The golf industry has long been shaped by bold women — even when their names weren’t always recognized. Three years ago, Golf Inc. introduced the Hilda Allen Award to honor women who lead with vision, grit and generosity, just as Allen did throughout her decades-long career as one of the nation’s most respected golf course brokers.
Since then, we’ve recognized 15 women who have not only excelled in their careers but have also created space for others to grow. They’ve been operators, architects, executives, innovators and mentors — each one helping push the business of golf forward.
This year, we honor 10 more women who are shaping the future of the game in meaningful ways.
Regina Sosing
Co-founder and Senior Vice President
Links Bridges USA, Inc.
Sosing never set out to be known in golf circles. But over the past decade, she’s become a familiar and respected face, especially among those who’ve needed to replace or rethink their course bridges.
As the face of Links Bridges, Sosing has helped introduce a new product category to the golf world: fiberglass bridges designed to look and feel like natural wood. Today, these durable, low-maintenance bridges can be found at hundreds of golf courses across more than 40 states. Many of those deals began with a handshake or a conversation with Sosing.
“My main role is the face of Links Bridges,” she said. “I go out into the golf industry and build relationships.”
Sosing entered the golf world in 2014 when her husband, Don Ferrar, a veteran of the international parks and water industry, began exploring the idea of launching a bridge business.
It was still just a concept, but Sosing was all in. She became its champion, branding lead and ambassador.
In the early days, she walked trade show floors, introduced herself to anyone who would listen, and patiently built a network in a tight-knit industry.
“We didn’t know a single person when we attended our first superintendent show,” she said. “In our case, you just build relationships, one at a time. You have to be there every year until they get to know you.”
Her approach was simple but effective: listen first.
“You don’t just talk about you,” she said. “You have to ask about them.”
That personal, people-first style helped her earn trust and recognition.
Sosing brings a unique perspective to golf. She grew up in Northern Samar in the Philippines during a time of political unrest. She moved to North America in the early 1990s, balancing family and work and eventually earning a master’s degree in 2021. She’s also built a loyal global following as a radio host and DJ for the Filipino community.
“I treat the golf industry as part of my community,” she said. “What a beautiful community it is. Everybody is connected to each other.”
She’s active in organizations such as Women in the Golf Industry and regularly attends events like the Golf Course Superintendents Association conference and National Golf Day. She volunteers at the RBC Open and organizes local tournaments to get more people into the game.
Sosing didn’t grow up playing golf. Her first set of clubs was a wedding gift from her husband in the 1990s, and her first experiences with the sport were far from effortless.
“Golf is intimidating, yes,” she said. “But the lesson is, if you put effort or time into it, you will get better.”
Now she’s a believer in making the game more accessible, especially for beginners and youth.
“I think we should make it affordable for the beginners,” she said. “You don’t learn in one lesson.”
For Sosing, the game’s value goes far beyond recreation.
“The values that golf has — the honor system, respect, keeping pace — those are things you apply in real life,” she said.
She hopes her two sons, both now involved in the family business, inherit not just her passion for golf, but the spirit of persistence that got her here.
“So many small businesses like ours start small,” she said. “You need people to support you sometimes.”
Katherine Jemsek
President
Jemsek Golf (multi-course owner)
Jemsek didn’t plan on joining the family business.
“I actually didn’t think I’d be in the golf business,” she said. “Nobody in my family thought I’d be in golf.”
Today, she’s president of Jemsek Golf, a multi-course operation grounded in public access, high service standards and long-term growth. The company operates four facilities across Illinois and Georgia, including Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Palos Park, Illinois — widely regarded as one of the top public golf destinations in the country.
Jemsek began working at Cog Hill in 1995, rotating through roles in the pro shop, on the tee and in back-office operations.
“My dad said, ‘If you’re going to work here, you need to know all aspects of the business,’” she said. “So he took me out of the pro shop, put me on the tee two days a week, driving range two days a week, and left me in the shop one day. That way I could learn everything.”
That hands-on approach stuck. In 2005, she took on her first GM role at Summer Grove in Georgia. She returned to Cog Hill in 2007 and gradually stepped into her father Frank Jemsek’s leadership role, eventually becoming president of Jemsek Golf. She now directly manages Cog Hill, Pine Meadow, Summer Grove, and provides administrative support to St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago.
Her leadership has included overseeing acquisitions, talent development and a wide range of financial and operational responsibilities. But it’s her emphasis on evolving the game — and opening doors for new players — that sets her apart.
“I’m a Jemsek, so for us growing the game is inherent,” she said. “It’s just something that’s built inside of us. If we don’t take the time to build the next generation of customers, then we may not have them.”
Jemsek was a founding contributor to what became PGA Junior League and played a key role in bringing The First Tee of Chicago to Cog Hill, where it remains an active host site. The club also hosted the first PGA Junior League Golf National Championship in 2012.
She has watched golf’s culture shift over the past two decades, noting a broader, more inclusive approach to play.
“You’ve got families, you’ve got people coming on dates, and you’ve got serious players, and we have to adapt,” Jemsek said. “We’re not changing the game. We’re changing how we present it.”
Under her guidance, Cog Hill added Toptracer to its range, which has drawn in new audiences.
That openness extends to course setup too. Cog Hill has added forward tees and combo sets to improve accessibility and pace of play — a move that’s kept older players engaged and encouraged more casual rounds.
Jemsek sees herself not just as an operator, but as a steward of the game.
“It wasn’t necessarily a job I set out to take,” she said. “It’s one I evolved into.”
Crystal Morse
PGA Head Professional and Director of Junior Golf Development
The Legends Golf Club
Morse didn’t grow up in a golf family. But at age 10, after following her grandfather around a local par-3 course in Indiana, she was hooked.
“I really just wanted to spend time with him,” she said. “I didn’t have a ton of instruction — I was pretty raw — but I got hooked on the game.”
Morse made it to state twice as a high school player at Center Grove, walked on at Purdue, and eventually played on scholarship at Western Kentucky. She studied environmental science, but during her final semester, an internship at Eli Lilly made her reconsider her path. She called longtime family friend Ted Bishop and told him she wanted to get into the golf business.
“I had never worked in golf,” she said. “But I jumped in and did everything — snack bar, tournaments, pulling carts in the morning.”
That first job led to a cross-country stretch, splitting time between Indiana and Southern California. Morse worked for nearly a decade in the Coachella Valley, including stints at The Lakes Country Club and Morningside, gaining experience in shop operations, tournament management and instruction. She worked alongside notable professionals like Michael Block and studied under instructors like Billy Harmon.
“My director of golf really pushed me to learn,” she said. “He ran me through a gamut of questions and philosophies. It gave me confidence as a young teacher.”
Today, Morse serves as PGA head professional and director of junior golf development at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Indiana. She also co-owns the Morse Golf Academy with her husband, Jim, who brought indoor instruction experience from GolfTec. Built on-site through a partnership with Bishop, the academy is now one of only three official Callaway fitting sites in Indiana.
“We’re basically independent,” she said. “Jim and I built the academy and run it ourselves, but it’s been a great partnership with Ted.”
Demand for lessons is high, and Morse is focused on keeping them accessible. Private lessons run $90, but group sessions — her personal favorite — start at $25.
“I love group instruction,” she said. “Honestly, I’d give group lessons all day long. The energy is great, and it’s more affordable. That matters if we want to grow the game.”
She often sees spouses, friend groups or parents and children take lessons together. “I just charge for my time,” she said. “It’s about making it approachable and cost-effective.”
Post-COVID, she’s noticed a sharp increase in interest, especially from beginners. She sees that as both an opportunity and a challenge.
“We have people who’ve only been to Topgolf or simulators and have never been on a real course,” she said. “They don’t know about pace of play or etiquette. But we don’t want to push them away. We just need to help them understand the rhythm of the game.”
That inclusive mindset is a big part of why she values public golf.
“I worked in private clubs, but I absolutely love the public side,” she said. “You’re part of the community. You can reach so many people. I wish more pros — especially women — would consider it.”
Morse coaches high school teams, runs First Tee and PGA Jr. League programs, and continues to explore adaptive and family-focused programming. She’s intentional about engaging beginners and keeping them involved through creative programming, outreach and communication.
“Golf is booming right now, but we can’t take that for granted,” she said. “People just want connection. That’s what the golf course can offer, if we keep showing up for them.”
Shannon Herschbach
Principal and Co-Founder
Pipeline Agency
Herschbach didn’t come up through the pro shop or on the maintenance crew. She came in through marketing and hospitality and changed how private clubs connect with the people they serve.
As co-founder and principal of Pipeline Agency, Herschbach has helped nearly 900 private clubs grow not only in numbers, but in meaning. With more than 25 years of experience, she’s become one of the most influential voices in membership strategy, branding and onboarding.
She’s led global sales and marketing efforts for more than 300 golf properties, served as a general manager of a private club and helped launch the first club-specific CRM software back in 2009. Her team at Pipeline later created one of the industry’s first formalized onboarding programs, which has since become an industry standard.
“We believed then, as we do now, that clubs succeed when they put their people and purpose first,” Herschbach said.
She co-founded Pipeline in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis — a time when many clubs were struggling to hold on to members. The agency’s goal was simple: help clubs reimagine how they attract, engage and retain members. In the years since, Herschbach has helped usher in a more strategic, story-driven approach to club marketing.
“Today’s members are as interested in connection and community as they are in competition,” she said. “The modern club isn’t only measured by course conditions or championship pedigree — it’s measured by how well it fosters belonging.”
That shift in focus is something Herschbach has championed across the board. As more women, younger professionals and families join private clubs, the expectations are changing. Digital fluency, inclusivity and authentic storytelling have become non-negotiable.
“Too many still lean on legacy and hope that reputation alone will carry them forward,” she said. “Golf may be steeped in tradition, but its future belongs to those willing to engage, communicate and connect.”
Pipeline now helps clubs do just that by creating award-winning websites, building digital strategies and crafting the kind of messaging that resonates with modern audiences.
“When we started Pipeline, it was practically taboo for private clubs to even have a public-facing website,” she said. “Today, we’re designing and building digital platforms that rival some of the most iconic brands in luxury and hospitality.”
Herschbach also helps shape the industry through education and service. She teaches membership marketing at the Club Management Association of America’s Business Management Institute and serves on the Standards Advisory Committee for BoardRoom Magazine’s Distinguished Clubs program.
She’s also known for the support she gives behind the scenes. A mentor to many women in the industry, Herschbach has quietly helped elevate voices that have long gone unheard.
“This isn’t just a marketing evolution. It’s a mindset shift,” she said. “Because in the end, the clubs that thrive will be the ones that see storytelling not as a risk but as a responsibility.”
Inger Nordby
Director of Golf Irrigation Sales and Service
The Toro Company
Nordby has spent more than two decades helping shape the future of golf — one relationship, solution and conversation at a time.
As head of Toro’s global golf irrigation sales and service team, Nordby leads with a focus on sustainability, precision and support. Her influence can be found on championship courses and community layouts alike, where water-smart irrigation systems are helping superintendents manage turf more efficiently and responsibly.
Backed by more than 25 years of experience in customer care, marketing and global sales, Nordby has played a key role in Toro’s rise as a trusted leader in golf irrigation. But it’s her approach to leadership that truly distinguishes her.
Nordby ensures that course managers, superintendents and international partners receive not only reliable technology, but responsive, long-term support. From early-stage irrigation planning to post-installation service, her team is built to listen, respond and create value in every interaction. That consistency has helped the brand build strong relationships in a range of markets around the world.
At the same time, Nordby continues to champion innovation, driving the adoption of precision irrigation technologies that promote healthier turf and reduce water use. Her work directly supports golf’s long-term sustainability, both environmentally and operationally.
Beyond her technical leadership, Nordby is a recognized advocate for women in golf and turf. She regularly mentors colleagues and industry partners and is known for lifting others as she climbs. Her involvement with the Annika Foundation reflects a broader commitment to helping more women build careers — and confidence — in the golf industry.
Nordby’s impact is far-reaching: She has elevated Toro’s presence, supported countless industry professionals and helped advance more inclusive, sustainable practices across golf.
Her leadership reflects a belief that the game’s future depends not only on innovation, but on the people who drive it forward.
Alice Arimitsu
Executive Vice President of Membership and Sales
Escalante Golf
Arimitsu has spent more than 30 years shaping how private clubs grow and how sales professionals succeed within them. Her career spans mid-level and high-end private clubs, public and daily fee courses and markets across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Today, as executive vice president of sales and marketing for Escalante Golf, Arimitsu leads sales for 25 private clubs and oversees a team of 50 professionals, most of them women. Her influence extends well beyond numbers. Through weekly online training, hands-on coaching and direct recruitment, she has helped raise the bar for membership strategy and professional development in the industry.
Arimitsu is known for her innovative approach to both public and private golf marketing. She’s created successful membership programs, customized Salesforce for more tailored sales tracking, and built systems now used by other management companies in the golf and club sector. Her programs have received industry recognition for both creativity and results.
Before joining Escalante Golf, she served nearly 20 years as regional vice president of sales for ClubCorp, now known as Invited. That experience laid the foundation for her national leadership role today, driving more than $40 million in annual sales while expanding opportunities for others.
Arimitsu’s commitment to inclusion is as significant as her sales success. She has personally mentored more than 75 women, many of whom have gone on to thrive in the golf and club business. Her weekly training sessions now attract more than 100 professionals and are seen as a standard in the industry.
Widely respected and well-traveled, Arimitsu is also a sought-after speaker. Her insights on club sales, marketing and member engagement are helping shape the next generation of private club professionals.
Kelli Jerome
Co-Director
GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation
Jerome has spent the past 15 years helping shape the global sustainability agenda for golf. As chief operating officer of the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, she has led program development and operational strategy for an organization that now works with golf professionals, clubs and governing bodies in more than 70 countries.
Based in Scotland, the GEO Foundation has spent the past two decades advancing environmental and social responsibility across the game. Jerome has played a central role in that progress, building the systems and support structures that help partners implement sustainable practices at every level of the sport.
Her work spans fundraising, partner relations, internal planning and program execution, bringing consistency and structure to a cause that is gaining urgency across the business of golf. She has helped guide clubs, tournaments and industry stakeholders toward practices that reduce environmental impact while enhancing community and course quality.
Jerome’s influence extends beyond operations. She is known for her patient, supportive leadership, particularly in mentoring the many young women who have launched successful careers under her guidance. Her ability to foster talent while delivering complex international programs has made her a vital but often under-the-radar leader in the golf sustainability space.
Before joining the GEO Foundation, Jerome held senior roles in product development and marketing at Microsoft. She contributed to the creation of Microsoft Office and brings that same level of innovation and execution to her nonprofit work today.
With sustainability now a core issue for both golf and society, Jerome’s work has become more essential than ever.
Heidi Voss
President
Bauer Voss Consulting
Voss has spent more than three decades shaping the landscape of private club marketing and membership development.
As president of Bauer Voss Consulting, she has led the launch and revitalization of numerous clubs across North America, including top-ranked courses such as Ballyneal. Her expertise spans new developments, public-to-private conversions and member buyouts, making her a sought-after consultant in the industry.
Voss’s influence extends beyond high-profile projects. She has dedicated countless hours to organizations such as the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, contributing to education and research initiatives that benefit the broader turf industry. Her commitment to service reflects a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of golf’s various sectors.
A strong advocate for women’s advancement in golf, Voss has mentored more than 75 women, many of whom have risen to leadership positions within the industry. Her efforts have helped pave the way for greater inclusivity and diversity in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Through her strategic vision and unwavering support for others, Voss continues to leave an indelible mark on the golf industry, exemplifying the impact of dedicated leadership and mentorship.
Nikki Gatch
Executive Director and CEO
Southern California PGA
With more than 25 years of service to the PGA of America and the Southern California PGA Section, Gatch has built a legacy of leadership rooted in inclusion, growth and dedication to the game.
She currently serves as executive director and CEO of the SCPGA, where she oversees one of the largest and most active sections in the country.
Throughout her career, Gatch has been a consistent advocate for girls and women in golf, developing and supporting programs at both the amateur and professional levels. Her impact extends beyond the PGA, as she made history in 2022 by becoming the first woman and first PGA member to serve as president of the Southern California Golf Association.
Her leadership has helped open doors for more diverse participation in golf, and her long-standing commitment to advancing the sport continues to shape its future in one of the most dynamic regions in the country.
Susan Hladky
Owner
Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club
Hladky didn’t plan on becoming a golf club owner. But when her family stepped in to save Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club during the 2008–09 recession, she found herself at the center of one of Arizona’s most notable private club transformations.
After her husband, James Hladky, purchased the club out of receivership, his unexpected passing left Susan with a difficult choice: step away or step in. She chose the latter and immersed herself in every detail of the business. From working alongside the maintenance team to studying fertilization schedules with the superintendent, she took a hands-on approach to understanding club operations.
Her persistence paid off. Under her leadership, Superstition Mountain was restored to fully private status by 2014 and regained its standing as one of the top private clubs in Arizona.
Today, the 878-acre luxury community in Gold Canyon, just outside Phoenix, serves a full membership and boasts two Nicklaus-designed courses: Prospector and Lost Gold.
The club also supports a strong community of LPGA professionals who use the courses for practice and competition. In 2023, Superstition Mountain hosted the LPGA Drive On Championship, making Hladky the only woman believed to own a course on the LPGA Tour schedule at the time.
Beyond course access, Hladky has fostered a welcoming environment for women across all aspects of the club. From tournaments to casual play, Superstition Mountain offers programming designed to make the game enjoyable and accessible at every skill level.
Her leadership style — personal, inclusive and driven by long-term vision — has reshaped the club’s culture. Staff and members alike credit her with creating a sense of family and purpose, ensuring that Superstition Mountain isn’t just a destination for golf, but a community grounded in connection.
(This story originally ran in the July/August 2025 issue of Golf Inc.)
