Walking Through TPC Harding Park in SF— A Memory I Still Carry

"The Aura I Saw at Harding Park CC, SF"

There was a time when I was studying in the United States, just before graduation, when I had the chance to do an internship with a golf company.

During that period, I volunteered at a PGA event held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

It became one of those memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

At the tournament, both Tiger Woods and K. J. Choi were competing.
I still remember seeing Tiger Woods walking from far away across the course.

He was not dressed in any flashy way.
He simply looked like an athlete.

But even from a distance, there was a kind of presence around him that was impossible to ignore.
For the first time, I understood what people mean when they talk about “aura.”

Some people are simply born with a different kind of energy.
When someone has extraordinary talent and has reached the very top of their field, you can sometimes feel it before they even speak.

Volunteering there was also a valuable experience because I had the chance to work together with many different people from different backgrounds, all connected by golf.
And beyond the work itself, just being able to watch that level of competition up close was unforgettable.

As a Korean, another special memory for me was meeting K. J. Choi near the clubhouse.
I still remember greeting him politely and saying, “Hello, Mr. Choi.”
It was only a brief moment, but it remains one of my happiest memories even now.

And one more unforgettable experience — thanks to the golf company, I was also invited to play a free round at Harding Park.
We formed a group that included one of the company’s professional golfers and played together on that legendary course.

Looking back now, it feels like much more than just golf.

It was a season of youth, opportunity, passion, and unforgettable moments that quietly became part of my life.

---

KR Summary

미국 유학 시절 골프회사 인턴십을 하며 샌프란시스코 하딩스 파크 PGA 대회 자원봉사를 했던 기억에 대한 이야기, 멀리서 걸어오는 타이거 우즈의 압도적인 존재감과, 최경주 선수를 직접 만나 인사했던 순간이 아직도 잊히지 않는다. 또한 회사 덕분에 하딩스 파크에서 회사 프로골퍼와 함께 직접 라운딩까지 했던 경험은 젊은 시절의 소중한 추억으로 남아 있다. 

Photo: Graduation Day — one of the moments that changed my life
Coming from a small countryside town in Seogwipo, I never imagined how many different people, experiences, and opportunities I would encounter through education and golf. Looking back now, I feel grateful not only for the degree itself, but for the journey, the people I met, and the wider world I was able to experience along the way.

"Here, you’ll find simple golf English and real conversations— learn at your own pace."