From Loss to Legacy: How My Online Golf Classes Began

 Life has a funny way of pushing us in the right direction, even when it feels like everything is falling apart. My journey into online golf and fitness wasn’t something I had planned—it was born from one of the most challenging times in my life.

Losing Freshii and Finding Movement

When I lost my restaurant, Freshii, during COVID, I was heartbroken. The world was shutting down, and suddenly, everything I had poured my heart into was gone. I felt lost, uncertain, and overwhelmed with sadness. But instead of sinking into despair, I made a decision: I was going to move my body.

Pushing myself beyond the fear of hitting that Facebook Live button for the first time was terrifying. I worried about what people would think, if anyone would show up, or if I would just be talking to myself. But I did it anyway. I started doing workouts on Facebook Live—not because I had some big business idea, but because I needed it for myself. Movement has always been my therapy, and in a time of chaos, it was the one thing I could control. What I didn’t expect was how many women would join me. They, too, were looking for connection, motivation, and a reason to keep moving forward.

Janet, Golf Chats, and the First Viral Video

Some of the women in the group happened to be golfers and knew I was a golf pro. They started asking questions about golf, so I began weaving in little golf chats along with the workouts.

Then came my first-ever TikTok video. I posted a simple golf tip while explaining it to my friend Janet—and just like that, it took off. It reached thousands of people, then millions. The response was incredible, and I realized something: I had just stumbled upon something special.

The COVID Gift: Pivoting to My True Passions

Losing Freshii felt like the worst thing that could have happened to me at the time. But looking back, it was the best thing that ever happened. It forced me to pivot, to return to the things I was truly passionate about—fitness and golf.

Instead of running a restaurant, I was now running an online community of women who wanted to move, to feel good, to get stronger, and to play better golf. What started as a simple way to cope with my own loss became a thriving movement. It was my COVID gift—the unexpected blessing in the midst of uncertainty.

How Gratitude and Movement Changed Everything

Throughout it all, one thing kept me grounded: gratitude. Every single day, the women and I shared three things we were grateful for. No matter how tough things got, we focused on what was good. That simple practice shifted our mindsets. It kept us moving forward, kept us inspired, and built a community of women who uplifted each other.

Now, Get Vertical is so much more than an online golf and fitness class. It’s a family. It’s a space where women support each other, challenge themselves, and become stronger—on and off the course.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. What started as a personal journey to heal has turned into something far greater than I ever imagined. And to think, it all began with a simple decision: to move, to talk, and to share.

To all the women who’ve joined me on this journey—thank you. We’re just getting started.