Hi! My name is Zoe Walker-Faure and I am so happy you are here to read about this intertwined golf and business journey. Because of ladies' like you, this college "side hustle" became golf's first female-centered golf headcover brand... and I am forever thankful for your support!

 

Rewind to circa 2014. This journey began in picturesque Palm Desert, California. Though I did not grow up playing golf, I was surrounded by golf with over 100 golf courses in a 20 mile radius. My passion for golf was ignited when I was 15 while watching the dramatic moments of the 2014 Masters with my dad. Witnessing Bubba Watson's incredible and triumphant victory sparked curiosity in me about the game. With a little persuasion from my dad, I was finally willing to take a golf lesson and see what this game was all about. Little did I know I would quickly embrace the game and be fully committed to the daily grind. 

 

I played on the high school team for three years and watched three of my good friends all commit and play at Division 1 schools. ​My game was nowhere near ready for that level, so I chose to attend the local junior college (College of the Desert) where I continued to work on my game in an effort to play at the next level.

 

During my time at College of the Desert, I had the opportunity to work at Ironwood Country Club. This is where I witnessed firsthand the disparity between the well-dressed lady golfers and their often-lackluster golf bags. Inspired by these ladies' eagerness to bring color to the fairways with their clothes,  I embarked upon a creative venture. Side note- I was obsessed with Kate Spade handbags! I went home and said "Grandma, I need your help with something. I want to create Kate Spade headcovers." We went to Hobby Lobby, picked out some fun fabric and created our first ever hand-sewn headcover. It was a far cry from Kate Spade, but it was a start. 

 

I opened up an Etsy shop (Zoe Elizabeth Headcovers) and began making custom headcovers for people all over the United States and even internationally! There was one thing in common though - Most of my customers were female! Ladies were starving for color and uniqueness! My Esty shop experiment proved my suspicion - girls like cute things and the male-dominant golf industry wasn't getting it right. 

 

Back to the golf journey. I promise we will come back to Zalea's. Following my sophomore year in junior college and endless hours of hard work, an opportunity to walk-on to the University of Georgia's Women's golf team became the next chapter of my story. Navigating the challenges of Division 1 golf, maintaining a full scholastic schedule, and managing a small business demanded resilience, tenacity and often times,  late-night sewing. Yes, I was hand sewing headcovers on my dorm room floor! My best friend and teammate often pitched-in to help with material cutting and packaging orders. (Shoutout to Alison Crenshaw... also referred to as Chief).

 

In January of 2020, my teammates and I had the incredible opportunity to play at Augusta National. This breathtaking course,  known for its blooming azalea flowers, deepened my appreciation for the beauty and spirit of the game. The ever presence of the vibrant pink azaleas at both Augusta and the UGA Golf Course became symbolic to me and my journey... Hence the name ZALEA'S!

 

Now, Zalea's Golf Co. is more than a women's golf accessory brand.  It is a sisterhood and community of females who want to add color to their game! Golf is hard enough, might as well smile when you look at your golf clubs. All headcovers are still handmade by myself, mom, and grandma! We curate our color palettes so that the headcovers can easily be mixed and matched and so that your bag can be unique to you! 

 

To extend this story just a little further, I am now pursuing professional golf on the ANNIKA Women's All Pro Tour and seeking to advance to the pinnacle of our sport, the LPGA! I am excited to see where this game leads! ​

 

If you have made it this far in "the story," consider yourself a part of this story now. We are so glad you are here! Ladies, let's go paint the fairways!

 

Because Cute's Important,

Zoe Walker

Founder