Swingin Siren: Carolin Pinegger

Awesome Austrian hits it miles

Words: Tim Southwell Photography: Carolin Pineggar

Carolin Pinegger is proving there is more to Austria than Sigmund Freud, Arnold Scharzenegger, blokes that start world wars and The Sound Of Music...

25-year-old Carolin Pinegger hails from that golfing stronghold – nay Mecca – Schladming, Austria. Pinegger took up the game of golf at the age of seven. By the age of 12, she was one of the top-ranked junior golfers in Europe. From 12-16, she was a member of the Austrian National Team, competing in junior amateur events throughout Europe.

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She's now based out of Bay Hill Cub & Lodge in Orlando, having studied at the University of Central Florida. But it hasn't all been plain sailing for Carolin. Just before she moved out to America to start college and get her golfing career going, her boyfriend was killed in a car crash.

“To this day, that was the most difficult period of my life,” recalled Pinegger. “I didn’t even have time to really process what had happened before moving to America.”

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“During my last two years of high school I had a lot of frustration and sadness built up inside me,” said Pinegger. “My only escape from all of the stresses I had was to go to the golf course and just get lost in a round of golf, so to speak.”

“Playing all over Europe was a highlight of my childhood,” said Pinegger. “I learned a lot about myself and my golf game. Playing all over the world as a junior golfer made me realize I wanted to do this for a living.”

Golf isn't just a profession or a career to Carolin, it's her personal sanctuary.

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Sod it, straight into the Von Trapp

Slowly her anger issues deteriorated and her golf game started to return. She accepted a full scholarship to the University of Central Florida in 2009, from where it took her four years of college to properly manage her attitude, but with the help of her coaches and teammates, she found enjoyment in the game she loved since she was a child.

Put this in yer pipe and smoke it, Sigmund Feud!

You're kidding? Arnold Schwarzenegger is a politician now??

“The golf course is my home. It is the one place where I know I can go to escape,” said Pinegger. “I literally had to re-learn how to enjoy the game again. It was a long process, but one that I needed to go through. It has helped me so much to become a better person off the golf course.”

“I’m getting better every day and getting more confident,” said Pinegger. “I’m excited to see what the future brings.”

That was in 2014. Since when the trail has gone a bit cold on Carolin Pinegger. She had a go at LPGA qualification in 2013 and played Symetra Tour 2014, but looking at her twitter feed she seems to be focussing on health & beauty stuff. Hopefully when she reads this Carolin will put down the make up and pick up the niblicks again.