Originally from Colima, Mexico, Barajas moved to the US at the age of 14 only knowing a few words of English. He went to work on a golf course working on the golf course maintenance staff at a private course in Thousand Oaks, CA. By the age of 20, Barajas was the golf course superintendent at Recreation Park Golf Course in Long Beach, Calif. Rafael spent the following six years in professional development courses and seminars and become a Certified Golf Course Superintendent in 1990. In the mid-1990's Rafael accepted the golf course superintendent position at Hacienda Golf Club in Southern California, he remained in that position for 21 years before moving to the east coast of Florida 7 years ago when he accepted the Director of Agronomy position at Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club in Boca Raton, FL. Most importantly, Rafael is a family man. He has been happily married to his wife Yolanda for 38 years. They have four children, Veronica, Daniel, Rafael Jr. and Marco Antonio.