She's got the drive

COHASSET -- There are days when Tara Joy-Connelly plays a round of golf that leaves her disappointed and frustrated. But when those emotions arise, Connelly simply reminds herself of greater achievements off the course.

"I remember my biggest accomplishment is losing 110 pounds and keeping it off," the Duxbury resident said during an interview at the Cohasset Golf Club, where her husband, J.P. Connelly, is the golf pro. "All things relative, who cares?"

Connelly smiles at the thought. She is among the most accomplished female amateur golfers in the area. She earned player of the year honors in 2005 and last year from the Women's Golf Association of Massachusetts.

This season, her highlights include capturing the WGAM Baker Trophy last month at the Woods Hole Golf Club. In the tournament, Connelly erased a seven-stroke deficit, shooting a 70 after an opening-day 78 to defeat Susan Choi by one shot.

Although Connelly remains active during the golf season, she is motivated by more than golf these days. Now more than ever, Connelly concentrates on fitness.

Using weight training and cardio to improve a golf game was not common practice when Connelly began playing. A 1991 graduate of Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, she was the state junior champion in 1990 and went on to play golf at the University of South Carolina and the University of Miami.

At the time, extensive training regimens were not part of the golf program. She just played.

In 2004, at age 31, Connelly made a decision to improve her health, not for golf but for herself. The previous year, she developed an inflammation of her optic nerve. The condition temporarily affected her vision, but, through treatments, she recovered and has had no recurrence.

But that was a turning point.

By June 2004, she was playing golf again and had lost 60 pounds, primarily by changing her diet. But the weight loss affected her swing, which produced more shanks than straight drives. She worked with Tom Cavecchi, director of golf at the Harmon Golf and Fitness Club in Rockland, who used repetition to help Connelly adapt to her slimmer frame.

"You don't have to look for cues with Tara; she just tells you what she likes," Cavicchi said. "She has that drive that makes champions."

That same year, Connelly began working out at Body to Soul Fitness in Pembroke, a women's fitness center. Working with Trish Simpson, a personal trainer and co-owner of the club, Connelly developed a training program designed to help her with nagging injuries and improve her golf game. The workouts, along with healthy eating, continued to help, Connelly said.

The workouts also helped Simpson realize that Connelly would be a positive addition to the staff for keeping other women encouraged in working toward their health goals.

"After getting to know her and her personality, I could see where she would be a huge asset to people," Simpson said. "People who have a significant amount of weight to lose will come in and be intimidated by your average workout person, but she has such a way to make people feel comfortable."

Connelly completed a course and became a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. She is now one of eight personal trainers at the club.

Once Connelly's schedule winds down, Simpson said she would like to see Connelly working with other golfers, helping them to develop a sport-specific training schedule. "I could see her working with a client in the future," Simpson said, "and I could see where she could be encouraging and passionate."

While Connelly's schedule is tied up in golf tournaments, she is not afraid to look ahead to other challenges. She wants to begin training for a 100-mile bike ride next summer. No matter what she takes on, she will do it with an approach to challenge herself.

"When you compete for so long, you can't imagine not being competitive."