Russia isn’t a country known for its golf stars. One reason is the weather. The freezing conditions make sitting in a bar necking vodka shots a much better sporting option than dragging your ass around a frozen 18-hole course.

But one Russian golfer who can definitely warm things up is Maria Verchenova.

Maria is teeing off in Rio where she will be looking at grabbing her nation some Olympic golfing gold.

Course is so cool 😍🌻🌻🌻🌻🐊🐊🐊🐊 A post shared by Maria Verchenova (@mariaverchenova) on Aug 15, 2016 at 1:11pm PDT

She has started off with a first round 75 but she knows how to find her way out of rough situations.

Earlie session with Kevin… #olimpic #olimpicGolf #golf #олимпиада #рио#спортсмен#гольф A video posted by Maria Verchenova (@mariaverchenova) on Aug 6, 2016 at 7:58am PDT

Ha) Friend of mine sent it to me yesterday💖 so here we go, picture been taken 2 years ago for @golfpunkhq #bikini 👙 A post shared by Maria Verchenova (@mariaverchenova) on Jun 12, 2016 at 9:50pm PDT

I promise my last picture from Spain, but it's hard not to think about it cause weather in Moscow is very cold 😢#imissspain A post shared by Maria Verchenova (@mariaverchenova) on Jun 9, 2016 at 2:47am PDT

She’s also very handy on the putting green.

Maria was originally a ballet dancer but at 5 foot 7 (at just 12 years of age) it was always difficult for her to find a partner.

She discovered golf whilst on holidays. Golf soon became her new love.

She practiced around the clock even in temperatures as low as minus 11.

She has helped boot golf’s profile in Russia. Moscow the capital has quadrupled it’s number of golf courses in recent years- they now have eight!

We’ll be getting around Maria in her quest for an Olympic medal.

For all our golf-loving readers here are some tips from Maria on how to get yourself out of bunker trouble.





by Michael T. Lynch – contributor