The scent of steamed fish and the crinkle of Taiwanese candy wrappers often fill the air at the University of Texas Golf Academy, where a shared countertop serves as a rotating display of snacks from Thailand, South Korea and New Zealand.

For the women’s golf team, these international treats are more than just a quick bite between rounds — they are a bridge between the diverse cultures represented on its roster. While the athletes spend hours perfecting technical swings on the greens, they spend their collective downtime conducting “TikTok candy reviews” and sharing the traditions they brought to the Forty Acres.
This cultural diversity is a defining characteristic for the Longhorns as they navigate life in the Southeastern Conference. With players hailing from across the globe, the team is learning how to balance varying backgrounds.

Junior Lauren Kim said that, while navigating different cultural expectations is sometimes “a little challenging,” the team remains close through shared experiences. Whether traveling for tournaments or spending time on campus, the group frequently interacts through laughter.

“We’re probably one of the loudest teams because we laugh a lot,” Kim said. “It’s like stupid things.”

This sense of unity is essential for a team that spends a significant amount of time traveling together.

Their bond was recently highlighted during a Lunar New Year celebration at an off-campus apartment. Senior Cindy Hsu and junior Selina Liao, who are both from Taiwan, prepared a traditional meal for their teammates.

The celebration provided an opportunity for those unfamiliar with the holiday to learn about different customs, such as the preparation of steamed fish. Head coach Laura Ianello said these moments of exchange are a functional part of the team’s development. By learning about different religions, beliefs and family traditions the players develop a mutual respect that influences their support for one another during competition.

“You build friendships by getting curious of others,” Ianello said. “The more they can get to know each other on an individual basis … the more you respect one another.”

Ianello noted that for those from the United States, such events provide valuable exposure to the fact that people can share fundamental human experiences while possessing different beliefs.

The team’s on-course dynamic is defined by a blend of communication styles. While some athletes thrive on social interactions during the walk between holes, others, including Hsu and Liao, lean into a more internal, disciplined focus. By embracing these different methods of engagement, the program creates an environment where various competitive philosophies can succeed under the same banner.

“Sometimes we get really loud, sometimes we get really rowdy, other times we are focused and locked in,” junior Farah O’Keefe said. “We all have different ways to kind of focus and get the best golf out of ourselves.”

The Longhorns have integrated different international backgrounds into a unified team dynamic. In the competitive environment of collegiate athletics, the players use these varied perspectives to maintain a cohesive unit within their team. By prioritizing respect and cultural curiosity over individual statistics, the team has turned its global roster into a primary advantage.

“We bring a lot of different cultures together,” said O’Keefe. “I think it’s very special. I don’t think you get that (from) pretty much any other team.