How Royal Melbourne’s Mallory Carr Is Changing the Face of Illinois Golf P r o f i l e s
Dave Silbar
G rowing up in southwest suburban Minooka, Mallory Carr’s story is one of determination, resilience, and trail- blazing progress in the world of Illinois golf—a journey that ultimately led her to become one of only a handful of female head golf professionals in Illinois. In late 2023, Carr was named head professional at Royal Melbourne Country
In 2004, when girls’ golf was far from mainstream, Mallory made the bold decision to swap her bat for clubs. That decision changed the course of her life. By her freshman year, Mallory landed a spot on the varsity golf team—a move that not only provided her an early taste of competitive golf, but also foreshadowed the leadership roles she would later assume. “I wasn’t the best player, probably like the fourth or fifth, but it was a cool feeling, hanging out with all the seniors as a freshman. It made an impact on me,” she recalls. Mallory’s ties to the course ran deeper than competition. Her first job—at Heritage Bluffs in nearby Channahon—immersed her in the fabric of golf from the ground up. “I got my first job washing carts and taking care of the range,” she says, noting that the experience gave her an inside look into the hard work and camaraderie behind the scenes of the sport. Even as she left for North Central College to study sport management, business administration, and coaching, she kept returning to Heritage Bluff, splitting weekends and summers between studies and the fairways. After graduating from North Central, Mallory’s immersion in golf deepened. She interned and then accepted her “real first job” at White Eagle—the start of a whirl- wind ride through multiple roles. “I got my assistant job at White Eagle, then juggled that with a graduate assistant coaching job at Lewis University, all while earning my master’s degree,” she says. It was a period of both intense learn- ing and juggling—balancing coaching, club duties, and academic demands. A pivotal change came in 2014 when, tired of Illinois winters, Mallory began working a seasonal stint at the prestigious Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells, California, just south of Palm Springs. There, she crossed paths with influen- tial figures—PGA professionals, LPGA players, and television commentators like Nicole Ginos (nee Castrale) who opened doors for Mallory to help with Golf Channel tournament coverage.
With each new challenge—whether “spotting balls” for analysts at major events or networking with golf’s elite—Mallory’s reputation and confidence grew. Yet, the path for women in golf remained challenging. “When I started, there were no women head pros, no women GMs, maybe a first assistant here or there. In California it was the oppo- site; there are women everywhere, but the Midwest is just catching up.” When Mallory landed at Royal Melbourne Country Club, those bar- riers became even more apparent. Despite her extensive experience, she felt like a “wild card” candidate for the head professional job. “There was always a consideration that being female would work against me, but it’s changing,” she says. Her path wasn’t without detours—a stint with women’s apparel company Golftini and a two-year venture at a title company during the COVID-19 pandem- ic—but golf inevitably drew her back. Recruited by a friend at Kemper Sports, she returned to Royal Melbourne in April 2023 as first assistant, and after a whirlwind first year was promoted to head professional. Now, two years into her tenure, Mallory reflects on her improbable journey from the only girl in the cart barn to one of the few female head pros in Illinois. “It’s a pinch-me feeling,” she admits. Her presence is more than symbolic; with a passion for teaching, especially for kids and young women, Mallory is not just growing the game—she’s changing it. “I hope all these girls I’m teach- ing, even if they’re not golfers, see a woman in leadership—and if a guy sees me and is inspired to do something non-traditional, even better. What you need to do doesn’t depend on your gender or what you’re made to do.” Now entering her third year as head golf professional at Royal Melbourne Country Club, Carr stands not just as a pioneer for women in golf, but as the driving force behind the club’s ongoing transformation. Taking on the role after just a year as first assistant, she stepped into a position that had seen rapid turnover
Club, a Greg Norman-designed facility that features a challenging 18-hole lay- out and Australia-inspired 42,000 sq. ft. Victorian-style clubhouse in Long Grove. As a child, Mallory was a quintes- sential multi-sport athlete. “I grew up playing softball from when I was a little girl, and once I got to high school, had to make the decision of golf or softball, because they were at the same season,” she reflected. It wasn’t a straightforward path to golf—softball was her first love, and golf was, admittedly, something different. “Honestly, I got serious about it in high school,” says Mallory, who laughs “when I was a kid, I played every other sport except golf.” The calling of golf, though, had a subtle pull. “I think I kind of liked to be rogue and do things I’m not supposed to do. Maybe it was the appeal of trying something new or being different.”
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