Finding your special place is a meaningful experience. And it’s something that two-time PGA WORKS Scholarship recipient Rachel Wohn first discovered on the golf course as a teen and now in the golf industry early in her career.
“Golf has had a really profound impact on my life. I have my grandfather to really thank for that,” she said. “He’s the one who introduced me to it. He lives in South Korea and he’s very good. In his prime, he was a scratch golfer. He taught me the basics when I was 11 years old and I’ve just been playing ever since. The golf course is definitely a safe and happy space for me.”
Born in California, Rachel and her family moved to South Carolina when she was around nine years old. She describes it as a little bit of a culture shock, but it allowed golf to become her safe haven.
“I moved to a small town where there weren’t very many people of color there at the time. So growing up, I felt a little odd at school,” she explained. “But I found a safe haven in golf.”
“It really helped open me up socially and helped me develop me interpersonally. I got to meet so many really cool kids playing golf tournaments and meeting kids at golf clinics, and I’ve grown up playing golf with them and I’m still friends with them even today.”
Born in California, Rachel and her family moved to South Carolina when she was around nine years old. She describes it as a little bit of a culture shock, but it allowed golf to become her safe haven.
“I moved to a small town where there weren’t very many people of color there at the time. So growing up, I felt a little odd at school,” she explained. “But I found a safe haven in golf.”
“It really helped open me up socially and helped me develop me interpersonally. I got to meet so many really cool kids playing golf tournaments and meeting kids at golf clinics, and I’ve grown up playing golf with them and I’m still friends with them even today.”
Now, her dream is to make that safe haven a lasting career. Rachel played golf competitively in high school and then college. Eventually, she transferred to Clemson, enrolling in their PGM Program to make that dream a reality.
There, she discovered the PGA WORKS GMU Scholarship, which awards $8,000 to students from diverse backgrounds pursuing a PGA Golf Management University Program degree. The scholarship, she says, has been incredibly valuable beyond its monetary assistance.
“I applied, and then a few months later, I got an email saying that I got it. It’s definitely been a really great resource for me because not only was it able to make my education at Clemson more affordable, but it’s also helped me connect with some really great people who have previously received the scholarship, or they got it with me.”
Rachel also completed an internship with the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) as a communications intern. Which allowed her to experience a plethora of job opportunities within the golf industry from photography to social media to tournament operations.
One thing that is important to Rachel is mentioning those who have helped her along this journey. She’s had several mentors, leaders and people in the industry who have supported her.
“Adam and Rick from Clemson PGM, Madison Balfe from the CGA and Rachel Mabee from PGA WORKS have been just such a wonderful resources for me to grow my career.” Rachel said.
While this internship further solidified her desire for a career in the industry, it also provided her a clear path forward. Currently, she’s working with Augusta National as a Digital Technology intern. As for what’s next? The future is in her hands.
“I want to work in broadcasting or media content creation within the golf industry. My internship at CGA really made it click and I realized this is what I want to do. I found a concentration within the golf industry that I really want to focus on because I knew it was right for me,” she explained. “I wake up every day and I’m excited to go to work. I feel like I’m one of the lucky people that gets to say that.”
