The Latina Golfers Association breaks barriers and transforms lives

Azucena Maldonado is a trailblazer who is on a mission to empower girls and women’s lives through the Latina Golfers Association (LGA).

With over 5,000 members, Maldonado's passion and love of the game quickly developed into the LGA movement. This year, the LGA is celebrating its 16th birthday with a “Sweet 16 Golf Tourney & Fiesta Celebration” in September with their members and who come from all walks of like including bankers, realtors, attorneys, corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, doctors, educators, homemakers, media professionals and even students. Everyone is welcome, especially future golfers who can partake in the golf coaching that takes place during the Fiesta Celebration featuring music, tacos & cocktails and lots of camaraderie! 

“My passion for golf led me to found the Latina Golfers Association in 2008. I absolutely love introducing people, especially Latinas, to golf,” Maldonado said. “It’s a sport that enhances lives on a personal and professional level. Golf opened up a new world for me. The LGA is a movement and I want to share it with everyone! We too can become members of the elite ‘boys club.’ Join me and the thousands of LGA members breaking gender and cultural barriers through golf.” 

Maldonado was born in Monterrey, Mexico and like many of us, a first generation immigrant. She did not know a thing about golf but all that changed when she finally came to California (from Texas), where she was introduced to golf and fell in love with the sport. “All I wanted to do was play golf and learn more and get better and better,” she said. “But because I didn't know anything about golf or like the culture of golf, I didn’t know how big golf was and what it can do to your life. All I knew is that I loved it and I wanted to do it more and more.” Over time, Maldonado's association evolved into one big network from her initial grassroots efforts. 

She told CALÓ News that LGA’s mission is to empower girls and women by teaching them how to leverage goals as a business tool or as a tool to enhance their education via association with scholars, golf scholarships and networking connectors, as well as mentorships for young girls.

The success of the association is due, in part, to the inviting atmosphere they create at their golf events. The LGA eliminates the intimidating ambiance that surrounds the game of golf. Their events are fun and welcoming and they teach you the fundamentals of the game, including the importance of golf etiquette.

Maldonado has received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts of advocating and introducing Latinas to golf. Among them are the L.A. Chargers, who recognized Maldonado as their Latino Heritage honoree, the L.A. Clippers, who named her their Community Hero and Latina Style Magazine, who bestowed her with their Leadership Award. She received the Latinas & Power National Latina Champion Award and the Woman of the Year award from the National Hispanic Business Women’s Association, among others. 

Maldonado serves on the board of directors of the Southern California Golf Association and on the executive board of the California Alliance for Golf. She also serves on the USGA’s Advocacy Working Group Committee and the PGA of America Southern California Section Advisory Board and the National Golf Course Superintendents Association DEI Advisory Board. She serves on the Golf Advisory Committees of the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles and is a board member of the Southern California Golf Association. 

She has also partnered with the Boys & Girls Club, various high school and middle school girls golf programs, the YMCA in East Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Parks Department and others to bring comprehensive golf lessons as well as hands-on career opportunities in the golf industry sessions. In addition to fundraising and providing golf clubs, equipment and clothes for the girls, the LGA takes girls on golf outings and provides them with a valuable mentorship experience.

Maldonado told CALÓ News that LGA is everywhere, including Pico Rivera, Downey, Alhambra and many other locations. She also said that when an individual becomes a golfer, they automatically become a member of a worldwide community of golfers and that they treat each other like comadres.

In February 2024, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn launched her Golf Initiative for Southeast L.A, a collaboration with LGA. Hahn presented a $50,000 check to he LGA, who will use the funds to run five different programs for women, youth, mothers, daughters, middle school girls and senior citizens from Supervisors Hahn’s 4th district/

The goal of the initiative is not only to open playing golf to groups that have not historically participated in the sport, but also giving them access to the various benefits that golf offers, from exercise to personal and professional advancement.

“Women and girls still face barriers in everything from sports to business to government, and for Latinas, those hurdles are even higher. That means missing out not only on the fun of playing golf, but on all the great opportunities that golf offers,” said Hahn. “With this initiative, we’re going to help knock that barrier down for people who have been overlooked and underserved in golf.”

Maldonado said,“Supervisor Hahn’s Tee It Up Golf Initiative for Southeast Los Angeles is going to have a huge impact in the lives of residents of all ages and the Latina Golfers Association is so excited to be given this opportunity to share the benefits of golf with the community.”

For Maldonado, Latina representation in golf is also crucial because she believes it’s a beautiful sport that has the power to change lives in a positive way. “Golf is a way to exercise, it’s a way for our girls to get scholarships and it’s also something you’ll be able to do for a lifetime,” she said. “Golf breaks down gender and cultural barriers because when we're on the golf course, it doesn't matter if you're a man, woman … it doesn't matter, the golf course doesn't care, the golf ball doesn't care.”

To check out their upcoming events, click here.