Christmas 13—In recognition of all that she has done and accomplished in golf, she will be inducted into the LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame in November as part of the class of 2022.
“I am very excited and every other emotion you can feel as well,” Aulenti said. “I am very humble about what I do and I just go to work every day and didn’t ever think about a hall of fame. I just try to do the best I can every day.”
Aulenti blazed a trail by becoming the first female head golf professional in Connecticut when she took over at Sterling Farms in Stamford in 1994. Several years later, she was asked to run a second public course, E. Gaynor Brennan, which led her to establish his own management company. More than twenty years later, she continues to run both facilities and remains the sole owner of her businesses.
“I do love the game of golf and love the business of golf,” Aulenti said. “As the first female head pro in Connecticut, it was not the easiest path and I felt like I had to work twice as hard. My hope is that what I have been able to do will make it easier for women in the future.”
Although she works quietly, others have most certainly noticed.
In her career, she has been honored as the 2011 LPGA Professional Of The Year; 2004 LPGA Merchandiser of the Year; 2000 LPGA Northeast Section professional of the year and in 2012 was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame.
In 2013, she was honored with the Callaway Club Fitter of the Year award and after publishing over 20 articles for Golf Digest and other publications, she received Callaway’s highest honor, the 2021 National Professional of the Year.
In 2014, Aulenti was the recipient of the Nancy Lopez award for her many contributions to the profession. In a press release, Lopez described Aulenti as: “A tremendous ambassador for this sport, someone loyal, kind, hardworking who always thinks of others before herself.”
Aulenti has also worked tirelessly over the years to grow the game through youth participation.
She founded an in-school Elite Junior Program in Stamford to help students compete and earn college scholarships, conducts weekly clinics for young athletes and is also affiliated with Challenged People in Motion, a local Special Olympics organization.
She has also worked to improve the LPGA and was instrumental in overcoming major budget challenges and secured enough sponsorships to prevent the cancellation of the 2009 LPGA National Championship.
She served as President of the LPGA Northeast section from 2011-16 and on the Executive Committee.
As a player, she competed in 15 LPGA events, including the LPGA Legends Tour. She also qualified for five USGA events, including the inaugural USGA Senior Women’s Open.
“The LPGA is near and dear to my heart,” Aulenti said. “I have been a member since 1980 and I have devoted a lot of time to the LPGA over the years. I am on the committee that votes on Hall of Fame inductees and I know it is not easy to get in. It is a tremendous privilege to now be counted among them and I will continue to do my best to live up to the high standard expected of an LPGA Professionals Hall of Fame member.”