Oklahoma State University Athletics
Life Through Golf: Tent Saithip
November 22, 2024 | Cowgirl Golf
As the Oklahoma sun dipped over Karsten Creek, Thitaporn "Tent" Saithip found herself reflecting on how far she had come since first picking up a club at age 6. Back then, she was simply following her father to the course, finding enjoyment in the game he loved.
"I started playing golf when I was six years old, I fell in love with it because my father would take me with him to the course growing up," Saithip said. "He was really dedicated to golf and he loved golf so much. Then I found out that it was kind of fun to play golf and I just kept practicing every day."
Now, as a junior on Oklahoma State's women's golf team, Saithip's passion and dedication have transformed her into a leader on the team she calls her family.
But the journey to OSU was not always easy.
Saithip first caught the eye of OSU's coaches at a U.S. tournament, though her performance that day didn't go as planned. Instead of discouragement, she found understanding and encouragement in the OSU staff.
"I played bad. I didn't make the cut," Saithip said. "But when I came to talk to coach Maddi Swaney and the other coaches on staff, I asked them, 'Why do you still want me, or still want to talk to me, while other schools didn't after my performance?' They told me, 'Golf—you can have a bad round and a good round. We still see potential in you.'"
It was a message that resonated, as OSU's coaches saw a side of Saithip she had not yet seen in herself.Â
Their confidence pushed her to accept a new challenge — one that required her to leave her family, friends and familiar surroundings in Thailand.
Saithip's freshman year was marked by significant adjustments. Moving from a warm, bustling city in Thailand to the smaller, quieter community of Stillwater was a culture shift and the cold Oklahoma winters took some getting used to.
"At first during my freshman year, it was kind of a big adjustment for me," she said. "It's different in Thailand – I mean, my family is there. It's my hometown. The food is better. I also wasn't used to the cold weather in the winter."
Despite the challenges, Saithip adapted and grew, both as a player and a person. When she returns home to Thailand during breaks, her family notices the changes in her demeanor.
"Every time I go home my mom tells me I've grown up a lot," Saithip said. "That to me is a good thing though."
During her freshman year, Saithip had the advantage of learning from a team led by upperclassmen who guided the Cowgirls to a Big 12 Championship and a run in the NCAA Championships.Â
Now, she is one of the few upperclassmen on a young team that includes four freshmen.
"When I got here, there were more upperclassmen and I was the rookie," Saithip said. "But now, it's kind of a whole new team. Since we're young and now I'm one of the veterans."
As one of the team's veterans, Saithip has stepped into a mentoring role, helping her younger teammates navigate college golf and team travel.Â
"I help them and show them what we do when we travel to tournaments and how to prepare for everything," she said.
Part of Saithip's routine before every round involves listening to music, a ritual that helps her center herself and set the tone for the day ahead.
"For me, I have to listen to music before I play golf," she said. "No matter what it is—just during the warmup. I must listen to music, no matter whether it's sad music or hip-hop. But I need it to calm myself and get ready, it helps start the mood before a match."
Golf is more than just a sport to Saithip—it's a constant source of growth and a way to honor her family and her roots.Â
While she enjoys her time off the course, exploring her interests in sci-fi movies and practicing K-pop dances, she knows her purpose lies on the greens.
As she continues her career at OSU, Saithip feels immense gratitude for the support of her coaches and the opportunity to play at the highest collegiate level.
"They saw that if they guided me in the right direction, I could be a good player. Now I'm finally the player they always knew I'd become."
Â
"I started playing golf when I was six years old, I fell in love with it because my father would take me with him to the course growing up," Saithip said. "He was really dedicated to golf and he loved golf so much. Then I found out that it was kind of fun to play golf and I just kept practicing every day."
Now, as a junior on Oklahoma State's women's golf team, Saithip's passion and dedication have transformed her into a leader on the team she calls her family.
But the journey to OSU was not always easy.
Saithip first caught the eye of OSU's coaches at a U.S. tournament, though her performance that day didn't go as planned. Instead of discouragement, she found understanding and encouragement in the OSU staff.
"I played bad. I didn't make the cut," Saithip said. "But when I came to talk to coach Maddi Swaney and the other coaches on staff, I asked them, 'Why do you still want me, or still want to talk to me, while other schools didn't after my performance?' They told me, 'Golf—you can have a bad round and a good round. We still see potential in you.'"
It was a message that resonated, as OSU's coaches saw a side of Saithip she had not yet seen in herself.Â
Their confidence pushed her to accept a new challenge — one that required her to leave her family, friends and familiar surroundings in Thailand.
Saithip's freshman year was marked by significant adjustments. Moving from a warm, bustling city in Thailand to the smaller, quieter community of Stillwater was a culture shift and the cold Oklahoma winters took some getting used to.
"At first during my freshman year, it was kind of a big adjustment for me," she said. "It's different in Thailand – I mean, my family is there. It's my hometown. The food is better. I also wasn't used to the cold weather in the winter."
Despite the challenges, Saithip adapted and grew, both as a player and a person. When she returns home to Thailand during breaks, her family notices the changes in her demeanor.
"Every time I go home my mom tells me I've grown up a lot," Saithip said. "That to me is a good thing though."
During her freshman year, Saithip had the advantage of learning from a team led by upperclassmen who guided the Cowgirls to a Big 12 Championship and a run in the NCAA Championships.Â
Now, she is one of the few upperclassmen on a young team that includes four freshmen.
"When I got here, there were more upperclassmen and I was the rookie," Saithip said. "But now, it's kind of a whole new team. Since we're young and now I'm one of the veterans."
As one of the team's veterans, Saithip has stepped into a mentoring role, helping her younger teammates navigate college golf and team travel.Â
"I help them and show them what we do when we travel to tournaments and how to prepare for everything," she said.
Part of Saithip's routine before every round involves listening to music, a ritual that helps her center herself and set the tone for the day ahead.
"For me, I have to listen to music before I play golf," she said. "No matter what it is—just during the warmup. I must listen to music, no matter whether it's sad music or hip-hop. But I need it to calm myself and get ready, it helps start the mood before a match."
Golf is more than just a sport to Saithip—it's a constant source of growth and a way to honor her family and her roots.Â
While she enjoys her time off the course, exploring her interests in sci-fi movies and practicing K-pop dances, she knows her purpose lies on the greens.
As she continues her career at OSU, Saithip feels immense gratitude for the support of her coaches and the opportunity to play at the highest collegiate level.
"They saw that if they guided me in the right direction, I could be a good player. Now I'm finally the player they always knew I'd become."
Â
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