Grace Allen

Grace Allen epitomizes the future of the turf industry. She took her first job in turf while still in her mid-teens. Today, she is more passionate than ever about the industry. Still in her early 20s, she is a second assistant superintendent at PGA West in La Quinta, California.

Golf has always been at the center of Allen’s life. She grew up in Northern California and took up the game at the encouragement of her father, an avid golfer who also served as a tournament volunteer on occasion.

Allen was playing in U.S. Kids Golf events by the time she was 8. She played for her high school team as a freshman but was ineligible after that because of her enrollment in an independent study program.

At 16, she applied for a job at a local golf course because she wanted playing privileges. She related that experience on the Wonderful Women of Golf podcast with host RickWoelfel, recalling that she originally applied for a position as a cart attendant.

“They ended up not needing anybody for that role,” she says, “but he said, ‘I need a weed whacker. And me, having zero landscaping experience, but having confidence, said ‘I’ll do it.’ and he said ‘See you tomorrow at 5:30 a.m.’

“I was like, ‘What am I getting myself into?’ I showed up, and I had no waterproof shoes. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But my first day there I was like, ‘Hey, this is cool.’”

That first day was what Allen calls “a doorway” to her career in turf. Allen admits that early on she felt somewhat isolated, not realizing how many women were entering the field.

That mindset changed over time through connections she made over social media. At the encouragement of HeatherSchapals, a two-time Wonderful Women of Golf guest, Allen applied to the GCSAA’s Leadership Academy, which she completed in 2024. Since then, Schapals has been a role model. “I love getting to talk to her whenever I can,” Allen says. “I’ve seen her a couple times now at some events. She actually worked close to me in the past and was very close to one of my professors as well. She’s good person. I love hearing from her.”

Allen worked at several clubs in Northern California before arriving at PGA West (and the Citrus Club) in June 2024 as an agronomy intern. She was named an assistant-in-training four months later and was promoted to a second assistant’s position last July.

Along the way, she was certified in turf/maintenance at the University of California Riverside and participated in the Greenkeeper University online program last August. Allen approached her return to the classroom enthusiastically and with a fresh mindset.

“It’s not that school wasn’t for me,” she says, “but I was always intrigued by other things. Going to school is something [if] you’re truly passionate for, [it] makes a huge difference. I found my focus was a lot better because I was really intrigued by what I was learning. And I wanted to apply it to what I did day to day.”

And Allen’s job at PGA West offers an abundance of learning opportunities.

“I’ve had opportunities I never would have imagined in regards to developing and being promoted and being given opportunities I wouldn’t have had elsewhere,” she says. “Coming here, I found exactly what I was looking for. I’m not saying this is going to be my forever home, but I’m taking advantage of all the opportunities here.”

Allen was also part of the corps of female volunteers who worked the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills.

“Whenever anybody asks me about this, my mind goes in really different places,” she says. “There were so many awesome things that happened throughout that week. Being around the top women players in the world was truly inspirational. But also the family part of being a team. Getting there super early after being there super late in the day. … It’s truly an amazing thing and being there with all those women. It’s hard to put words into what that week was like.”

Presented in partnership with John Deere