⌛ Junior golfer spotlight
This week we're featuring Atlanta-native Isabel Emanuels. Not only is she from the Class of 2026, she's already committed to play D-1 golf at the University of Georgia. Isabel gave us a closer look at her journey as a junior golfer.
She lives in Austin, Texas now and she is so excited about her future in
Athens, Georgia. We appreciate Isabel sharing such great information for junior golfers!
How did you start playing golf?
There are two sets of people that
were instrumental in how I got into golf. First, my dad and grandfather got me into the amazing game of golf by taking me with them to the driving range when I was four. I remember thinking this is so cool. That was short lived because we moved to Singapore for a couple of years. When we came back, I immediately asked my parents to take golf lessons. It was then where I met Allison Hanna, who played on the LPGA Tour and became my first golf coach. She really
believed in me and told me I could be really good. Ever since then, golf has been my happy place and every day I work hard towards my goal of becoming an LPGA player.
Where will you play college golf?
I am verbally committed to the University of Georgia! I am truly blessed to have this opportunity and I am very excited to be going back home to my home state of Georgia representing the Dawgs!
Do you have advice on the recruiting
process?
I have three great advice tips. The first piece of advice I can give to people in the recruiting process is to trust the process.
At times during the recruiting process, you can feel
overwhelmed with the amount of communication or even anxious wondering if your dream school will contact you. But, don’t worry, it will all work out and you will end up at the right place that is meant for you.
Secondly, take the time to interview and get to know each coach. Coming across good coaches who
are genuinely good people makes it so much more exciting and less stressful.
My last piece of advice would be to talk to as many schools as you can, as it gives you an opportunity to practice speaking to different coaches, answer different questions, and most importantly provides you insights into each coach and
program. Approach each call with a sense of gratefulness and always give them the best version of you.
Do you set yearly goals?
Yes, it’s a must! Before
the start of each year my family and I state our goals for the upcoming year and develop these mini vision boards. We also take the time to check our progress towards those goals and whether those goals need to be adjusted. Providing a clear plan gives you something to work towards every day.
What is your biggest achievement in golf to this point?
Committing to the G takes the top spot for sure! As far as tournament play, I think my biggest accomplishment in golf is placing runner-up at my first Women’s Western Junior, last summer. For me, this tournament was a huge step in my journey because it proved
that I could compete with the best girls in the country. I showed a lot of grit and perseverance throughout the week and felt really proud. Although I didn't win the championship match, I gained a lot of learning experience and met some incredible women along the way.
What part of
your game are you working on right now? I would say the mental side, as it’s always a work in progress. I’m working on keeping things simple and keeping the mind strong throughout each round. I’ve also recently picked up AIM Point and am starting to notice some real improvements on the greens. So, I definitely need to keep working on mastering that technique for sure.
Who is your instructor?
My instructor is Brech Spradley at the Barton Creek Golf Academy. I met Brech when we first moved to Austin and he’s been my coach ever since.
Is there some advice you can give others to be recruited for college golf?
My best advice I can give on being recruited is to be your authentic self. Coaches want to see who you are as a person, and
not just as the golfer.
Favorite restaurant?
My favorite restaurant in Austin is Red Ash Italia. My favorite dish at Red Ash is their Blue Crab
pasta.
What other hobbies do you participate in when you’re not playing golf?
When I’m not playing golf, you can find me watching Formula One, College
Football, or the NFL. I love following my teams and their stats every weekend.
Who is your favorite social media influencer?
My favorite social media
influencer is the Shortgamechef. He posts really good golf tips on short game and he gives me different ways on how to be creative around the greens.
