This article originally appeared in the March issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
Jamie Kolkey gave up competitive golf to pursue a career in engineering. Two decades later, as reigning women’s club champion at Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills, she is doing both.
Jamie’s father, Gerry, began taking Jamie to the range when she was 5. One day, Gerry’s golf bag fell on Jamie’s head as she rummaged through the closet. “From then on I was hooked,” she said, thinking of rounds at Copper River Country Club in Fresno and junior tournaments at Monterey Peninsula. Parents Gerry and Juanita Harlan both worked but still found time to take Jamie to tournaments. Jamie played on the middle school boys’ team and won four valley titles at Clovis High School. Soon though, golf would take a backseat to career ambitions.
“I had offers to play college golf, but they wouldn’t allow for engineering,” Kolkey thinks back to her decision to study at UCLA. “For me it was a pretty easy choice.”
Kolkey’s career in civil engineering, where she oversees water infrastructure projects, brought her back to Northern California. She and husband Chris, who played golf maybe once or twice a year living in Los Angeles, joined Serrano Country Club in 2020. Jamie was 17 years removed from her Clovis days. Member Melissa “Missy” Richards introduced her to the women’s club.
Daughter Kendall was born in 2021. The next year, Jamie played more and more golf. Marc Levine, the director of golf at Serrano Country Club, helped Kolkey fine-tune her swing and regain the consistency that made her a high-level junior player.
“I met so many wonderful women who have been my biggest cheerleaders and friends,” Kolkey said. “Missy, Darria Deatherage (the 2024 club champion who teamed with Jamie to win the member-member tournament), Laura Kitson, and Michelle Latini (the head golf pro) have encouraged me to get out there and play as much as I can. I love competing with friends.”
Kolkey says problem-solving skills learned in engineering can help on the golf course, admitting that engineers are a “pretty competitive” bunch. She enjoys the elevation changes at Serrano, and a back nine that has three par-4s and three par-5s to make for many scoring opportunities.
“It’s a beautiful layout, Kolkey said. “We love the leadership there.”
Serrano was playing tough both days of the club championship last summer, with fast greens and tough pin locations. Kolkey jumped to an early lead and held on.
“I’ve rediscovered my love for the game again and I’m incredibly thankful,” Kolkey said of joining Serrano. “I forgot how much I loved it.”
Now she can share it.
“My husband and l have the best time taking our daughter to the course. She is still so young, but we love seeing her eyes light up when she makes a putt or has her longest drive yet.”