Today, we’d like to introduce you to Christi Cano.
Hi Christi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started swinging a club at age two and played in my first golf tournament when I was 4. I have 3 older brothers who took up golf, so I was the tag along. I was given a putter to go to the putting green to stay out of their way, and that’s how I got started in the game. I enjoyed it and started competing and being successful early. I was fortunate to have parents who were supportive and did what they could to provide me with opportunities to compete.
The Hispanic golfing community (The Pan American Golf Association) also helped support me financially to be able to compete in tournaments all around Texas and nationally and get noticed as I was entering high school. I received a full athletic scholarship to play golf at Oklahoma State and then went on to become a professional from 2006 to 2010. I was fortunate to qualify for 3 U.S. Women’s Opens. In 2010, I stopped competing full-time and worked with the Alamo City Golf Trail.
There I found my passion in teaching the game of golf working camps and private instruction. I started coaching collegiately in 2016 at the University of Houston Victoria and then in 2020, had the opportunity to come back to San Antonio and be the inaugural Head Coach for the Men’s Golf team as athletics at Texas A&M San Antonio was starting in the Fall of 2020.
I am currently the Assistant Athletic Director, Head Men’s Golf Coach, and Senior Woman Leader. It has been rewarding to share my passion for teaching the game to the next generation of golfers and student-athletes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a Hispanic, I’ve experienced some ups and downs with feeling I belonged in the sport since I didn’t see many Hispanic girls participate at my age. I never let that deter me from the enjoyment of the game.
I also struggled with confidence in competitions because I wasn’t as financially off as many of my competitors. So I believed they were better than me. I realized that when I was competing, I was still beating my competitors even though they had better equipment and clothes, so that gave me the encouragement that I needed to feel that I belonged in the sport. Throughout my travels around the country, I had my fair share of experiences because of my skin color.
People assumed I was a worker and wouldn’t let me into places or would ask me to help them because they thought I was a server. Those instances certainly affected my confidence, but I continued fighting because I loved the golf competition that was provided. Being good at the game and beating those who didn’t expect anything of me was my way of getting back at them.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently, I am the head men’s golf coach at Texas A&M San Antonio. Athletics started in the fall of 2020, and I had the honor of becoming the inaugural head coach. This has been the most rewarding job. I have had my entire career.
I enjoy sharing my life experiences as a former student-athlete and professional golfer to help these student-athletes become the best versions of themselves on and off the golf course.
The best part of my job is seeing these student-athletes come in as young freshmen and walk the stage 4 years later to receive their diplomas. I feel what sets me apart from others is the passion I have for seeing the student-athlete succeed.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
Growing up, my parents were my biggest supporters, and they never made us feel like we didn’t have what we needed to be successful. My dad was very resourceful and found ways to help us get to tournaments to get noticed.
The Pan-American Golf Association helped financially by holding fundraisers to allow me to get to national events around the country. So I owe a great deal to them for allowing me to get notice by college coaches when I was in high school.
I was also fortunate to have some mentors during my professional playing career who helped me navigate my way through an unknown experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Tamusasports.com
