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There’s an old adage in golf that goes something like this: “Any day on the golf course beats a day at the office.”
That has never been more true for three girlfriends who meet regularly at the Owatonna Country Club for a round of golf and a lot of laughs.
“Golf has been a very good social thing for all of us,” said Jolayne Mohs,who has been golfing with close friends Mandy Young and Stacy Hanson for nearly three years. “We end up doing things together sort of as a spin-off from golf.”
The three amigas would much rather be whooping it up or supporting each other on the golf course than working, and find that getting together is a big stress release. “It’s an escape,” said 31-year-old Jolayne, who has two children ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2.
“For all of us, it’s a break from being a mom. We’re good friends and we lend moral support to each other.”
In the beginning While Jolayne and Mandy have worked together for nearly five years, their relationship has grown stronger now that they golf together.
They have parlayed that love of the game into more social events and a much deeper friendship.
“Mandy is much more than an acquaintance and golf partner,” said Jolayne, who has been a member of the Owatonna Country Club for three years and has golfed off and on for the better part of 10 years. “Our families get together in a social setting, but golf has really been a catalyst for a more personal friendship.”
Mandy couldn’t agree more. “Jolayne put me under her wing and has encouraged me not only on the golf course, old Mandy. “I consider them both good friends. We have a good time on the golf course and when we aren’t golfing.”
Stacy has her husband Scott to thank for her introduction to both Jolayne, and a roundabout way, Mandy. Both
Jolayne’s husband and Stacy’s husband golf together, which led to the introduction of their wives.
“A little more than two years ago, I met Stacy,” Jolayne said. “We were at a social function with our husbands and from there they started golfing together. Then we all joined in.”
Thursday night fun
While the three “Covergirls” tend to golf and socialize on a regular basis, there is a group of six or seven friends who take part in the Thursday night women’s golf league at the Country Club.
For Stacy, who has golfed the longest and tends to be the coordinator of most of the activities including golf, this group of women is tight-knit.
“While I do a lot with Jolayne and Mandy, all of the women in the group (including Peggy Hanson, Lori Haarstad, Michelle Simon and Tia Marks) are all good friends,” said 36-year-old Stacy. “We like to mix things up on Thursday nights.”
Girlfriends photo by Kelli Wencl of Ginger Snaps Photography
Stacy Hanson (from left), Mandy Young and Jolayne Mohs had fun during the Girlfriends “Covergirl” photo shoot recently at the Owatonna Country Club.