How The Spirit of Golf Positively Impacts Everything Around Us

Interview Sophia Li, Founder of So Golf Academy

Whether a person is 50 or 15 years old, Sophia Li knows that there is something to learn from golf for everyone. 

Li was first introduced to golf nearly 12 years ago by a friend who brought her to a driving range in Beijing. Within her first swing across the putting green, she realized that she not only had a talent for it, but she felt it would positively impact her life moving forward. From there, golf has been a passionate pursuit of improving her own skills to become a recognized player and honored top teaching professional in Canada. 

Before launching her golf teaching career, Li worked at an international law firm in China. In the move to Canada, she transitioned her life to a law firm in downtown Toronto for three years and taught golf in the evenings and on weekends. After receiving her Canadian Golf Teachers Federation (CGTF) Certificate, she began to expand the number of students she had through friends and referrals. 

In April of 2018, Li left her job as a Legal Document Specialist and launched So Golf Academy to cultivate a space with expert coaching and high-tech performance equipment for training. By the summer, she realized she wanted to meet the need of having an indoor facility to teach, which led to a location in Richmond Hill. On Christmas Eve while on holiday with her husband and daughter, she signed her first lease to open the academy for her growing number of dedicated students. Li brought on more coaches to join the proficiency of the academy and added advanced training simulators and swing machines not found anywhere else in Canada. 

With a small team, she had more than 200 students learning at the indoor facility. As July came and the excitement of the first day of summer camp appeared around the corner, Li and her team found the door to their newly leased facility locked. Seeing the doors locked to her dream was not only upsetting, it felt embarrassing when students and the community relied on her. Due to a discrepancy between the landlords, there was no opportunity left in Richmond Hill for her dream facility. Li felt discouraged at the loss of her dreams for So Golf Academy, but instead of waiting for opportunity, she became even more dedicated in her search day and night to find a new location.

Li felt torn when she looked high and low to find the perfect facility. Rentals were hard to come by and it came under deliberation whether to buy or not. While the initial thought leaned towards renting, Li made the determined choice to have a facility she could call her own when an ideal property showed up on her list. After months of searching, she had finally found the ideal place for teaching. Within a week of buying the new location in Markham, the equipment and facility were quickly set up and the doors were first opened in October. A formal opening was hosted for the facility in November that brought students, friends, families, community leaders, the councilor for the city of Markham, and the President of the Federal Golf Association who were all ecstatic she found a place she could call her own. From the trust she built in the community through her teaching, her students fully supported the new location, where this time, nobody could lock the door. 

With the trust of the community behind her, So Golf Academy’s grand opening showcased Li’s capability of achieving great things when given the opportunity to hold her own space. Whatever she faced, she knew she could continue to advocate and positively impact her students to thrive through golf. 

Despite the setbacks that 2020 brought with it, So Golf Academy has grown to reach 1500 active students with six coaches and two coach assistants on staff. With hosting an annual gala to managing community events of expert nights and competitions, the academy is a family-friendly indoor facility that teaches golf to all ages, from two years old to 70. 

Sophia Li has created the number one golf academy in the Chinese community and owns one of the largest indoor facilities, along with access to driving ranges for teaching areas within Toronto. Li offers high-quality professional simulators that include the top swing analysis software, 3D motion sensors, and high-speed video cameras for body rotation, putting, swing posture, and power machines to give players more ability to practice fundamentals in a way that increases their knowledge and skills. 

So Golf Academy keeps track of student progress through an internal student data system, that is able to track student lessons and advance techniques further. With online golf courses, Li is able to reach students within and outside of Toronto. Beyond the advanced technology available at So Golf Academy, Li inspires her students who value her as a knowledgeable coach, a loyal friend, and a dedicated life mentor. She knows that teaching golf is not just about the game, it is about every aspect of life that affects a player. 

Her love for golf reaches across the world and into the hearts of every student she teaches through her beautifully written song that was featured on music streaming services across China. Her original lyrics share the spirit of golf and its philosophy of life as a lifelong companion for a wonderful life. Her drive for all things golf has continued to expanded her entrepreneurial skills through a new company called So Golf Discovery to provide golf travel information that includes itineraries, plans, and packages for any golfer who wants to play and travel the world. 

With every project she sets her mind to, she brings her best to the table to deliver golf programs and personalized coaching that led her students to be better golfers, community leaders, and advocates for how golf changes lives. Li has personally made golf more accessible to the Chinese community by offering free lessons, workshops, and seminars that are taught in both Chinese and English to provide better knowledge for her students to be successful. 

Alongside the academy, Li has been successful in her own certifications and tournaments, showcasing to her students just how far passionate determination can lead someone. Just in 2016 and 2017, she won Ladies’ Gross Champion, Ladies’ Longest Drive at the Canada Cup of Alumni Golf Tour and Ladies Low Gross 1st Place at Asian Community Games Golf Tournament, and many more. 

She holds recognition as a PGA of Canada Professional, Canada’s 2020 Top 50 Golf Coach, CGTF/USGTF Certified Master Teaching Professional, TPI Certified Professional, COBRA PUMA Golf Ambassador, Science & Motion Certified Putting Coach, and IGPA Sport Psychology Consultant.

Li is a champion for shifting the perception of golf to be a sport that everyone can play. Her students look up to her with her ability to teach in a meaningful way where students who do not predominantly speak English have the opportunity to learn the language and terminology for golf etiquette in Chinese. Li wants to promote golf in the Chinese community, which is why she designs courses that meet a range of student needs from junior programs, seasonal camps, and community workshops where beginners and advanced players can thrive through golf and win in competition. 

She knows that coaching has the ability to give students more experience, knowledge, and the chance to develop skills faster. Through her own coaches, she has learned to continually master her own skills to show her students how to swing better, understand body movement, and the psychology behind the mental game of golf. Instead of explaining, Li can copy their moves and show them how to play better through every lesson. 

Sophia Li knows that golfing is for everyone. Golf strengthens communities, families, and develops meaningful connections. Golf is her passion and her pursuit to teach others not only how to play golf well, but to thrive in the spirit of positivity it carries to lead a wonderful life. 

https://www.sogolfacademy.ca