FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
FORE Her
Home›FORE Her›Make Golf A Career

Make Golf A Career

By Nikki Gatch
September 12, 2018
5574
0
Share:

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.”

 

Previous Article

Child’s Play at Goat Hill Park

Next Article

Top 4 College Golf Names You Need ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Nikki Gatch

Related articles More from author

  • FORE Her

    Golf, As It Was Intended

    August 22, 2018
    By Madison Lomas
  • FORE Her

    Getting Down With The New Rules

    November 15, 2018
    By Mary Shepperd
  • FORE HerProfiles

    A Teacher, Coach And Competitor

    January 23, 2018
    By Tina Schmid
  • Fall 2018FORE HerSCGA Junior

    Scholar & Athlete

    October 18, 2018
    By Mike James
  • FORE Her

    Leveling the Playing Field

    March 15, 2018
    By Jane Chin
  • FORE Her

    Golfing Through Generations: A Tale of my Grandmother’s Most Memorable Win

    November 23, 2016
    By Mary Goodwin

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • Fall 2022FeaturedGolf Groups

    Club Spotlight: SCGC Players Club

  • Fall 2022FeaturedProfiles

    Giving Back With Gusto: Joe Grohman Gains Joy in Helping Others

  • Fall 2022FeaturedTravel

    The Greens of Utah’s Color Country: Great Golf Leads the Charge in Historic, Fast-Growing St. George

  • Fall 2022FeaturedProfiles

    Designed for a Champion: Q&A with Architect Gil Hanse

  • Fall 2022FeaturedHandicap Hints

    Handicap Allowances

Fall 2022FeaturedHandicap Hints

Handicap Allowances

There is often anticipation in the air as the date for the next handicap competition at a club approaches. Participants want to know what handicap value will be used in ...
  • The Single Life: The Simple Pleasures of Being “That Guy”

    By John DeGomez
    October 25, 2022
  • Cut! Rulings Hollywood Got Wrong

    By Jeff Ninnemann
    October 25, 2022
  • From Crisis to Confidence: The Southern California Golf & Water Summit

    By Craig Kessler
    October 25, 2022
  • Direct to Golf Consumer: How Social Media is Changing the Way We Buy Equipment

    By Scott Kramer
    October 25, 2022
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise