01 TROY MULLINS
East LA
Troy brought Annie along for a tour of East Los Angeles, stopping at her favorite spots — including Starbucks, Troy’s go-to spot after a day on the course and before any summer outing.
LOS ANGELES, CA
34.0522° N, 118.2437° W
Annie and I met at the Gary Player Invitational in New York when we were paired in the same group. We don’t have to see each other to just pick up where we left off. It always seems like we just saw each other yesterday.
TROY:
Troy hails from Los Angeles, where she hit her first hole-in-one and discovered her drive for inspiring other women of color to take on their goals, no matter how ambitious they may be. Golf helps Troy lean into her fierce side, but she also describes the golf course as her own sanctuary — a place to be herself and relax. Annie grew up in New York, where she fostered a passion for golfing, helping her come out of her shell and discover her bold, unique self. The two met through the sport and have become close companions ever since. “Our friendship is unique because if it wasn’t for golf, we never would have met,” Annie expresses, “When we do connect, it means a lot since we don’t always get to see each other.”
The two stopped at some of Troy’s favorite locations that cultivated her love for summer in the city – the many outdoor parks and vibrant districts in the city that make LA summers so special. Many of these places helped her come into her own as a golfer and transformed her appreciation for the sport. “Golf is always in full swing in the summer and I’m definitely excited to reconnect with Annie,” Troy remarks.
Troy found a passion for golf early on and the sport allowed her to break barriers for herself, along with other women — like Annie — who are redefining the sport. One of Troy’s favorite summer spots in Los Angeles is the Monterey Park Golf Club, where she spent many seasons growing up and perfecting her game. “Summer is a chance for me to play golf anywhere and everywhere — from Malibu to Santa Barbara,” she continues, “It’s the best time to explore and meet new people — which is the best thing about the golf course.” Golf is what ultimately brought Annie and Troy together when they were paired together at the Gary Player Invitational in New York. Annie also enjoys getting to check out new courses when traveling, so this was a special stop for the two to experience together.
It’s really cool to see Los Angeles through the lens of Troy,” she shares. For Troy, the trip was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with her good friend. “We don’t have to see each other to just pick up where we left off. It always seems like we just saw each other yesterday,” she reflects, “Our conversations don’t even have to be surrounding golf — it’s nice when a friendship is more than that — it’s beyond golf.”
Troy makes sure to either kick off or wrap up a round of golf with Starbucks, as she says, “Even though it’s such a big city, the Starbucks closest to my house has such a hometown feel. They know my drink, you feel like they know you and appreciate you, and that really adds something to your latte in the morning.” Growing up in New York, Annie would always hang out with her friends at Starbucks, making sure to hit their local store before any summer adventure. As it has been a favorite spot for the two athletes throughout their careers, it was a necessary stop to kick off the rest of the LA tour.
“What makes LA special to me is the diversity,” she says, “During the summer, I love to visit the park, go golfing, fishing, and stop at the flower market. Peonies are my favorite flower, and they’re a July flower so they come out in the summer.” For Troy, summers in LA conjures images of freedom, warmth, diverse cultures, foods, and smells. Elysian Park is one of the largest outdoor parks in Los Angeles and the expansive space allows Troy to decompress from days spent on the driving range. The two ended their city tour by watching the sunset at the park, reflecting on their day.
Take a glimpse of summer in LA alongside Troy Mullins and Annie Park by watching the video above.
Our friendship is unique because if It wasn’t for golf we wouldn’t have met — I’m thankful I was able to meet her and learn from each other, it’s always fun.
ANNIE:
Golf is such an individual sport, but everyone is so different, for me golf is kind of my alter ego – it’s so different from who I typically am and allows me to express myself in a different way.
ANNIE:
Coming into golf, I felt like I had to fit into something... Years being in the sport, I’m gonna be my colorful, LA self, in a sport that wasn’t necessarily meant for me.
troy:
I was super excited when Troy asked me to come to LA and share this experience with her… really excited to see through the lens of Troy.
ANNIE:
Even though it’s such a big city, the Starbucks closest to my house has such a hometown feel. They know my drink, you feel like they know you and appreciate you, and that really adds something to your latte in the morning.
troy:
Starbucks is a great morning or afternoon pickup. There’s such comfort in routine.
troy:
What makes LA special to me is the diversity.
troy:
02 louiE lopez
Northeast LA
LOS ANGELES, CA
34.0522° N, 118.2437° W
Professional Golfers Troy Mullins and Annie Park Reconnect for a Summer Day in LA
Professional golfers and close friends Troy Mullins and Annie Park share a love for the game that has been shaped by their origins.
In a love letter to Los Angeles in the summertime, Troy brought Annie along for a city tour of East LA; Troy has always had a love for the area and the diverse people and cultures that define the city.
Though Annie attended college at USC, she was eager to explore parts of the city that she hadn’t before.“ I was super excited when Troy asked me to come along with her for this project.
Along the way, the two made it into a Starbucks — a staple in Troy’s summer golf routine — to pick up a Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Starbucks Refreshers® beverage and a Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade Starbucks Refreshers® beverage.
Troy selected two more of her favorite summer destinations in East LA to introduce Annie to, The Flower District in Downtown LA and Elysian Park.
Presented by Starbucks®
01 TROY MULLINS
East LA
02 louiE lopez
Northeast LA
LOS ANGELES, CA
34.0522° N, 118.2437° W
I was super excited when Troy asked me to come to LA and share this experience with her… really excited to see through the lens of Troy.
ANNIE:
01 TROY MULLINS
East LA
02 louiE lopez
West LA
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