When Liv Cheng arrives at a new site on Tour, she quickly pulls up Google or asks her host family if there any tourist sites nearby. Following the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in Rochester, New York, she visited Niagara Falls with fellow Tour professionals Hannah Green, Stephanie Na and Emily McLennan. To spice up tour life and avoid the golf course-hotel-golf course-hotel-golf course-next tour stop route, many players try to catch the sites before, after and sometimes during events.

When the Tour was in Beaumont for the IOA Championship, Cheng, who went to Pepperdine for college, took Na around Hollywood. In transit to the Tullymore Classic, Cheng and company went to Mackinaw Island. When the Tour played in Northern California, she ran around San Francisco with friends.

“It’s nice to not think about golf,” said Cheng, who usually does most of her site-seeing on Monday’s. “It’s also nice to appreciate where we are and realize that we get to travel the world while chasing our dreams. I would never go to a place like Mackinaw Island if I weren't driving six hours (from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan towards Grand Rapids).”

Cheng was blown away by Niagara Falls.

“That was something else, we have some pretty sites in New Zealand, but nothing quite as big as Niagara Falls,” said Cheng. “It makes you feel small and puts golf into perspective. It makes you realize that these are just rounds of golf.”

Cheng picked up her first career win earlier this season at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club and currently ranks 19th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

“I never come to the course on Monday after driving 8-hours or whatever the case may be,” said Cheng. “It’s good to rest your mind for the day and don’t touch the clubs. It definitely makes Tour life more enjoyable.”

Cheng hasn’t had her “A” game of late, and she is taking next week off to vacation in Europe.

“I booked it ages ago because I want to see the world and I thought what am I waiting for,” said Cheng, who made sure to time it so she has two weeks to practice after returning to the U.S. “I’m young, and I want to see the world."

She is going to Italy, Greece, and Denmark.

“Honestly, golf is really important to me, but I just need a break,” said Cheng. “There is still so much golf to play after I get back from Europe so missing one event is not bad.”

Mia Piccio of the Philippines has the same mindset as Cheng. She hiked up the Hollywood sign with Monifa Sealy and Caroline Martens, she went to the Twin Peaks city view in San Francisco and did the Made of Mist boat ride at Niagara Falls. In between tournaments in Decatur, Illinois and Harris, Michigan, she went to Chicago and visited the Navy Pier. She also went to Traverse City during the Tullymore Classic and went to a Cherry Festival.

“There was also a carnival (in Traverse City), it was so much fun,” said Piccio. “Me and Mo (Monifa Sealy) went, and we had no plans. We were deciding on a winery or brewery so we went to the brewery and then after that, we walked around and saw the Cherry Festival. We rode some rides at this carnival too. It was such a random day.”

Piccio, who estimated spending about 40 hours a week at the golf course, said that the time away helps. The 40 hours doesn’t include working out at the gym.

“It’s a great way to see the world, and it’s really fun to do it with your friends too,” said Piccio. “You really need to have balance in your life, especially when you’re always at the golf course. "

How Players Spice up Tour Life

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