#45 Mo Martin

Home Course: Eaton Canyon Golf Course – Pasadena, California

The Muni Kid Who Conquered the British Open

When Mo Martin lifted the 2014 Women’s British Open trophy at Royal Birkdale, it was more than just a career-defining moment, it was a muni victory on the game’s grandest international stage. She wasn’t the longest hitter on the LPGA Tour. She wasn’t the flashiest dresser. But her accuracy, mental toughness, and relentless work ethic had been sharpened for years on the modest fairways of Eaton Canyon Golf Course, a small municipal track in Pasadena, California.

For a player who built her career on precision over power, it’s fitting that her formative years were spent on a short public course where every yard mattered and every shot demanded thought.

Pasadena Roots

Born in 1982, Mo grew up in a close-knit family in Pasadena. Golf entered her life through her father, who recognized that public courses like Eaton Canyon were both affordable and accessible for a young athlete.

Eaton Canyon wasn’t the kind of place where you’d see tour pros hanging out or big-money junior tournaments being staged. It’s a nine-hole, par-33 layout tucked into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. But for a kid with a passion for golf, it was perfect: walkable, welcoming, and open to anyone with a few dollars and a set of clubs.

Learning the Game, One Tight Fairway at a Time

Eaton Canyon’s fairways are narrow, and its small greens reward accuracy above all else. This environment shaped Martin’s game from the start. She learned to keep the ball in play, hit her targets, and think strategically, skills that would later define her LPGA career.

While other juniors might have obsessed over outdriving their friends, Mo obsessed over hitting fairways and greens. By the time she was competing in Southern California junior events, her ball-striking precision was already drawing attention.

From UCLA to the Professional Ranks

Martin’s consistent play earned her a spot on the UCLA Bruins women’s golf team, one of the top collegiate programs in the country. While at UCLA, she balanced academics with the grind of competitive golf, honing the mental discipline she’d need to succeed on tour.

After graduating, she took the long road to the LPGA, starting on the Symetra Tour (then called the Futures Tour). For years, she traveled the country in her car, living on a budget, and chasing the dream, a lifestyle very familiar to muni-born golfers who understand how to stretch every dollar.

Breakthrough at Royal Birkdale

By the time Martin reached the LPGA Tour full-time, she was already respected as one of the straightest hitters in the game. But her defining moment came at the 2014 Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.

On the final hole of the championship, Martin struck a perfect 3-wood that hit the flagstick and settled just feet from the cup. She rolled in the eagle putt to clinch her first LPGA victory, and a major championship.

It was the kind of shot that could only come from years of precise ball-striking, the kind learned on a narrow muni fairway back in Pasadena.

Public Golf Roots in Her DNA

Martin has never forgotten Eaton Canyon. In interviews, she’s credited the course not just for shaping her skills, but for giving her a sense of community. Public golf exposed her to players of all ages and backgrounds, fostering humility and respect for the game.

Even after her major win, she’s been known to return to small public courses for charity events and clinics, using her story to inspire kids who might think golf is out of reach.

Why She’s #45 on the Countdown

Mo Martin isn’t on this list because of a massive win total, she’s here because her story perfectly encapsulates the muni ethos:

• Learn the game where you can
• Play smart, not just long
• Carry those lessons to the biggest stages in golf

Her Women’s British Open win was a triumph for every kid grinding away on a small public course, proving that precision, patience, and perseverance can beat raw power.

Key Stats

• Born: October 8, 1982 – Pasadena, CA
• Home Course: Eaton Canyon Golf Course, Pasadena, CA
• Professional Wins: 1 LPGA Tour win (2014 Women’s British Open)
• Known For: One of the most accurate drivers in LPGA history

Quote

“I learned the game on a little public nine-hole course. You don’t need perfect conditions to learn perfect habits.” – Mo Martin