Emma Carpenter, On Track For A Big Career
Emma Carpenter
Emma Carpenter, a uniquely gifted young women, is driven by dreams, plans and hard work. A fifth year grad student at the University of Minnesota, Emma is on track for big things. As a top player on the highly rated golf team her “first commitment is to the team”. From there, her plans move into sports broadcasting. Indications point to success.
She was at ease, as the warm, friendly, appreciative Emma, talked of the past and future.
With a breadth of activities, pursuits and interests Emma is a wonder. At nine years old she started vocal training, singing and acting. A classically trained singer, “I was very involved with singing and acting in school. I have a really strong love for musical theater.” Throughout her middle school and high school years in DeKalb, IL, she was involved in school and community theater.
At 10 years old she sang the National Anthem for high school volleyball games. “It just went from there. I sang the National Anthem for different high school sporting events.” She has sung the National Anthem at over 100 sporting events around the country. “The people I work with find the singing interesting. It has given me amazing opportunities. The National Anthem is the only song in my repertoire at the present time,” Emma said with a laugh. “I would love to get back into acting. It’s my little secret.”
“I really want to get into broadcast journalism.” She has worked 40 sporting events including play by play for a Minnesota Gopher volleyball game, reporting for Gopher softball, and interviews with PGA Tour players at the 3M Open.
Emma was recognized with the 2023 Lisa Byington Award as the most outstanding female broadcaster in the Big Ten Network Student U Program. A play by play announcer on the Big Ten Network, Fox Sports, and CBS, Lisa Byington said, “Emma is unafraid to put herself in spaces where you are a minority.”
She has a podcast cohosted with Gary Williams, host on the popular Golf Channel show “Morning Drive” and Jay Bilas of ESPN basketball. Included in the 18 podcasts are interviews with Bryson De Chambeau and Annika Sorenstam. “There is such an art to a podcast interview,” she said.
“She is very smart and knows how to balance her time,” said her coach Matt Higgins.
How does she balance her time? Being a division one college golfer puts tremendous demands on a student athlete. “At the start of the season everything drops; golf and school are the number one priority,” said the smiling, outgoing Emma. She is an All Big Ten scholar and one of the top players on the team.
“I can get stressed and overwhelmed. It’s important that I take care of myself. Thus far I haven’t said “No” to anything. I have to learn to say “No”.”
She paused momentarily. “My mom helps me with my schedule. Gratitude gets me through a lot, remembering how fortunate I am to have gotten to where I am and have met the people I have. I just take it day by day.”
“Emma is a genuinely kind person,” said Coach Higgins. She also works for Gopher Digital Productions, training fellow students in commentating and sideline reporting.
She is in a graduate program in marketing with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. “After the season I will continue to work through social media,” she said.
With 75,000 followers, Emma has a significant presence on Instagram. “I built up a following by accident. About the time of the NIL changed, (Name, Image, Likeness allowing college athletes to be paid for service), I started to get advice to continue to grow and monetize my brand,” she said. “Social media has been good for me. It changed my whole career. It has been so good for exposure.”
She represents several companies on social media including Peter Millar, JBL Speakers, Golf Pride Grips, Golf Zone golf simulators and Second Swing, the golf club reseller. She travels representing sponsors at various gatherings.
Her experience has taught her what it’s like to be a female in a male-dominated industry. “It has driven me to go on and pursue my passion of sport and broadcasting. I am very fortunate to have met as many people as I have, but I will have to work my way up.”
“She has a ton of potential,” said John Remes, recently retired, long time President and General Manager of KARE 11, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. “You want to see something different that get’s noticed. She has that.”
“She is so talented,” said Coach Higgins. “Whatever she wants, she can achieve. There is no ceiling for her. She is a special person and a joy to be around.”
“I would like to do play by play for golf. The more I did play by play in other sports, the more I liked it,” she said. “I’ve worked women’s volleyball games, men’s and women’s basketball and others. Ideally, to start I would be hired by a network for sideline reporting or an in-studio position for sports, maybe working for a team as an on air reporter.”
Emma Carpenter is a delight to be with and destined for success. A talented golfer, singer, sports broadcaster, entrepreneur, Emma is a unique talent in A Life In Golf.
Emma Carpenter interview with PGA Tour player Jason Day
