The coronavirus pandemic had halted the sisters’ plans to go pro last year. Both Isabelle and 22-year-old Kaitleen, who was on a golf scholarship at St John’s University, New York City, would soon learn of postponements-turned-cancellations of tournaments. The extra time was put towards “filming fun and positive videos, vlogs and golf tips”. Their first YouTube upload under their aptly named ‘Shee Golfs’ channel quickly amassed 100,000-plus views.

“We got a lot of traction on our first and that’s how we started – just filming without real expectations. It turned out really well,” Kaitleen said, adding that university had been keeping the tight-knit sisters apart for four years.

“We used to spend so much time together on the course when we were kids. We had so much time quarantining together and [golf] was literally one of the only open activities. It was so fun to film and it’s been a dream because now we get to do what we did as kids. It’s not even work.”

Now with more than 175,000 Instagram followers and a promising YouTube channel, the sisters are carving their own niche in the sport. They also have a more lifestyle-oriented channel called ‘Shee Sisters’.

“We’re kind of at the forefront of golf in a way. Before this whole social media industry kind of opened up, if you wanted to stay in golf you would either be a coach or play professionally – it was those two, or else you’d have to find a finance job or whatever,” said Isabelle, who also has her own brand, Inside Story Golf, which produces socks made from recycled plastics and used coffee grounds.

“Now we’re able to open a whole new path to playing golf. You get paid to play, you get invited everywhere, you get free stuff like clubs. It’s just really great. We do get people reaching out because it’s so new. But anyone can do it. You can totally reap the benefits if you put in the work.”

Isabelle clarified that though “anyone” could attempt to be a golf influencer, their deep history and understanding of golf gives them the cutting edge. Parents Robert and Carolyne ensured their daughters were moulded into the sport from very early on.

“Our dad got us into golf as a good way to get into college. You know how Asians are – we wanted to get a scholarship and not have to spend so much money,” Isabelle said, adding that she gets her business expertise from her mother.

“The reason our dad got into golf was he was doing business with a lot of Japanese people. They do all their business on the golf course and my dad wasn’t very good at it – let alone understand the rules. His clients were shooting in the 80s and he had to get better. That’s when he wanted us to get into it because there were so few women in the sport.

“Just having that skill and ability to beat virtually every guy on the course brings so many opportunities. People just want to hang out with you because you hit a ball really far – it naturally garners more doors opening for you. We have our parents to thank for that.”

Though the Shees are primarily based in California, the sisters cited temporary migration to Taiwan as being paramount to fully embracing their Asian-American identity. It has helped guide them to being the freethinking women that they are.

“We spent four years in Taiwan when I was nine and Kat was six. I went to an American school and honestly that’s what made us feel like we were actually Asian. Culturally, we’re more American, but we can speak the language fluently and always want to go back,” Isabelle said, adding that Asian-Americans get the “best of both worlds”.

Kaitleen chimed in: “The good from the East and good from the West. We’re a bit different because I went to a Mandarin-speaking elementary school. When I came back to the States, I did not know how to speak English at all. I was very ‘fobby’ [fresh off the boat].”

Back home and thriving in the digital realm, the Shees continue to receive messages of optimism from inspired women golfers and wannabe influencers – but also the usual barrage of hate the world has become accustomed to seeing.

To all the naysayers, Kaitleen said: “I let the comments brush off my back. Sometimes I get the same as my sister, ‘why is your skirt so short?’, but it’s kind of predicted because golf is so conservative. There are also a couple of people questioning my credibility like, ‘you’ve never played on tour’ or whatever. But if you want to listen to me, you can. If you don’t, then you don’t have to watch my video.”

Isabelle added: “People assume that if you’re attractive or on social media you’re really dumb. I’ve had people come up and say ‘don’t even try, just be a model’. Those are the things that hurt me because that’s not what I want to be. Of course, there’s the basic ones like ‘you’re ugly’, but I don’t really care about that. You have to have very thick skin on social media. It’s kind of a projection on them, not you.

“We always say we’re not professionals and don’t have actual teaching certifications – but we have been exposed to a lot of great teachers and just want to share that. Even if one tip helps, that’s good enough. Take what you need and put it into your game. That’s what we did with our coaches.”