Hey golf fans! Perhaps I should start with an introduction. You know those kids that do great things in high school and good things in college and then go off to attempt to be professionals? The kids that make you say, “I wonder what that what’s her name is doing now?” Well, I am one of those grown- up kids.
My name is Allie White. Back in my day I was an Ohio High School State Golf Champ and then I played three years of collegiate golf for the University of North Carolina with a brief stint at Ohio State. I am currently a proud, G-status member, of the Symetra Tour. The Symetra Tour, previously known as the Futures Tour, is the women’s golf tour directly below the LPGA Tour here in the states. Your status on the tour is determined by your previous year’s play or how you fared at good old Q-School.
Unfortunately G status is not exactly A status. In fact, status only goes A through G. I know… so what happened at Q-School? Well, I am from Ohio, and it was like watching the Cleveland Browns play football. One second it looked like “Hey, I think I’m gonna do it!” and the next second the ball was unplayable and I had missed the cut by a couple strokes. Life and golf go on as does Ohio. So it is good that I am a firm believer in both myself and the city of Cleveland. Sooner or later we are going to pull through.
At least I know my dad is sure hoping that this is the case. Both of my folks have been strong supporters of my game since I was a kid. My dad has boldly caddied for me in a few Women’s Amateurs and one magnificent US Open. Considering my occasional reckless abandon and intermittent nerves, it is no small feat surviving as my caddy. But those stories are for another day.
No, my dad is hoping I will make it on tour because he always has to explain to everyone, “Yep, she’s an English major.” That might not mean much to you but for me it is a very loaded statement. I will never forget casually walking down the fairway at the ACC Championship chatting with a Dukie. She was going on about a Private Investment internship she had coming her way. And that is when it occurred to me (it took a long time huh?) that there were a lot of business minds playing golf. I remember thinking “Wow, now I know why most of my previous playing partners have given me this look of deep questioning when I confess I am an English major.”
It was about the one hundredth time some adult said to me, “You are an English major? What are you going to do with that?” that I started to feel a bit feisty about it. I decided to stand firm in my answer, “I will figure something out.” And as someone who has worked in the snack bar, as the beer cart girl, with the grounds crew, as a summer camp counselor and now as a waitress with a side of substitute teacher and pro golfer, I think I’m doing alright. Good American business is essential but so is everything in between.
Well at least, I think my dad a fellow English major would agree. And that is a good introduction for me. Hopefully this G status thing gets bumped up really soon and I can write you articles about bigger tournaments. Until then, I am going to have to start somewhere!
Topics: Player Blog, Allie White
