Kelly Okun, founder of Fairway to Green, shares her transition from professional golfer to equitable sports media pioneer, promoting women's sports through equal coverage and empowering future athletes.

Kelly Okun’s path to launching Fairway to Green began in her formative years as a young athlete. Growing up in Chicago before moving to Florida at nine, Kelly discovered golf, a sport her father adored, “like most women golfers nowadays, I think dad's had a huge part in getting us to play,” she adds. By age 12, she had her sights set on joining the LPGA. While her childhood dreams ranged from professional golf to Major League Baseball, it was golf that shaped her career.

After playing collegiate golf at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and later competing professionally for five years across the globe, Kelly gained invaluable experience in the sport. From playing on the Epson Tour to the WPGA Tour of Australasia, her journey was marked by both challenges and triumphs. “Golf is really expensive if you’re trying to play professionally,” she recalls. “We were all working two or three jobs just to make ends meet and pursue that dream.”

Ultimately, a combination of physical and financial hurdles led Kelly to pivot from playing professionally to marketing in the golf industry. Her experience working for Buffalo Agency, where she spearheaded digital marketing and content strategy for golf-focused clients, was instrumental in shaping her vision for Fairway to Green, a sports media platform launched in April 2024.

A mission for equity in sports media

Fairway to Green is more than a media platform – it’s a mission. “We publish men’s and women’s sports news equally because we believe equity in coverage is critical to growing women’s sports,” Kelly explains. The platform highlights amateur and professional golf with a broader aim of supporting athletes, increasing sponsorship opportunities, and driving visibility for women in sports.

Kelly Okun Epson Tour Proam copy
Kelly Okun (far left) - Epson Tour Pro Am

Starting Fairway to Green wasn’t without its challenges. “It’s one thing to work for an established platform with a built-in audience like Morning Read, but building from scratch is a whole new challenge,” Kelly shares. Despite this, her experience at Buffalo Agency prepared her for the complexity of running a media company – from sales and marketing to content creation and partnerships.

Milestones in year one

Within months of launching, Fairway to Green secured coverage opportunities at prestigious events, including the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships, the Olympics, and the Solheim Cup. “Being able to cover these events, especially with a predominantly female team, was a highlight. At the NCAA, we were one of the only female-led media teams, and it was powerful to show up and represent,” she says.

Fairway to Green has also started collaborating with a prominent junior golf tour to help young players navigate the challenges of college recruiting. “My goal is to help these girls and their parents make the most of their golf opportunities while ensuring they stay in the sport,” Kelly explains.

Fairway to Green: Looking ahead

As Fairway to Green grows, Kelly envisions expanding its reach beyond golf. “We’ve already had opportunities to collaborate with soccer and tennis teams, which is exciting,” she notes. For 2025, she plans to continue building the platform, with a focus on amplifying women’s sports at all levels.

Fairway to Green offers a weekly newsletter, event coverage, and social media updates. Kelly invites anyone passionate about sports equity to visit fairwaytogreen.com to join the movement.

Find out more about Fairway to Green by visiting their website here.