The value of learning and growth: Page Marsh

After a 14-year hiatus from 1986-2000, Page Marsh took the helm of the reinstated women’s golf program at NC State. Marsh is a North Carolina native who brought experience from every level of golf. She started playing from a young age, as her mom was involved in the amateur golf community, and continued throughout college and professionally.

Both her sisters also played collegiately and they still play today, but golf was never something that was forced onto Marsh and her sisters, as her parents encouraged them to try a variety of activities.

“I was really fostered in a family that cared about education and growth,” Marsh said. “I played basketball, I was the point guard, I played softball, I was the pitcher, I got into tennis and I wasn’t the best but I won the award for best attitude.”

She also played piano until her senior year of high school.

Marsh likes to emphasize that she wasn’t raised to be a golfer or even athlete, but rather raised to be someone who values learning and understanding how to grow.

She had humble beginnings as she shot a 133 in her first tournament when she was just seven or eight years old.

“I didn’t show any sign of anything,” Marsh said. “So I mean I’m a very persistent and determined person, so I can remember that the sixteenth hole has water and my game, I moved more dirt than the ball, and I had to aim at the bridge to get it across. That became who I was as a player though, I would try to find another way. Knocking it across the bridge wasn’t normal.”

Marsh has always had this mindset, that she credits her parents for, and uses her passion of games and competitiveness to drive her success in the golf world.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the game, and I love games and I love to compete, so I’m very driven in that fashion,” Marsh said. “Golf to me is very creative, it is something that really fit my personality and my competitive side.”

After a successful high school career that saw her win three NC Junior Girls Championships, Marsh went on to play for UNC-Chapel Hill where she put together quite the resume. She was named All-ACC in 1984 and 1985 and was also an NCAA All-American selection in 1983.

During her time in Chapel Hill, Marsh recorded 15 top-10 finishes, including wins at the 1981 and 1982 Duke Invitationals, and the 1982 Pat Bradley Invitational. She was named the Tar Heels’ MVP all four years of her collegiate career.

After graduating from UNC, Marsh moved to Orlando and began her professional playing career where she competed in the Future Tour Events and Women’s Florida Golf Tour in 1986 and 1987. After the two years though Marsh realized professional golf was not the life for her.

“I really did not enjoy the lifestyle of a touring pro,” Marsh said. “I loved the competitive side of it and the learning part of it, but not, I could tell, the lifestyle.”

After her professional career, Marsh returned to North Carolina and went on to be a reinstated amateur and became one of the most accomplished players in North Carolina history.

Marsh was the North-South Amateur Champion in 1989. She also earned notable amateur wins in Mexico and International Women’s Four Ball. She went on to represent North Carolina 13 times in the Carolinas-Virginias team matches, where she was team captain from 1994-98 and was also a North Carolina Women’s Amateur Champion. She won the event six times throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s and was a five-time Women’s Carolina Amateur Champion as well during that time.

Golf Digest twice ranked Marsh as a top-10 amateur player in the nation.

Before her turn to coaching, Marsh worked at the Pinehurst Resort, where she also taught at her old high school and coached the women’s basketball team. She never coached golf there though as her old coach was still there.

“It was good for me to be able to mentor in another capacity and bring some experience to them,” Marsh said. “I taught honors English, I taught writing and world literature and I really tried to bring a love of learning to all of my classrooms.”

Marsh brings this same passion of learning to her team today and has turned NC State into one of the premier teams in the ACC.

“I love young adults and I love trying to help them figure things out,” Marsh said. “I always work to foster an environment that is supportive, yet challenging.”

In the past 18 years, Marsh has led the program to 15 NCAA Regional Championship appearances, nine team tournament wins, while also taking home Coach of the Year honors in 2002.  

“I started with nothing, so it makes me even more appreciative of all the people who’ve helped me accomplish these things,” Marsh said. “So I do really treasure and value giving that opportunity that was given to me and entrusting it with the eight young women on this team and I hope they can begin to see how valuable it is, in that we all are entrusted with things and what we can do with it is what we leave for the whole university, not only for women’s golf.”