Vol. 7 [UTAKA News] Interview with UTAKA Golf Team Captain Heejun Kim (ECE ’15)

• Another team within our alumni association is the golf team.
• Below, we introduce an interview with Heejun Kim (ECE ’15), captain of the alumni golf team.

🎤 What led you to take on the role of captain of the UTAKA golf team?
I’ve always genuinely enjoyed golf and play regularly. As I became involved with the Alumni Cup as well, stepping into the captain role happened fairly naturally. It wasn’t so much a grand sense of responsibility as the simple fact that I liked the idea of enjoying a sport I love together with fellow alumni, so I gladly accepted the position.

🎤 What are your plans this year as golf team captain?
Our biggest goal is to prepare well for the Alumni Cup at the end of the year. Before then, during the peak summer heat when outdoor rounds can become difficult, I’m considering organizing a casual screen golf gathering indoors where alumni can meet comfortably. I hope it can serve as both a chance to check in on our games and strengthen friendships within the alumni community.

🎤 What are the defining strengths of the UTAKA golf team?
One of our greatest strengths is that everyone has excellent etiquette on the course—so much so that we’ve never had tension or conflict during a round—and on top of that, the level of play is very strong. We also have a deeper bench of golfers than people might expect, which is reassuring.
At many other schools, the strongest players are often concentrated among alumni in their 40s and 50s, but I think UT stands out because we already have many golfers in their 30s consistently posting solid scores. That’s definitely one of our distinguishing strengths.

🎤 About recruiting members for the UTAKA golf team
The word “recruiting” honestly sounds a bit too formal. There are no special requirements or fixed roster limits. Any UT alumnus who enjoys golf and wants to spend time playing and connecting with fellow alumni is welcome to join. We hope people will feel comfortable participating without pressure.

🎤 What does golf mean to you?
People often say, “You can see someone’s personality when they play golf.” A single round contains all the emotions of life—joy, frustration, excitement, disappointment—which makes golf feel almost like a condensed version of life itself.
It’s also one of the best social tools I know. Spending several hours together in the same space naturally leads to conversation and closer relationships in a way few other sports can.
Most of all, golf is not really about competing against another person—it’s ultimately a competition with yourself. Because you go through that solitary process together, there’s a kind of camaraderie that develops among people who share a round. I think that’s part of what makes the sport so appealing.

🎤 Is there anything you would like to say to fellow alumni?
Since we were the inaugural champions of the Alumni Cup golf division, I hope we can continue building a tradition where the UT name remains engraved on that alumni cup (trophy) going forward. Social events should absolutely be spaces where everyone can relax, laugh, and enjoy themselves together. But when it comes to selecting players for inter-school competition, I hope we continue to uphold the principle of choosing members based solely on performance. I believe that’s how we can continue achieving results worthy of the name “UT Golf Team.” We would greatly appreciate the continued interest and support of our fellow alumni.