Dual Heritage and Long Hitter:
gymii. ambassador Polly Mack on Professional Golf and Global Competition
5 min read
April 24, 2025
gymii. takeaway:
Polly represents the modern evolution of professional golf, successfully transitioning from European junior golf to NCAA excellence and ultimately achieving LPGA Tour status. Her journey from winning the German National Ladies Championship to competing on the world's biggest stage demonstrates the importance of strategic career progression and proper nutrition management. As she continues to excel on tour, Polly showcases how maintaining nutritional discipline while traveling can support peak athletic performance at the highest level.
Professional Highlights:
2022:
🥉 3rd: French Lick Charity Classic
🌟 T4: Circling Raven Championship
🌟 T4: Amundi German Masters
2023:
🥉 T3: Dow Great Lakes Invitational (Team Event with Celine Borge)
2024:
🌟 T5: Portland Classic
Q1: Tell us about your background and golf journey.
Q1: Tell us about your background and golf journey.
Q1: Tell us about your background and golf journey.
I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, grew up in the suburbs of Berlin, 5 min from a golf course. I was first introduced to golf when I was three years old and played ever since. I believe growing up around the boys in my home club made me a good junior golfer as they are very creative when it comes to seeing certain shots in golf and always competitive, which is what I needed back then.
I won my first big event when I was 17– The German National Ladies Championship and committed to UNLV that same year (2016). I went to UNLV from 2017-2019, then moved on and transferred to The University of Alabama for the greater challenge of a strong SEC Conference, more competitive tournaments and better ranked competitors. I ended up winning the NCAA Regional Championship and another tournament in 2022 and became NCAA All-American that same year.
I also played my first Q-school in my final year of college (fall of 2021) received Epson tour status for 2022 and moved on to Epson tour right after I graduated in May 2022. A few good finishes there bumped me inside the Top 35 end of year ranking to make it straight to final stage of Q-school and made a Top 20 there to receive my first LPGA Tour Card for 2023.
I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, grew up in the suburbs of Berlin, 5 min from a golf course. I was first introduced to golf when I was three years old and played ever since. I believe growing up around the boys in my home club made me a good junior golfer as they are very creative when it comes to seeing certain shots in golf and always competitive, which is what I needed back then.
I won my first big event when I was 17– The German National Ladies Championship and committed to UNLV that same year (2016). I went to UNLV from 2017-2019, then moved on and transferred to The University of Alabama for the greater challenge of a strong SEC Conference, more competitive tournaments and better ranked competitors. I ended up winning the NCAA Regional Championship and another tournament in 2022 and became NCAA All-American that same year.
I also played my first Q-school in my final year of college (fall of 2021) received Epson tour status for 2022 and moved on to Epson tour right after I graduated in May 2022. A few good finishes there bumped me inside the Top 35 end of year ranking to make it straight to final stage of Q-school and made a Top 20 there to receive my first LPGA Tour Card for 2023.
I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, grew up in the suburbs of Berlin, 5 min from a golf course. I was first introduced to golf when I was three years old and played ever since. I believe growing up around the boys in my home club made me a good junior golfer as they are very creative when it comes to seeing certain shots in golf and always competitive, which is what I needed back then.
I won my first big event when I was 17– The German National Ladies Championship and committed to UNLV that same year (2016). I went to UNLV from 2017-2019, then moved on and transferred to The University of Alabama for the greater challenge of a strong SEC Conference, more competitive tournaments and better ranked competitors. I ended up winning the NCAA Regional Championship and another tournament in 2022 and became NCAA All-American that same year.
I also played my first Q-school in my final year of college (fall of 2021) received Epson tour status for 2022 and moved on to Epson tour right after I graduated in May 2022. A few good finishes there bumped me inside the Top 35 end of year ranking to make it straight to final stage of Q-school and made a Top 20 there to receive my first LPGA Tour Card for 2023.
Q2. How was the transition to US golf?
Q2. How was the transition to US golf?
Q2. How was the transition to US golf?
Golf in the US is certainly more challenging when it comes to green speed and skill set around the greens (short game), which is one of the reasons I decided to go to college. However, the weather in Europe over the years made me tougher, being able to play in all kinds of conditions, whereas in college I had almost perfect weather all year long, which was also the plan choosing a college in a warm place so that I could take advantage of practicing outside all year long.
I loved college golf for the opportunity of continuing getting better in my sport but also getting a degree at the same time and be surrounded by a team that turned out to be lifelong friendships.
Being a pro golfer now is certainly much harder, as the competition is much stronger, and you’re out there all by yourself. You have to build a team of coaches, hire a caddy, hire an agent, and take care of all your travel plans, expenses and income by yourself. But the golf is better than ever: I am playing the best courses around the world that are always in their best conditions and I love that.
Golf in the US is certainly more challenging when it comes to green speed and skill set around the greens (short game), which is one of the reasons I decided to go to college. However, the weather in Europe over the years made me tougher, being able to play in all kinds of conditions, whereas in college I had almost perfect weather all year long, which was also the plan choosing a college in a warm place so that I could take advantage of practicing outside all year long.
I loved college golf for the opportunity of continuing getting better in my sport but also getting a degree at the same time and be surrounded by a team that turned out to be lifelong friendships.
Being a pro golfer now is certainly much harder, as the competition is much stronger, and you’re out there all by yourself. You have to build a team of coaches, hire a caddy, hire an agent, and take care of all your travel plans, expenses and income by yourself. But the golf is better than ever: I am playing the best courses around the world that are always in their best conditions and I love that.
Golf in the US is certainly more challenging when it comes to green speed and skill set around the greens (short game), which is one of the reasons I decided to go to college. However, the weather in Europe over the years made me tougher, being able to play in all kinds of conditions, whereas in college I had almost perfect weather all year long, which was also the plan choosing a college in a warm place so that I could take advantage of practicing outside all year long.
I loved college golf for the opportunity of continuing getting better in my sport but also getting a degree at the same time and be surrounded by a team that turned out to be lifelong friendships.
Being a pro golfer now is certainly much harder, as the competition is much stronger, and you’re out there all by yourself. You have to build a team of coaches, hire a caddy, hire an agent, and take care of all your travel plans, expenses and income by yourself. But the golf is better than ever: I am playing the best courses around the world that are always in their best conditions and I love that.
Q3. What’s the most challenging aspect of being a pro golfer?
Q3. What’s the most challenging aspect of being a pro golfer?
Q3. What’s the most challenging aspect of being a pro golfer?
The most challenging aspect is not having a steady income or no income at all if it doesn’t go well and the peer pressure out there every week of being watched every step of the way and expected to perform every week. And on top of that being away from home and out there by yourself most of the time.
The most challenging aspect is not having a steady income or no income at all if it doesn’t go well and the peer pressure out there every week of being watched every step of the way and expected to perform every week. And on top of that being away from home and out there by yourself most of the time.
The most challenging aspect is not having a steady income or no income at all if it doesn’t go well and the peer pressure out there every week of being watched every step of the way and expected to perform every week. And on top of that being away from home and out there by yourself most of the time.
Q4. What does your nutrition approach look like while traveling/ on the road?
Q4. What does your nutrition approach look like while traveling/ on the road?
Q4. What does your nutrition approach look like while traveling/ on the road?
I try to keep it simple on the road and as close to my nutrition in off weeks as possible meaning that I like to be in control and I like to know what I’m eating (the less processed and the fresher the better).
I have Greek yoghurt with homemade granola regularly for breakfast so I often do that on the road as well, plus taking advantage of the omelet stations in tour dining and eating eggs for extra protein. Lunch and dinner are harder to control as I kind of have to eat what we get served and can’t cook by myself. But again, trying to keep it simple and eating the things I know and are healthy for me. For this reason, I love the opportunity of host housings as I am then able to stay in someones’ home, who often cook dinner for us and ask us for meal requests.
I try to keep it simple on the road and as close to my nutrition in off weeks as possible meaning that I like to be in control and I like to know what I’m eating (the less processed and the fresher the better).
I have Greek yoghurt with homemade granola regularly for breakfast so I often do that on the road as well, plus taking advantage of the omelet stations in tour dining and eating eggs for extra protein. Lunch and dinner are harder to control as I kind of have to eat what we get served and can’t cook by myself. But again, trying to keep it simple and eating the things I know and are healthy for me. For this reason, I love the opportunity of host housings as I am then able to stay in someones’ home, who often cook dinner for us and ask us for meal requests.
I try to keep it simple on the road and as close to my nutrition in off weeks as possible meaning that I like to be in control and I like to know what I’m eating (the less processed and the fresher the better).
I have Greek yoghurt with homemade granola regularly for breakfast so I often do that on the road as well, plus taking advantage of the omelet stations in tour dining and eating eggs for extra protein. Lunch and dinner are harder to control as I kind of have to eat what we get served and can’t cook by myself. But again, trying to keep it simple and eating the things I know and are healthy for me. For this reason, I love the opportunity of host housings as I am then able to stay in someones’ home, who often cook dinner for us and ask us for meal requests.
Q5: How has gymii impacted your nutrition journey?
Q5: How has gymii impacted your nutrition journey?
Q5: How has gymii impacted your nutrition journey?
I love how I can easily track my calorie and protein intake throughout the day with gymii. as I tend to eat too little on the road and lose weight and forget about my protein intake as well. gymii. is super easy to use and gives me a good overview. And on top of things it also functions as a food diary, as I sometimes have stomach problems on the road I can easily go back and see what I had to eat those days.
I love how I can easily track my calorie and protein intake throughout the day with gymii. as I tend to eat too little on the road and lose weight and forget about my protein intake as well. gymii. is super easy to use and gives me a good overview. And on top of things it also functions as a food diary, as I sometimes have stomach problems on the road I can easily go back and see what I had to eat those days.
I love how I can easily track my calorie and protein intake throughout the day with gymii. as I tend to eat too little on the road and lose weight and forget about my protein intake as well. gymii. is super easy to use and gives me a good overview. And on top of things it also functions as a food diary, as I sometimes have stomach problems on the road I can easily go back and see what I had to eat those days.
Q6. What are your current goals and focus areas?
Q6. What are your current goals and focus areas?
Q6. What are your current goals and focus areas?
I am trying to add more muscle weight and make sure I don’t lose weight while traveling. Therefore, I focus on eating enough in general throughout the day while also tracking my protein intake.
I am trying to add more muscle weight and make sure I don’t lose weight while traveling. Therefore, I focus on eating enough in general throughout the day while also tracking my protein intake.
I am trying to add more muscle weight and make sure I don’t lose weight while traveling. Therefore, I focus on eating enough in general throughout the day while also tracking my protein intake.
Rapid Fire Questions!
Rapid Fire Questions!
Rapid Fire Questions!
Favorite post-round meal: Steak or Poke Bowl
Favorite on-course snack: PB Sandwich (with Cream cheese if it’s not too hot outside)
Favorite American Food: A freshly prepped burger
Favorite German food: Breakfast/ Brunch Buffets back home or simply german chocolate is the best!!
Favorite post-round meal: Steak or Poke Bowl
Favorite on-course snack: PB Sandwich (with Cream cheese if it’s not too hot outside)
Favorite American Food: A freshly prepped burger
Favorite German food: Breakfast/ Brunch Buffets back home or simply german chocolate is the best!!
Favorite post-round meal: Steak or Poke Bowl
Favorite on-course snack: PB Sandwich (with Cream cheese if it’s not too hot outside)
Favorite American Food: A freshly prepped burger
Favorite German food: Breakfast/ Brunch Buffets back home or simply german chocolate is the best!!
