bigger and stronger, but I’d like to help things along a bit! Also what do you do to stay in such great shape? Any advice at all I’d appreciate very much.
Thank You!
Kimberly
Dear Kimberly,
At the moment I am not playing or practicing. I have only 2 weeks to go before i get to know what mums life is:)
But after I have my baby, I am planing to come back and hopefully this year for Dubai Ladies Masters.
If I were you I wouldn't go after distance so much.
Distance comes from good technic and working out in a gym.
For you I would just play different sports and get faster and stronger.(like tennis)
Pilates is very good, as it works on your core and balance.
Being a golfer myself I do gym 6 times a week + running and yoga.
Take it easy for now and let your body grow and you can hit the gym when you are 16.
So good luck,
Maria
Regards,
Maria Verchenova.
(Sept 2012)
Maria,
“I was playing at southwind in Georgia, a par 3 and this was how my first shot ended up.(see attachment) Would this be considered a hole in 1 or what? because when i fixed the plugged ball mark and put the ball back down it rolled into the hole. “
Thanks,
Joe S.
Joe,
I guess it's a hole in one, cause when u repair the pitch mark it would roll back in.The only thing which makes me wonder is that, the biggest half of the ball is not crossing the line, so this ball might stay out after you repair the pitch mark.
Maria
ISAG Chime in: Hey Joe, Nice shot! My thought is it would be covered under this USGA rule….unfortunately I think it’s just a nice birdie. That is some bad luck bro!
Ask MARIA VERCHENOVA Here!
