Less than a year after fleeing war-torn Ukraine, Mykhailo “Misha” Golod found himself deciding between two of the top programs in college golf.
There was no wrong answer. Golod could attend Vanderbilt, considered by many to be the No. 1 team in the country, or he could attend North Carolina, a top-five squad with legitimate national-title aspirations. Both schools recruit the best of the best. Both are among the finest academic institutions in the country.
He chose the Tar Heels. The high school junior plans to enroll in the fall of 2024.
“The director of golf here at the Leadbetter Academy put me in touch with the UNC coach (Andrew DiBitetto) and we found that we had a lot in common,” Golod told Global Golf Post. “He watched me play the (Junior) Orange Bowl, and then I went on a visit. I really loved everything about UNC. It's a fantastic facility – they are building a new one as well – and I loved the coaches. Just everything about it is really nice.”
With his recent ascension, Golod stands in stark contrast to where he was in early 2022. It was March 3 when a Golf Digest story by Joel Beall published detailing how Golod, living in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, could hear the sound of warfare from his parents’ home as he slept in the basement in case of emergency. He could see smoke from his home, the Russian invasion wreaking havoc on his homeland. His home course of Kyiv Golf Club was taken over by the Russians, and he had been spending all of his time inside to stay safe. Shortly after publication, Golod was driven from his home and had to flee to his grandparents’ residence south of Kyiv.
Arguably the best golfer in Ukraine at the time, Golod had competed in junior tournaments outside of Ukraine, including being the country’s first golfer to play in the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2021. He already had started the college recruiting process two years ago in hopes of continuing his pursuit of professional golf.
All of that was on hold as he just hoped to stay alive in Ukraine.
But through a rallying effort that involved Beall, David Leadbetter and our own Jim Nugent, Golod fled Ukraine to come live in the U.S. with a full scholarship to the Leadbetter Academy near Orlando, Florida. More than $35,000 was raised in support of his new life abroad.
Golod, having traveled for some 54 hours alongside his mother, Vita, touched down at Orlando International Airport on March 11. Vita returned to Ukraine after a few days of getting her son settled in, and Golod embarked on a wild adventure that included visiting the Players Championship and the Masters. At the Golf Writers Association of America dinner in Augusta, Golod received a lengthy standing ovation after emcee Grant Boone passionately described Golod as being from “the still independent state of Ukraine.”
But after the adrenaline of the first month wore off, Golod was determined to take full advantage of his opportunity at the Leadbetter Academy. He tied for ninth in the Terra Cotta Invitational and spoke to GGP about how it was time to focus on golf instead of meeting heroes and doing interviews.
He looks back on that time fondly and said the overwhelming support he has received has been “really cool to see.” It may have been a lot to process, but it worked out well for him.
“It was a lot, for sure,” Golod said in retrospect. “Especially with how young I was and still am, but I mean, it was a good experience. I'm happy that I went through it. Obviously, my name is a little more popular than I was before. But that's not something I'm really looking at now.”
“Just because I committed to college, doesn’t mean that I got to the point of taking a break. I’m going to keep going toward my goals and try to be the best player I can be by the time college gets here.”
Misha Golod
What he was looking at was his golf game. Golod has been working diligently with instructor David Louys-Moroney – who has sometimes caddied for Golod in events – and said the structure of the academy has been critical to his success.
“They taught me how to practice; that was a big thing for me,” Golod said. “Because before I thought I would just show up, beat balls for five hours, and you’re going to get better. And reality is way different. It’s not about the amount of time you do it. It’s the amount of time you’re committed to every single shot; you’re dedicated; you’re purposeful. I saw myself getting much better.
“Leadbetter really got me improving because we have a really good fitness program, paired with academics, and then everything is kind of like college here, so I’m getting ready mentally for college.”
That all paid off, especially during the fall when Golod won the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship and the Sunshine State Amateur. He also finished runner-up in the First Tee Miami Doral Junior Classic and 10th in the Junior Orange Bowl, two events that are important for college recruiting.
“I knew that if I can play good golf and have a couple of really good tournaments I'm going to have interest from colleges, 100 percent,” Golod said.
Although he is ranked only No. 878 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Golod should have ample opportunity to continue rising in his last three semesters of high school. He will compete in the Dustin Johnson World Juniors next month, the Terra Cotta in April and the Western Junior in June. He’s optimistic to add more tournaments in bigger amateur events.
“Just because I committed to college, doesn’t mean that I got to the point of taking a break,” Golod said. “I’m going to keep going toward my goals and try to be the best player I can be by the time college gets here.”
As of this writing, there is a battle between Russia and Ukraine over the eastern city of Bakhmut. The war is less than three weeks from the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
“Nothing has changed,” Golod said when asked about the safety of his family. “It’s obviously not great, but they are staying safe and hoping for the best.”
Vita and Oleg, Golod’s father, came to visit their son for Thanksgiving and winter break before returning to Ukraine a month ago. Ukraine’s martial law is still in place, and they do not have the ability to leave the country for long periods of time. There is also the matter of protecting their home and taking care of elderly grandparents.
But considering the circumstances, this is a time of celebration.
After everything he has been through, Golod sees a bright future coming into focus.
E-MAIL SEAN
Top: Ukrainian golfer Mykhailo Golod has improved his game and focus since moving to U.S. to escape war.
courtesy misha golod