After graduating from UC Irvine on a Division I scholarship, Ronnie Valerio was lost. She didn’t know where to go next. She had been playing competitive golf since she was eight-years-old and with a support system that wanted a future of professional golf for her, it seemed there was nowhere else to go.

“I needed time to figure out who I was and have the freedom to figure out what I personally wanted for my future instead of what others expected of me,” Valerio said. “It was then, where I knew I wasn’t ready to devote my all into such an immersive and demanding career path.”

Instead, she decided to go through the PGA Apprentice program and receive her Class A within two years – a fast-track timeline for the 26-year-old. With women like Ronnie and efforts like #inviteHER – a campaign dedicated to the hesitant women around the game who aren’t quite in the game just yet – golf is better for it.

“If there is one thing I would tell my younger self, it would be to not be afraid and put yourself in the situations that make you feel uncomfortable in life,” Valerio said. “Once you face the things that make you scared you will only grow and become stronger.”

“It’s been such a blessing to combine my love for the game but also use my knowledge and experience from my college days to contribute to women in such a male-dominant industry,” Valerio said. “Growing up, I never had a female instructor whom I could relate to. What drives me today is to grow the game, especially for females who are looking to get into it.”

Golf is an $84 billion industry, employing nearly two million people in this country. I think too often our young golfers, especially girls, think that if they don’t move on to the professional level on the Tour, there’s not much more for them. They couldn’t be more wrong. Careers in golf are abundant. From working for a golf manufacturer as a digital content coordinator at Callaway, to becoming a golf fitness guru, a buyer and merchandiser for your local golf club, or working as a teaching pro, the list goes on.

A good part of my career has involved junior golf – it’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I’ve had the great fortune of creating life-long friendships with many of the golfers I met when they were juniors. Some of course have made it to the elite level of professional golf; that’s an amazing feat and something we all applaud regularly – whether it’s in front of a TV or behind the ropes. However, an even larger percentage have found their passion for the game leading them to a different career path – one they didn’t expect as a competitive player.

Golf is an $84 billion industry, employing nearly two million people in this country.

Whether it’s your daughter, granddaughter, or simply a friend looking to kick-start her career, encourage a young golfer in your life to follow her love of the game and consider a career in the golf industry. Like Ronnie, she is now a PGA Professional at Tustin Ranch GC and hasn’t looked back.

Even though many may have dreamed of making it big on the tour, for most, that just isn’t reality. However, the many opportunities available to translate your passion, experience and expertise with the game to ultimately live out everyone’s dream – to do what makes us happy for a living – that’s what’s powerful about the game.

“If there is one thing I would tell my younger self, it would be to not be afraid and put yourself in the situations that make you feel uncomfortable in life,” Valerio said. “Once you face the things that make you scared you will only grow and become stronger.”