Females In Golf

There is a six hundredth chance a college golfer will go into the LPGA. Some of the most famous professionals did not even go to college, like Nelly Korda. Nelly Korda is number one in the world right now. As a college golfer myself, it has always been a dream to go into the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Now, do I think I am good enough right now, no, definitely not. Could I be? Possibly.

As a college golfer, we practice two to five hours a day, while staying caught up on homework. And let's not get started about traveling. We miss, on average, fifteen days of school a semester. We lift three days a week and have coaches meetings at least one day a week.

Now a professional golfer’s life is constant travel but they do not have to worry about schooling. They have worries such as sponsorships. They practi ce six to eight hours a day and work out just as many hours. They are constantly on the course or in the gym. Also they are constantly getting adjustments from swing coaches. Add on top of that, 46% of female professional golfers have children. Unlike male professional golfers, females normally retire from professional golf when they begin having children.

Annika Sorenstam quit in her prime to start a family in 2009. She was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003 at age 33. And at age 40 she gave it all up. She does make occasional appearances on tour. For example, last year she hosted an LPGA event that she participated in. Being a college female golfer, you can not expect a long career in golf.

Another mother is Candy Hannemann from Brazil. She retired when she became a mother of two daughters. She returned to the spotlight during the 2016 Olympics. She played on the tour from 2004-2008 and posted six top ten finishes.

A mother that is staying in the spotlight is Michelle Wie West. Now she did take time off last year when her daughter Makenna was born, but Michelle did keep her professional card and sponsorships. Although her ranking has gone down in the past year due to some injuries and the maternity leave, overall her standings have kept up.

These are only three females of the about 800 professional golfers to give up their job for a family. Men professionals do not have to go into early retirement due to starting a family. An example would be Jack Nickolas, having five kids during his professional career without taking a break.

The difference between college golfers and professionals is the time spent training and other responsibilities in their life. College golfers have many things to juggle to succeed and professionals are on a one way track to money. That one way track is a little curvier for female professionals than male. They will be side tracked with family life and will have to take breaks, if not retire, for their true dreams.

-Sidney Parmer 10.20.2021