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 Kim Kouwabunpat has many business ventures besides pro golf, including fitness modeling. Did you enjoy being on “Big Break?” It turned out to be one of the most invigorating and amazing experiences of my golf career and life. I’ve been competing since I was about 10 years old, so I’m used to tournament pressure, but I’ve never felt so nervous as I was when hitting shots in front of the camera. The things your body goes through — shaking and sweating — it’s almost unexplainable. What’s one thing people may not know about the show? After you’re eliminated, you’re sort of quarantined and moved to a different part of the hotel. I was the third one off — from that point on, I was hanging out on Golf Channel’s tab, which was fun, like a little vacation while the shoot’s going on.  What’s a typical day like for you?Usually it’s on the golf course, but when I’m not golfing, I do a lot of fitness training — and even some fitness modeling (pictured, right). I recently got into triathlon training, I’m trying to start swimming more because it’s a big weakness of mine. I also spend time working with Play Golf Designs, which has been great for me because it touches on a couple of things I’m interested in — business and golf, and how can we take women’s golf to that next level to increase its profile and get more people interested. How does Play Golf Designs help with that? The LPGA Tour is a great institution. They create dreams for young women, and Play Golf Designs is about helping supplement those dreams and raise the Tour’s profile — making it more of that stage to play on, like the PGA Tour or NBA is. PGD is a players organization, we support the golfers and try to raise the LPGA Tour's profile by conducting custom golf events with pros and promoting them through different media outlets. Are you a big LPGA Tour fan? Do you enjoy watching it? I will be honest — I will watch NBA, baseball and tennis before I watch women’s golf, only because I don’t watch a lot of TV, and when I do, it’s at the gym or a place where Golf Channel’s not on. I do watch when I have friends out there that are playing, like Kim Hall and Anna Rawson. Do you enjoy life as a tour player? Life on the women’s mini tours is pretty rough. If you’re playing great, you’re basically breaking even. I don’t like playing a tournament when my focus is needing to play well enough to make a check to cover expenses. But without all the hardships, I don’t think I’d be where I am today as a person. You grow up so much from being out there.  What are some of your favorite courses in Southern California? What do you like about golf here?Bel-Air Country Club is awesome because it’s not terribly long from the tips but still challenging. It was designed by the same person [George C. Thomas] as my home course, Red Hill Country Club. Orange County has some awesome courses that are accessible, most importantly. Tustin Ranch is kind of interesting, and I like Tijeras Creek a lot. In the Inland Empire, I like Goose Creek and Empire Lakes. What’s your dream job outside golf? I’ve always wanted to be an NBA sideline reporter. I’m a big sports fan, and I especially love watching the NBA — I am by far the biggest Lakers fan ever! I look up to [NBA sideline television reporters] like Michele Tafoya and Lisa Salters, they’ve done a lot for sports reporting for women. Have you heard any funny pickup lines on the golf course? No, but If I’m out with friends and people find out I’m a golfer, they automatically start asking me about how to fix their slice or if I could give them golf lessons. But golf is one of the last things I want to talk about if I’m out with my friends. |
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RSS SubscribeReaders Feedback:
Kim is an amazing young talent, who has added triathalon competition to her many achievements. Nice article.
| Comment at 10/3/2009 |
1. Do you like Sushi? 2. Are you single?
| Comment at 10/24/2009 |
