 Kim Kouwabunpat
Kim Kouwabunpat is the quintessential California girl: Stanford graduate, reality TV veteran, fit, full of life and a die-hard fan of the NBA.
“I was born and raised in Southern California,” explains Kouwabunpat (pronounced “Kowa-Boon-Pat”). “I was offered a full scholarship to Stanford to compete on the women’s golf team and that’s how I’m making my living right now.”
Even though she’s a California native, Kim, 28, spends a considerable amount of time in the Houston area. Her agent, Dave Lee, is based here, and she enjoys teeing it up at some of the area’s golf courses when she’s here.
“I really enjoy the area’s great golf venues. When I’m in town, I play and practice out of Redstone and Wildcat golf clubs. I’m a touring professional golfer training to qualify for the LPGA tour, but don't have my LPGA status yet. Since turning pro in 2004, I’ve competed on various pro golf tours around the world, including the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, CN Canadian Women’s Tour, Duramed Futures Tour (official developmental tour of the LPGA), and various other tours across the U.S.”
Kim, who appeared on the Golf Channel reality show “Big Break,” was born in Chino, Calif. and currently lives in Upland, Calif., but spends a lot of time away from home, playing 10 to 15 golf tournaments each season. Staying in golf shape is critical to her success.
“I work with a golf coach and golfspecific trainer who work together to make my swing stronger and more consistent. I have a list of several workouts I do in the gym that are focused on strengthening my core, hips, shoulders, back and quads. It all creates stability, strength, and flexibility for my golf swing.”
Three times a week, Kim picks five to eight of these workouts to do in the gym. The exercises include hip medleys, hip windshield wipers, plank transitions, roller plank, seated torso rotation with physio ball, external shoulder rotation with physio ball and band, and Bulgarian squats. “They all kick my butt in the gym, but feel great once it’s over.”
Kim has been working out in some form or another most of her life, having grown up playing soccer, softball and tennis, then she picked up a golf club at the age of nine and found her passion. She recently discovered the sport of triathlon.
“Health and fitness truly is a lifestyle for me and I would be a workout fiend even without golf. I love to find creative ways of keeping myself interested and entertained while staying in shape. This is part of why I’ve become interested in triathlon as a hobby. When I have time during the off-season, I enjoy playing in softball and racquetball leagues, playing beach volleyball, tennis and surfing. I also have a passion for running. One of my favorite ways to rejuvenate my mind or enjoy a new area when I travel is to lace up my kicks, throw on my music, and go for a refreshing run.”
Kim ran her first half-marathon in Las Vegas last December, and before that, competed in her first triathlon in Texas.
“My first tri was the Clear Lake International Triathlon last August. The sprint distance was a good race for me to start with. I ended up finishing eighth in my age division and I was very happy with that. I love the adrenaline rush that comes with any athletic competition and since triathlon is new to me, I love the challenge it offers. Like golf, there's always room for improvement.”
Food is another of Kim’s passions. “Sometimes I think that the real reason I love to workout is so I can balance out my ridiculous eating habits. But I maintain a fairly healthy diet and, most importantly, make sure I’m nutritionally prepared for golf and training.”
—Lisa Malosky
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