PRO-FILE: Naixin (Sophia) Li
2024 JUNIOR LEADER OF THE YEAR & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD
“Life is a series of choices.”
Like all the choices that led Sophia Li to founding So Golf Academy; a facility that has grown into a thriving hub of instruction, community, and personal development.
Sophia Li’s journey into golf instruction didn’t begin with a childhood dream of coaching or playing golf for a living. In fact, it began with a career in law in her home country of China. Sophia worked at an established law firm for years, but her lifelong passion for sports – particularly golf – gradually took over.
“From the moment I picked up the game, I became completely captivated by it.”
In 2014, Sophia immigrated to Canada. Less than three years later, she made the life-altering decision to turn her passion for golf into a profession and became a golf coach. On her 40th birthday, she stepped away from the law firm and onto the golf course – for good. She made the decision because she wanted to “dedicate her life to something she truly loves.”
Within six months of beginning her coaching journey, Sophia had more than 100 students. That early success sparked a vision that would soon become So Golf Academy — a space she built from the ground up to support golfers of all ages and stages. From beginners to competitive juniors, from theory to psychology, Sophia’s approach is comprehensive and deeply personalized. Her students don’t just learn how to swing — they grow mentally, physically, and emotionally under her guidance.
“If I hadn’t come to Canada, I likely would never have had the opportunity to start my own business,” she reflects.
Today, the academy is home to over 5,000 students, eight coaches, a dedicated indoor training facility, and a newly added travel program called “So Golf Discovery.” Sophia has also built strong partnerships with both indoor and outdoor providers, and her academy is attracting attention from investors and collaborators across the golf industry.
Despite the success, the road has not always been smooth. In the early days of So Golf Academy, Sophia faced one of her greatest challenges. After investing in a subleased space and completing extensive renovations, she was suddenly evicted four months later when the sub-landlord failed to pay rent to the main landlord. “Overnight, I lost the space. My students had nowhere to go,” she recalls.
“I felt lost for weeks. But I made the decision to start again.”
This pivot led Sophia and So Golf Academy to their current location in Markham — and this chapter taught her a lesson she continues to carry: “Every challenge is an opportunity if you have the right mindset.”
Perseverance and focus are two of Sophia’s core values. “If you master these, there is nothing you cannot achieve,” she says.
“Even as a child, my father always said I held myself to high standards,” she reflects. Her 13 years in the legal profession only deepened that discipline to strive for excellence and precision in everything she does — and she now applies it to every corner of her academy, from student swing corrections to team management and beyond.
This relentless work ethic and leadership was recognized at the 2024 PGA of Ontario Awards Night at Glen Abbey Golf Club, when Sophia achieved the rare and remarkable feat of being the recipient of not just one, but two PGA of Ontario Awards: Junior Leader of the Year and the Professional Development Award.
When her name was announced for the first honour by Brad Lawrence, emotion overcame her face. Less than 20 minutes later, when Keaghan Roberts announced her as the recipient of the Professional Development Award, Sophia could not believe it. “Everything I’ve worked for — every bit of effort — had been worth it.”
Sophia’s commitment to growing not only her students but also herself was recently recognized on a national scale. She was selected as one of eight coaches to join the 2025 PGA of Canada and Golf Canada Women in Coaching Program — a national initiative designed to increase the presence of high-performance female coaches across Canada.
"I am truly thrilled to be part of this year's Women in Coaching program,” said Sophia Li. “Over the years, I have gained invaluable teaching experience through continuous learning and the accumulation of knowledge, which has given me the opportunity to further my studies with national-level coaches. Every effort and dedication along the way has been immensely rewarding. I look forward to elevating my coaching to new heights and sharing the insights I gain with my students, both now and in the future."
The year-long program includes personalized learning plans, coach shadowing opportunities with Golf Canada’s national team coaches, and in-person technical development sessions. The first session took place in March at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, and there will be another in-person session in November.
Her mission, however, has always been bigger than golf. It’s about impact. “Helping others brings me joy — so why wouldn’t I continue doing it?” Whether it's helping a student add 70 yards to their drive, find confidence after failure, or fall in love with the game for the first time, Sophia's reward is in their success.
“Life is a series of choices. From moving from China to Canada, to transitioning from law to golf instruction, every decision I’ve made has led me to where I am today — and I have no doubt that I chose the right path.”
Written by: Jerri McRogers, PGA of Ontario
Sophia can be contacted here.
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This campaign is also a reminder that nominations are open for the 2025 PGA of Ontario Awards Program.
You don’t need to be a PGA member to submit a nomination — just the person being nominated must be. If you know a colleague, mentor, coach, or industry leader making a difference, now is the time to recognize them.
🗳️ Click here to submit a nomination
📅 Deadline to submit a nomination: Sunday, August 24
Stay tuned for the next PRO-FILE!