Rachel Heck was a golf prodigy who qualified for the US Women’s Open at age 15 and made the cut. As a freshman in high school, she committed to play at Stanford University, where she went on to win both individual and team national championships and became Nike Golf’s very first NIL sponsored athlete. But when the time came to turn pro, Rachel decided that a life on the road and in the spotlight wasn’t for her. Instead, she earned and accepted her commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. I was very pleased to speak with Rachel, not just because she is a person of exceptional talent and character, but because she is also the daughter of my Rhodes College friends, Stacy and Robert Heck. She and I discuss her journey (so far), particular: -Struggling with perfection -The true definition of success -The importance of motherhood -How her dad “Pavlov’ed” her and her sisters into loving golf -The importance of role models, including: Condoleezza Rice (her academic advisor), Annika Sörrenstam, and Stanford Coach Anne Walker -Her favorite (and second favorite) golf course! ✍️Please rate and review Reasonably Happy (⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/paulopod⁠) ✍️ 👊Get Paul’s Substack newsletter (⁠http://words.paulollinger.com⁠) 👊

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related