Ruby Chico: Giving back to the game

Ruby Chico-Kurtelius continues to give back to the game of golf. Now based in Finland, the former Asian Junior Golf champion has been passing on her passion for the game she has mastered as a player, coach and manager.

“After one season playing in the LPGA Futures Tour I knew that this is not I wanted,” Ruby told The STAR. “But I still want to be involved in golf, so I went to teaching golf and I was fortunate enough to be able to get into the LPGA teaching program and learned a lot about teaching.”

As a child, Chico-Kurtelius started playing the game for fun. In 1987, she was both an individual and team gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, for which she was named Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year. She received a similar honor at St. John’s Academy before joining the Brigham Young University Cougars in 1988, balancing golf and her bachelor of science studies until 1992. A string of impressive wins followed: the PAL Interclub, the Wack Wack Ladies Open, the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open, and a second-place finish at the Tournament of Champions.

Ruby was then offered a job as marketing manager at the Heartlands Golf School in Singapore. The adjustment of moving wasn’t that big, save for learning basic Singlish, a mash-up akin to the chavacano spoken in southern Philippines. Singapore is also quite close to the Philippines, so she could come home at least once a year. A few years later, she and her husband Jani decided to move across the seas, to Finland.

“We had a few reasons why we moved to Finland. First is my husband is from here, and he was ready to go back home after 18 years living overseas,” she reveals. “Next one is we want our son to get his education here, because they have a very good school system in Finland and it is free for all citizens. There are also a lot for the family to do and learn here. Almost everyone here has an active lifestyle, for example during winter, we go skiing, skating, or hockey for outside activities. For indoors, my son plays football, indoor golf, etc. Our city also offers free gym to residents and free entrance to the indoor skating rink at least once a week.”

With all these benefits, Ruby still misses the Philippines, but hopes the education, health care and active lifestyle are raised to a higher level in her country. She looks for the warm weather, the food, and the beautiful golf courses she grew up around. And even if her schedule doesn’t permit frequent trips back to the country, she has brought a part of the Philippines to Finland. 

“I cook Filipino food all the time and I also have Filipino friends and we would have gatherings where we can eat Filipino dishes,” Chico-Kurtelius shares. “I don’t get to watch Filipino TV or movies, but I read the news online.”

For now, Ruby continues to play friendly rounds with friends in Finland. But her dream is to groom a future champion, paying forward the blessings she received.

“I enjoy teaching because I love seeing people learn the game that I love and to be able to enjoy it,” she reflects. “I also love to help kids learning the game because I see myself in them. I see myself to continue teaching golf and hopefully coach kids to reach their dreams.”

Giving back to the game is always fulfilling, no matter where you are.