Today we sat down with Carolin Pinegger, a former professional golfer on the Symetra Tour, who currently works as a Marketing Coordinator at David Leadbetter Golf. Carolin was one of the most decorated junior golfers out of Austria and considers golf her personal sanctuary.
1. About your golfing life
How did you first get into golf?
My mother fell in love with golf around the time I was born and she started taking my sister and me to the golf club every day. I basically grew up on the golf course. My sister never showed much interest but I caught the golf bug quickly and started playing and taking lessons when I was 7 years old.
What do you like most about golf?
I love that it is such a strategic game that requires a lot of power and strength in a mental as well as a physical sense. Many people dismiss golf as a “real” sport. In that case I always challenge them to WALK 18 holes while carrying their bag and keeping their focus sharp for 4-5 hours straight…. Yea most of them will change their mind after this exercise. Oh, and they should also hit balls for 3 hours before or after… but again, how hard can it be. 😉
What would make golf more fun?
Hmm, this is a tough one, and you may get a different answer from many people. For me, I love analyzing things, that is fun to me. So all the new technology that is coming into the game of golf right now is making it more fun, since it gives quicker and more accurate feedback for me to work with.
Your funniest golf experience?
My mom accidentally breaking my custom driver one day before a professional event, getting it replaced, but somehow totally missing the fact that the face/weight setting was mistakenly turned all the way to FADE and Teeing off with it. For everyone who is not so familiar with the rules, the player is not allowed to change that setting during the round, so needless to say; my ball never saw the left side of the fairway that day. It was stressful at the time but very entertaining now.
When did you decide to become a professional golfer?
I always knew that I wanted to play professional golf, which is why I moved to IMG at the age of 16.
Could you tell us more about your new role at David Leadbetter Golf?
Well, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work within the industry that I love, along side a great team. David and his team really are an inspiration to the world of golf and work hard to foster growth and innovation within the golf industry. I currently serve as the Marketing Coordinator at the World Headquarters, and my role is involved with many parts of the business, like branding, marketing, global expansion and career development.
If you could give one advice to amateur golfers, what would it be?
Play YOUR game. The one thing I have learned is to trust my instincts on the course and make sure that when working on my swing I build upon the good things in my movement not try to constantly fight the things that are bad. Focus on the good movements and optimize them, this will automatically lessen the bad ones.
I first heard about it from one of the founders, Arthur, who is now one of my very good friends. I initially got in with him through mutual business friends in the golf realm but I am now a user myself and I love it.
Complete the sentence: What I like the most about All Square is…
The vision to create a global golf community that can now share and interact about their passion.
Your favorite feature on All Square?
I love the course reviews, as this is really helpful when I travel.
3. Rapid Fire Questions
Hitting long drives or sinking long putts?
There is nothing like sinking long putts…
Your lowest round ever?
67.
Your best friends on Tour?
Giulia Molinaro (Italy) and Krista Puisite (Latvia). She was even on Big Break with me.
Who has the best swing on Tour (Men and Ladies)?
Charl Schwartzel on the PGA Tour and Michelle Wie on the LPGA.
