Former World No.3 amateur golfer Rachel Heck says she has “come to realize” that it is no longer her dream to play professional golf and that she will remain an amateur indefinitely.
An ex-college golf teammate of LPGA Tour star Rose Zhang, Heck is in her senior year on Stanford University’s women’s golf team and has secured NCAA individual (2021) and team championships (2022) while a Cardinal.
Having also taken part in two Curtis Cups (2021 and 2022), Heck has claimed eight collegiate wins – the tied-third most in Stanford University history.
Despite looking for a long time like she would go on to take the professional game by storm as soon as she was ready, a debilitating back injury set her back somewhat and ultimately led her down a different path in life.
In a letter published by No Laying Up, the supremely-talented Heck explained that although she resumed playing while at college, she felt something was missing in her life and severe depression began to set in.
In the letter, she wrote: “Even when I was able to start playing again, I knew something was not right. I did not recognize myself anymore, on or off the course. All my joy was gone, and all my smiles were fake.
“That fall, I became severely depressed. In that period of darkness, I realized I needed something more than golf, and I vowed that I would find it. I told my parents I wanted, perhaps, to try Air Force ROTC. They told me I was crazy. It would be simply impossible to keep up with Stanford academics, Division I golf, a social life, and the military.”
Further disruption to her golf program due to a variety of different illnesses or injuries ensued and the next time Heck would play a full post-season arrived in her senior year.
“Right now, the next step is not professional golf,” she continued, before going on to explain how her life – which once revolved solely around the sport of golf – now features a handful of enriching and enjoyable factors, including time with the Air Force.
Heck said: “During these turbulent years largely away from the game, I fell in love with life again. Even though the late nights of writing papers bring immense stress, I absolutely love what I study.
“Even though I dread waking up at 4 a.m. on Fridays, I cherish every memory made with my ROTC wingmen. Even though it scares me to…
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