A life without a golf club in hand, but with a clear vision for the future of the sport: Anna La, just 21 years old and a student at the University of Georgia, proves you don't have to be a “golf course kid” to shake up the industry. For Anna's family, who immigrated from Vietnam to the States, golf was an expensive pastime for the wealthy. Access? Resources? Non-existent. But the sport of golf has other ways of capturing hearts.
Her personal breakthrough came through her college boyfriend's family, who took her to the course. Anna, always abreast of sports photography, digital content, and web design, saw in it not just a new passion but a career opportunity. She transferred to the University of Georgia to study sports media and forge her destiny in the golf business.
Breaking In with Industry Giants
Thanks to the USGA's new "Pathways Launch" program, Anna landed a three-month social media internship at Callaway over the summer. In the hallowed halls of Callaway in Carlsbad, California, she excelled. She created content both on-site and off-site, analyzed its performance, edited videos, and familiarized herself with new digital platforms. In short: She was fully immersed and showed how it's done right.
A Program That Opens Doors
Anna's story is not an isolated case but a prime example of the impact of "Pathways Launch." In its first year, the program placed 24 students with ten golf organizations. The mission is clear: to diversify the golf industry and bring in talent from groups that have historically been marginalized. It's not just about getting more people on the course, but about making careers in media, marketing, and business accessible to everyone – even those who weren't born with a putter in hand. This is truly powerful and shows how the golf world is opening up to give women and young talents a real chance, as also discussed at England Golf’s Women & Girls Summit on October 9, 2026, with over 260 participants.
