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Ana Belac: Driven on the Greens and the Slopes
2/26/2020 5:29:00 AM | Women's Golf
By Lily Hiser, Duke Sports Information Student Assistant
DURHAM, N.C.-- Duke women's golf fans are no doubt familiar with senior Ana Belac and her impressive play over the past four years of her collegiate career. Amongst her numerous accolades over the seasons, Belac most recently led the squad to the National Championship in 2019. With her poise and composure on the greens, it may be shocking to learn of Belac's humble upbringings and the realities of her early career. From unkempt courses to a professional career, her story is truly one of persistence, growth and the powerful change a sport can have on your life.
As a child growing up in Slovenia, Belac participated in several different athletic activities, trying her hand at tennis, track and field, and competitive alpine skiing. Even today, Belac still remains a multi-sport athlete, continuing to ski, practice Olympic weightlifting, and play tennis outside of golf.
"Because I played so many sports, I always identified myself as an athlete, and not necessarily a skier or a golfer but just an athlete," remarked Belac. "I would say I'm not a typical golfer. There's more athlete golfers now, but I really enjoy going to the weight room, lifting weights, going skiing fast."
When Belac was four, she received her first set of clubs and would soon begin playing the sport which would ultimately become her career. However, even at this young age, Belac would have to deal with inadequate practice facilities and equipment, due to the lessened popularity of the sport in her home country.
"Because not a lot of equipment was available at that time back in Slovenia, my clubs were fit for somebody who was about five feet tall, and I was four years old," remembered Belac. "My 9-iron was about as tall as my driver now, compared to my height."
Her experience with golf began when she was five, mainly as a way to spend time with her parents, who frequented the local golf course. Belac's instructor realized her skill for the sport, which she picked up quickly, but because there were no children playing around her, she enjoyed her other activities more than golf.
While Belac's game on the greens was developing, she was already establishing herself as a skilled alpine skier. Skiing is very popular in Slovenia, so as soon as Belac could walk, she began learning how to ski. She described the sport as her first love, and even to this day, skis at every chance she can get.
She was a member of the race team at her club, meaning she competed against other young skiers at other clubs and at regional races against juniors from across the country. Belac credits a lot of her independence, especially in athletics, to the mornings she spent preparing herself for the races, ensuring that she had all of her equipment, that her skis were waxed, and that she got up the slopes in time for her race number.
"I think I learned a lot a lot of independence in the sport, how to do things on my own from my skiing coach. He treated us like adults," remembered Belac. "That mature attitude towards a sport really helped me realize, 'Ok, this is my thing.'"
Despite her love of the sport and her skill on the slopes, Belac was eventually faced with a difficult decision of which sport to pursue. In the end, she says she made the decision thinking practically. Her small stature would not provide her the weight needed to compete with some of the larger girls. Even more critical to her decision was the horrible injuries in the sport that she witnessed in the World Cup once a new carving technique was implemented.
"I knew there was a chance that I would have to quit the sport by the age of 20 because of things that can happen out there, and at that point, I started winning some golf tournaments as a junior," stated Belac. "It was kind of a decision to have something that has more longevity in the career and something that I can do for a long time."
When Belac was seven, she competed in and won her first junior tournament, an event which introduced her to the world of competitive young golf. Belac continued to play in and win junior tournaments, eventually becoming the youngest member of the Slovenian national team at 12. She had the opportunity to represent her country five times in the Ladies European Team Championship and three times in the World Team Championship and racked up a number of additional accolades.
Despite the obvious differences in the two sports, Belac transferred a lot of the lessons that she learned in her days as an alpine skier to the golf course. In both sports, Belac believes the key to success is how hard you are willing to work and push yourself. At the end of the day, self-motivation has been the driving factor in her athletic success, as her coaches' words can only push her so far. She also credits skiing with fostering her ability to dare in the sports arena.
"In skiing, an even more important component is how much you dare at that point," commented Belac. "Like you always have your upper limit, but you know you can physically go over that limit. But will you want to go over that limit?"
Although she was highly successful, Belac was struggling with inferior conditions as compared to her peers. Her home golf course required a 45-minute drive to get to, was only nine holes, and in Belac's words, was more of a goat track. Belac could only attend lessons with her coach a few times a year, as those lessons occurred at a newer, 18-hole course that was a two-hour drive from her. Her experience overcoming these conditions led to a fostering of her independent spirit, commitment to the game, and time-management skills, all of which were nurtured with the help of her father.
"My dad was really helpful along the way. He used to be a music teacher so teaching was really familiar to him and he was really into golf, so he helped me structure my practices so that I could get the most out of a two-hour practice," explained Belac. "Because I was one of the few people playing in my country, he was the one traveling to junior tournaments with me, caddying for me growing up, and helping me out with my game. Actually, now he is a licensed golf teacher."
As Belac competed in more international tournaments, she began to be noticed by collegiate coaches and eventually received an offer from Duke coach Dan Brooks to become a member of his program.
"[This] was a huge deal for me coming from a small country where golf is not developed," remarked Belac. "Nobody really knows about collegiate athletics in America and nobody really goes abroad because everyone is afraid of trying something new."
Belac left home by herself for Duke, traveling to the United States with only a suitcase filled with clothes and her golf bag. After being picked up at the airport by Brooks, a senior teammate took Belac to Target to get bedsheets and hangers, as she tried to prepare herself for life in a new country.
Although Belac was fluent in seven languages, including English, her first semester still proved to be a difficult transition. Learning in English was different than speaking it, so Belac found herself struggling to consistently understand the material. In addition to this, Belac felt insecure in this new culture, particularly about her accent. Her fear of drawing negative attention led her to become reserved and shy, as she avoided speaking in public and only spent time with her teammates and her roommate.
Speaking to Belac now, you would not know any of this. A confident, well-spoken senior, she is close to finishing her degree in statistics and is a member of the First-Year A.C.T.I.O.N. Program, serving as a mentor for first-year student athletes at Duke sponsored by the Duke Athletics Leadership Program.
One of the most powerful examples of her development came at the Arnold Palmer Cup, which Belac competed in over the summer in 2019. Belac helped lead the International Team to victory over the United States Team, and in addition to this, she was selected to deliver a moving speech about Arnold Palmer's legacy and his importance to her life experience. To her, Palmer's importance in her life was his legacy for growing the popularity of golf, something which may have brought the sport to her country. Despite his fame, Palmer remained a simple man throughout his life and encouraged the ability of everyone to play golf, despite their backgrounds.
"The idea of speech was that I came a long way since coming to America from a girl that was shy and would never imagine being in front of people to being very comfortable because I know I have something behind me like my game," commented Belac.
As she spoke about in her speech, Belac credits her confidence to her success with golf. Being comfortable on the course helped her feel comfortable in the United States and knowing that she was highly skilled at something led her to believe in her ability to be successful in other areas of her life.
Along with her confidence, golf has also fostered a high level of independence within Belac, something which has been critical to her success so far and will be valuable for her future. Journeying to Duke by herself took a lot of courage, persistence, and independence, as she tried to not only acclimate to a new culture, but as she also learned how to be an adult.
"I feel like I left home at 19 but came back after a semester at 35. Being so independent as I am, you don't want to keep asking for help, so you kind of figure out how to do things on your own," stated Belac. "This year, I traveled for the first time on my own…I organized all the flights on my own, I rented a car, got around just fine. It's a huge step from being a kid to being an actual adult."
This past fall, Belac competed in LPGA qualifying school and has earned her Symetra Tour card, meaning she will be pursuing a professional golf career after finishing her time at Duke this spring.
"I'm really excited to play professionally and I know that I'm independent enough for that lifestyle, which kind of gives me self-reassurance that I'll be able to make it," concluded Belac.
Everything she has overcome to get to Duke and now to get to the professional golf circuit has only strengthened Belac's sense of self. Fans should look forward to seeing Belac continue her success in golf, not only this spring at Duke, but in the next year as she pursues a career in the sport that has provided her a lifetime of opportunities.
#GoDuke
DURHAM, N.C.-- Duke women's golf fans are no doubt familiar with senior Ana Belac and her impressive play over the past four years of her collegiate career. Amongst her numerous accolades over the seasons, Belac most recently led the squad to the National Championship in 2019. With her poise and composure on the greens, it may be shocking to learn of Belac's humble upbringings and the realities of her early career. From unkempt courses to a professional career, her story is truly one of persistence, growth and the powerful change a sport can have on your life.
As a child growing up in Slovenia, Belac participated in several different athletic activities, trying her hand at tennis, track and field, and competitive alpine skiing. Even today, Belac still remains a multi-sport athlete, continuing to ski, practice Olympic weightlifting, and play tennis outside of golf.
"Because I played so many sports, I always identified myself as an athlete, and not necessarily a skier or a golfer but just an athlete," remarked Belac. "I would say I'm not a typical golfer. There's more athlete golfers now, but I really enjoy going to the weight room, lifting weights, going skiing fast."
When Belac was four, she received her first set of clubs and would soon begin playing the sport which would ultimately become her career. However, even at this young age, Belac would have to deal with inadequate practice facilities and equipment, due to the lessened popularity of the sport in her home country.
"Because not a lot of equipment was available at that time back in Slovenia, my clubs were fit for somebody who was about five feet tall, and I was four years old," remembered Belac. "My 9-iron was about as tall as my driver now, compared to my height."
Her experience with golf began when she was five, mainly as a way to spend time with her parents, who frequented the local golf course. Belac's instructor realized her skill for the sport, which she picked up quickly, but because there were no children playing around her, she enjoyed her other activities more than golf.
While Belac's game on the greens was developing, she was already establishing herself as a skilled alpine skier. Skiing is very popular in Slovenia, so as soon as Belac could walk, she began learning how to ski. She described the sport as her first love, and even to this day, skis at every chance she can get.
She was a member of the race team at her club, meaning she competed against other young skiers at other clubs and at regional races against juniors from across the country. Belac credits a lot of her independence, especially in athletics, to the mornings she spent preparing herself for the races, ensuring that she had all of her equipment, that her skis were waxed, and that she got up the slopes in time for her race number.
"I think I learned a lot a lot of independence in the sport, how to do things on my own from my skiing coach. He treated us like adults," remembered Belac. "That mature attitude towards a sport really helped me realize, 'Ok, this is my thing.'"
Despite her love of the sport and her skill on the slopes, Belac was eventually faced with a difficult decision of which sport to pursue. In the end, she says she made the decision thinking practically. Her small stature would not provide her the weight needed to compete with some of the larger girls. Even more critical to her decision was the horrible injuries in the sport that she witnessed in the World Cup once a new carving technique was implemented.
"I knew there was a chance that I would have to quit the sport by the age of 20 because of things that can happen out there, and at that point, I started winning some golf tournaments as a junior," stated Belac. "It was kind of a decision to have something that has more longevity in the career and something that I can do for a long time."
When Belac was seven, she competed in and won her first junior tournament, an event which introduced her to the world of competitive young golf. Belac continued to play in and win junior tournaments, eventually becoming the youngest member of the Slovenian national team at 12. She had the opportunity to represent her country five times in the Ladies European Team Championship and three times in the World Team Championship and racked up a number of additional accolades.
Despite the obvious differences in the two sports, Belac transferred a lot of the lessons that she learned in her days as an alpine skier to the golf course. In both sports, Belac believes the key to success is how hard you are willing to work and push yourself. At the end of the day, self-motivation has been the driving factor in her athletic success, as her coaches' words can only push her so far. She also credits skiing with fostering her ability to dare in the sports arena.
"In skiing, an even more important component is how much you dare at that point," commented Belac. "Like you always have your upper limit, but you know you can physically go over that limit. But will you want to go over that limit?"
Although she was highly successful, Belac was struggling with inferior conditions as compared to her peers. Her home golf course required a 45-minute drive to get to, was only nine holes, and in Belac's words, was more of a goat track. Belac could only attend lessons with her coach a few times a year, as those lessons occurred at a newer, 18-hole course that was a two-hour drive from her. Her experience overcoming these conditions led to a fostering of her independent spirit, commitment to the game, and time-management skills, all of which were nurtured with the help of her father.
"My dad was really helpful along the way. He used to be a music teacher so teaching was really familiar to him and he was really into golf, so he helped me structure my practices so that I could get the most out of a two-hour practice," explained Belac. "Because I was one of the few people playing in my country, he was the one traveling to junior tournaments with me, caddying for me growing up, and helping me out with my game. Actually, now he is a licensed golf teacher."
As Belac competed in more international tournaments, she began to be noticed by collegiate coaches and eventually received an offer from Duke coach Dan Brooks to become a member of his program.
"[This] was a huge deal for me coming from a small country where golf is not developed," remarked Belac. "Nobody really knows about collegiate athletics in America and nobody really goes abroad because everyone is afraid of trying something new."
Belac left home by herself for Duke, traveling to the United States with only a suitcase filled with clothes and her golf bag. After being picked up at the airport by Brooks, a senior teammate took Belac to Target to get bedsheets and hangers, as she tried to prepare herself for life in a new country.
Although Belac was fluent in seven languages, including English, her first semester still proved to be a difficult transition. Learning in English was different than speaking it, so Belac found herself struggling to consistently understand the material. In addition to this, Belac felt insecure in this new culture, particularly about her accent. Her fear of drawing negative attention led her to become reserved and shy, as she avoided speaking in public and only spent time with her teammates and her roommate.
Speaking to Belac now, you would not know any of this. A confident, well-spoken senior, she is close to finishing her degree in statistics and is a member of the First-Year A.C.T.I.O.N. Program, serving as a mentor for first-year student athletes at Duke sponsored by the Duke Athletics Leadership Program.
One of the most powerful examples of her development came at the Arnold Palmer Cup, which Belac competed in over the summer in 2019. Belac helped lead the International Team to victory over the United States Team, and in addition to this, she was selected to deliver a moving speech about Arnold Palmer's legacy and his importance to her life experience. To her, Palmer's importance in her life was his legacy for growing the popularity of golf, something which may have brought the sport to her country. Despite his fame, Palmer remained a simple man throughout his life and encouraged the ability of everyone to play golf, despite their backgrounds.
"The idea of speech was that I came a long way since coming to America from a girl that was shy and would never imagine being in front of people to being very comfortable because I know I have something behind me like my game," commented Belac.
As she spoke about in her speech, Belac credits her confidence to her success with golf. Being comfortable on the course helped her feel comfortable in the United States and knowing that she was highly skilled at something led her to believe in her ability to be successful in other areas of her life.
Along with her confidence, golf has also fostered a high level of independence within Belac, something which has been critical to her success so far and will be valuable for her future. Journeying to Duke by herself took a lot of courage, persistence, and independence, as she tried to not only acclimate to a new culture, but as she also learned how to be an adult.
"I feel like I left home at 19 but came back after a semester at 35. Being so independent as I am, you don't want to keep asking for help, so you kind of figure out how to do things on your own," stated Belac. "This year, I traveled for the first time on my own…I organized all the flights on my own, I rented a car, got around just fine. It's a huge step from being a kid to being an actual adult."
This past fall, Belac competed in LPGA qualifying school and has earned her Symetra Tour card, meaning she will be pursuing a professional golf career after finishing her time at Duke this spring.
"I'm really excited to play professionally and I know that I'm independent enough for that lifestyle, which kind of gives me self-reassurance that I'll be able to make it," concluded Belac.
Everything she has overcome to get to Duke and now to get to the professional golf circuit has only strengthened Belac's sense of self. Fans should look forward to seeing Belac continue her success in golf, not only this spring at Duke, but in the next year as she pursues a career in the sport that has provided her a lifetime of opportunities.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
PLAYER
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