“That’s the Good Stuff” After Her Major Surgery, Ace Amateur Golfer and Annika Award Winner Opens Up About Things Bigger Than Golf

For athletes games and injuries go hand in hand. Getting hurt is an inevitable part of any sport that cannot be avoided. While injuries force many talented players to take the back seat in their careers, it takes humongous determination and aspiration within an athlete to overcome them.

Such is the story of an amateur golfer and 2021 ANNIKA Award winner who proved that there is no such thing as over-achieving when a person sets their heart and mind behind all of their goals. With her health as the biggest obstacle in her way, the young golfer spoke about the higher preference in her life above golf.

Amateur golfer places a healthy living over their favorite sport

From far it would look like that Rachel Heck has it all. Recently graduated from Stanford University’s ROTC field training, she has secured her Prop and Wings for the Air Force. Apart from that she has a kickass golfing career. Playing the sport from a very young age, Heck has won numerous championships and is on the verge of turning pro. But life’s rule is that you can’t have it all.

Heck was suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome in which nerves or blood vessels are compressed and end up causing pain for the person. In March she underwent surgery for it during which she had a rib removed to ease the pain. Facing such crucial life alternative events has given 22-year-old Rachel a very broad and wise perspective of a healthy life.

Speaking up about how having a healthy and happy life is above anything else, Heck said, “I have learned that happiness that comes from winning is very fleeting. But the happiness that comes from just being healthy and being surrounded by people I love, that’s the good stuff.” Her statement was shared by the Annika Sorenstam Foundation on Instagram.

Recognizing her efforts Hech was bestowed with the ANNIKA Award, which is given to the most outstanding female NCAA DI college golfer. They might be nerve-wracking but Rachel has used every roadblock in her way as an opportunity to grow herself.

Rachel Heck aces golf and army training at the same time.

A young golf prodigy Heck has played in numerous events including the Junior Ryder Cup and Junior Solheim Cups. Her amateur wins include the 2016 Bubba Conlee Tournament, 2018 Polo Golf Junior Classic, 2021 The Gunrock Invitational, and 2022 Lamkin San Diego Invitational. At the same time, she also juggled Army field training.

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This year she participated in the U.S. Women’s Amateur with just one week of practice after returning from field training of ROTC where she was trained for 17 grueling days and her flight (Delta 13) was tested on physical conditioning, weapons, and survival training. 

Speaking about playing at the event she has said, “I’m excited to be back out there. It’s been a long and difficult year. But I’ve also had to be really patient with my body and my recovery time.” Rachel Heck is a true example of determination.

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