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Staff Spotlight: Sam Joe

Staff Spotlight is a weekly feature that helps showcase some of the incredible members of the AJGA staff
Sam Joe sitting on field at Texas Tech.jpg

Fast Facts

  • Name: Sam Joe
  • Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
  • Internship Year(s): 2017
  • Began Full-Time: 2018
  • Role(s) during time w/ AJGA: Operations Intern, Player Services Intern, Tournament Director
  • College/Graduation Date: University of Georgia, May 2017
  • Major/Minor: Sport Management
  • Favorite movie(s): Devil Wears Prada, Little Women, Crazy Rich Asians
  • Favorite artist: Harry Styles
  • Favorite sports teams: Any UGA sports team, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves (all will win a championship this year or next year)
  • Number of states traveled to with the AJGA: 18 (+ Canada) | In total: 31

Get to know Sam

Sam Joe with her family.jpg

  • Were you involved in golf before the AJGA? How were you introduced? I started playing golf with my family at a very young age, but never played competitively. The first professional golf tournament I attended was the Bellsouth Classic at TPC Sugarloaf in 2005 and I was blessed to attend my first Masters in 2008. I was introduced to the golf industry by working with the Mitsubishi Electric Classic (a PGA TOUR Champions event) at TPC Sugarloaf (what a fun coincidence) as a Special Events/Marketing/Operations Intern my Junior year of college. After I graduated college, I became an Operations Intern at the AJGA. I recently learned that it was my dad’s dream for me to play on the LPGA TOUR and for him to be my caddie….sorry dad.
Sam Joe and her dad.jpg

  • What sports did you play growing up? Any significant accomplishments? I like to say, I played high school lacrosse and swim, but I played golf and tennis in high school. AKA I played golf and tennis recreationally but swam and played lacrosse competitively. My biggest sporting accomplishment was swimming in the State Championship at Georgia Tech…which was cool because their pool was used for the Olympics.
Sam Joe and her brother Steven.jpg

  • Who's been your biggest influence in life? My brother, Steven, is the biggest influence in my life. Steven has Down syndrome and has inspired me to always see the positive in things and he is always there to provide a good laugh. He pushes me to strive to be a better person every day.
Sam Joe with Jeeps at Dana Tournament.jpg

  • What's your favorite AJGA experience/memory? I have so many great AJGA memories that it’s hard to pick one. That being said, I had one particularly unique experience at the Dana Incorporated Junior Open. The night before the Qualifier, I threw out the first pitch at a Toledo Mud Hens game and I like to say it was a successful throw. To make it a little more interesting, Tim Tebow was on the opposing minor league team that night.
Sam Joe with Team 3 and Stacy Lewis.jpg

  • What’s your favorite thing to do outside of the AJGA and golf? It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I do love eating good food and trying new places around Atlanta or wherever I am. I also have a slight shopping addiction. I cannot wait to go to concerts again, going to concerts and seeing live music is something I’ve missed most during quarantine.
Sam Joe at The Masters.jpg

  • What’s the best day or moment of your life to this point? Being accepted to and graduating from the best college in the world, the University of Georgia. GO DAWGS!
Sam Joe at UGA Graduation.jpg

  • What’s your favorite interaction with a junior/sponsor/alumni/etc? Interacting with juniors, sponsors, and alumni is one of my favorite parts about my job, so it’s hard to pick a favorite interaction, but here's one that I think is pretty cool. In 2019 I attended the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. It was an amazing experience seeing so many AJGA juniors and alumni that I've met over the years playing Augusta National. It was truly a monumental day for women’s golf. One of the players I was able to see was Zoe Antoinette Campos. I had gotten to know Zoe over the years at the AJGA, and I remember talking to her on the practice putting green and wishing her luck before she teed off. The setting alone was spectacular. I had seen Zoe play a lot of golf over the years but seeing her tee off at Augusta National was one of my favorites.
Sam Joe at aerial course with Team 3.jpg

  • What would you do if you won the lottery? This one is easy. I would travel the world.