For most instances in life, good things must eventually come to an end.
Michelle Kim made the difficult decision to discontinue her golf career after playing since the age of 10 for teams like the Canadian National Team and the Vandal women’s golf team.
Kim grew up in a golf family, with her father working as a golf teacher and her sister a competing as a professional golfer.
Kim’s father first taught her sister to golf and as she progressed, Kim saw her opportunity to start young.
“When she got really good I thought this was really cool,” Kim said. “I could probably be better than her in a friendly sibling rivalry kind of thing, so that is how I got into it.”
Kim played all through her years in school and joined the Canadian National Team when she was 17.
“They really helped me develop into that elite competitive golfer and with them, I was able to travel almost all around the world to compete with the best,” Kim said.
Idaho Head Coach Lisa Johnson discovered Kim inadvertently when she sent an assistant coach to prospect another player. Johnson said the coach thought Kim would be a better addition to the team.
“He spotted Michelle and called me right away, explaining that he liked this player Michelle Kim , so we offered her a scholarship to play here at UI,” Johnson said. “I then waltzed around the western United States that summer watching her play and I was very impressed with her.”
Kim made the decision to come to Idaho after an official visit.
“When I came for a visit, it was everything that I expected and everything that I wanted in a college town,” Kim said. “My then-to-be teammates were amazing and we instantly bonded and I just felt super at home.”
Courtesy of Idaho Athletics
Kim has played here ever since and helped the team in many ways through strong leadership and a friendly personality that keeps spirits high.
“Team atmosphere is the most important thing that I feel is my responsibility,” Kim said. “I always try to keep the team loose in pressuring moments.”
Johnson also agrees that Kim leads through a good attitude.
“Michelle is a very steady, fun personality and just a good person to be around,” Johnson said. “The whole team enjoys being around her and she leads by example with her strong work ethic.”
Kim’s golf career will end here at Idaho as she has made the decision to go into normal work life rather than continue pursuing a professional golf career.
“I recently made the very hard decision to not turn professional,” Kim said. “I think it got to a point where I wasn’t enjoying the competition as much.”
Kim has erienced the professional scene through her family so she knows what it would take to play professionally.
“I have an older sister who turned professional and I was able to see through her if that was the lifestyle I wanted and unfortunately it was not,” Kim said.
Johnson said that Kim is ready for whatever is next in her life.
“Kim has really been a strong member of this team through her leadership and she has really made a name for herself in the history books,” Johnson said.
Kim is currently in the job search with hopes to get a position in marketing in the Vancouver area.
Kim said golf has prepared her in many ways for her future by developing her as a person.
“Golf is about life skills in general,” Kim said. “Sportsmanship and etiquette are just some to begin with but the sport developed me into a more mature person in terms of time management, relationship building and commitment.”
Connor Swersey can be reached at [email protected]