“In Texas it’s really about the people right?” Lisa O’Hurley stated within two minutes of our conversation that Texas is all about the people. She explained that she had originally no plans to play golf at Baylor University.
The former executive at Golf Channel can’t even imagine his life without it.
O’Hurley was the daughter of a Dallas-based country club manager. She also worked in Houston and other locations. O’Hurley’s first lesson in golf came from Billy Ray Brown, a future PGA Tour player. Before she could pick a college, her family moved to Arizona. She was already playing for nationally acclaimed Xavier College Prep. Grace Park, Cheyenne Woods and Missy Farr–Kaye were all spawned from this school. O’Hurley was excited to go on college visits to Texas with a friend from high school, as she knew how much she loved Texas.
When she was accepted to Baylor, her plan was to attend and not compete. This all changed fast.
“I didn’t know I would be playing golf in the area until two weeks after my arrival. They knocked at my door to tell me they were starting a team of golfers and that we know you love golf. “So I said yes, and I was a Baylor college player.
“We were not as good as my high school team. Not even close.”
O’Hurley’s successful career revolves around the game. She started her career with the Golf Channel for over a decade and then launched her clothing line that is quickly gaining popularity. O’Hurley is the CEO of Lohla Sport. She has a six-year history with Golfino (a German fashion sportswear company) and has combined European flair with West Coast vibes to create an apparel line that resonates with female golfers.
Lisa O’Hurley, a former executive at the Golf Channel, now lives in Los Angeles. (Contributed image)
O’Hurley had a good contact list and reached out to 70 potential buyers for her Lohla line before she even had any products to show. O’Hurley was confident that she had something special. It took some luck to make it work, as many clothing lines, particularly those that appeared during the pandemics, went under.
“Golf was safe because the clubs and shops were still open. That was huge. We wouldn’t have been able to make it if we were just a department store brand. She said that she was impressed by the fact that the golf community could sustain itself financially. “Then, with COVID we were able to pick up many new females who aren’t used to golf clothes and who weren’t familiar with the sport.”
O’Hurley lives now in Los Angeles, with John Peterman (of “Seinfeld”) fame. She still plays a lot of golf and holds dear her Baylor roots. She’s actually become very close to the Bears’ current coach in women’s golf and plays often with them when they travel to Southern California.
“I think one of my lucky gifts is that I keep my connections strong and have these amazing people in my life. Jay Goble, the Baylor golf coach, has been a good friend of mine and we have become very close. That team is still very close to my heart.
He made a recent appearance in San Antonio’s Pearl District jazz club to honor her husband. John O’Hurley hosted “Family Feud” and was a contestant in “Dancing with the Stars”. He also hosts an annual charity tournament with Josh Beckett, a former Major League Baseball player who lives in Boerne.
He’s a man with many talents but he’s still an underdog in a duo with his wife.
Lisa O’Hurley stated, “When we met we were pretty even.” I give him strokes now.
