Senior Spotlight: Hayley McCallum, putting for birdies and driving for equality

By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications

When Hayley McCallum's name echoes through the halls of the Humber athletic centre, it is like a synonymous representation of Hawks golf. Over the past six years, her dominance on the golf course stamped provincial and national headlines. Yet, beyond a career with unique achievements, McCallum finds fulfillment in playing for the people who have been her support and empowering women in a predominantly male sport. 

With such dominance over the years, it might be expected that McCallum has been playing the sport since she was just a little kid. However, plot twists are not uncommon, even in the realm of sports. McCallum mentioned that before finding golf in her twenties, she was a hockey player her entire life. Initially, golf was merely a summer pastime and an activity she shared with her father. 

McCallum's journey to becoming a Humber athlete diverged from the typical path followed by many other student-athletes. While most have been scouted since high school, McCallum's trajectory took a different course. 

After completing high school, she did not immediately go to college. Uncertain about her future, McCallum continued with her blue-collar job after graduation. 

It was her father who issued a challenge, "Let's see how good you can get at golf, put in the time." Inspired by his words, McCallum committed herself to practicing throughout the summer of 2018. During a usual practice session on the golf course, she coincidentally crossed paths with Nick Trichilo, the head coach of the Humber Hawks golf team. 

"He [Nick Trichilo] was like 'What are you doing with your life? Where do you go to school? Where do you play golf?' and I was like, 'I don't.' He invited me to come play for Humber and it literally just started from there," McCallum said. 

McCallum revealed that before joining Humber, she did not have any tournament experience – playing for the Hawks would mark her debut in competitive golf. Reflecting on the last-minute sequence of events, she recounted signing with Humber just two weeks before the start of the 2018 school year. At first, she had no idea what she was getting herself into, describing it as one of the most spontaneous decisions of her life. 

Starting her practices with Humber, McCallum noted a rapid learning curve and a significant improvement in her game. Despite her current status as a multi-champion player, her initial days with the Hawks were not marked by immediate success on the driving range. McCallum recalled feelings of embarrassment, defeat and humiliation at times, acknowledging that golf is the most humbling sport. 

However, she drew resilience from these setbacks, clinching a second-place finish in the province in her rookie year. After securing an unexpected achievement, McCallum remained unsatisfied, telling herself she would never experience defeat again. At the Humber athletic banquet later that year, seeing other athletes receiving awards, she vowed to herself that she would become a national champion and be the one winning athlete of the year awards. 

What comes after these words is in the history books. One-time CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) national champion, three-times OCAA (Ontario College Athletic Association) provincial champion, the first Humber athlete to be named CCAA all-Canadian five times and back-to-back Humber Female Athlete of the Year, to list a couple. 

"The personal growth through setting and achieving these goals was just a win for myself. The resume is long, but it wasn't just me. I'm happy to have achieved those things for people," McCallum said. 

Despite boasting an impressive and highly successful resume, McCallum recognizes the crucial support received from the college and, especially, her family. 

She emphasizes how golf takes a toll on the players' mental well-being. Recalling the pressures of travelling to tournaments and facing the challenge of performing well, she remembers the uplifting calls from her mother and sister, while her father was always present to support her. 

Head coach Trichilo also played a crucial role throughout McCallum's career. She views Trichilo as an integral part of her journey, considering him not only a mentor but also believing that her career would not have reached its heights without him. McCallum said that Trichilo consistently demonstrated strong belief in her abilities right from the start, recognizing the potential in her that she did not even see initially. 

In her journey towards a career with numerous accolades, McCallum had to fight against injury and pain. Through the 2021-2022 season, she had a big shoulder injury that caused discomfort with every swing of the ball. She humorously compared her sounds to those of a tennis player, grunting upon impact. 

Although her teammates and the coaching staff advised her to stop and not endure the pain, McCallum felt compelled to persevere. She considers this period a pivotal moment in her Humber career, highlighting her ability to push through both physical and mental challenges. 

"They [her teammates] never let me down. I wanted to do it and I didn't want to let them down. Also, you're so fortunate to be a Humber athlete that you just want to perform. It really doesn't matter what you're going through, you just want to come home with the win," McCallum said. 

What might come as a surprise is that McCallum does not view golf as her greatest passion in life. However, the first thing that springs to her mind is that golf represents the most enduring challenge she has ever faced. 

McCallum explained that golf is a consistent search for improved performance and numbers. But, at the same time, the sport serves as her biggest indicator of personal growth. 

"Golf is never a sport you are going to master, you can always shoot better; it's a constant thing. It's a way to keep pushing myself, it gives back to me as much as I want to give to the sport," McCallum said. 

After dedicating six years of her life to the success of the Humber Hawks golf program, McCallum may be leaving Humber as a student, but golf remains a key aspect of her future. 

Now working at Iron Lady Golf, a company led and owned by women, McCallum is actively pursuing her primary goal: empowering and encouraging more women to say yes to golf. She is dedicated to helping women overcome the obstacles they face in the sport and aims to level the playing field in the still male-dominated golfing scenario, striving for greater equality within it. 

While her journey as a Hawks player may have concluded, McCallum wants to maintain a close connection to the golf team, ensuring that Humber continues to thrive and contributes to the advancement of the sport. 

"It's been an amazing opportunity for me. For other people to have that same opportunity, I just want to keep that going," McCallum said. 

As Hayley McCallum closes a remarkable and highly successful chapter in Humber's history book, she wishes to recognize the extensive support that has contributed to her journey. While the accolades fall under her name, McCallum highlights that her coaches, teammates and family have all played crucial roles in this narrative. 

"I wanted to do it for the people that have always believed in me. The accolades are just memories now, not memories I have by myself, but sharing with the people that supported me," McCallum said. 

Now, she looks to continue to empower women in golf and enable the sport to empower them back in return, much like how it helped to build her as a person. 

"I hope to help women be supported by golf and find their passions through golf. Quality and empowerment is for sure my final message."