Golf has taught me that I am more level-headed than I thought. Many spectators and juniors I play with comment on my professional and mature demeanor on the course. I take pride in effectively controlling my emotions and staying calm, even when things aren't going my way. I believe that being level-headed, rather than emotional on the course, lets me make smarter decisions, even outside golf.
I believe that although scores and placings are important, consistency and small, incremental improvements in different areas of my game are more important to my long-term success. For example, I have recently been heavily focusing on my pitch shots from 50 - 100 yards. Because of this, I can knock more of those shots closer to the hole than before, which I view as success.
Discipline is everything in my life. In golf, staying consistent with my practice is what creates long-term results. Even when I am not seeing immediate results, such as when I am working on my swing, discipline is what helps me overcome challenges and see improvement. Outside of the golf course, discipline helps me complete assignments and study without procrastination, or exercise even when I don't feel like it. Without discipline, it is easy to plateau or lose focus.
Before a tournament, I usually hone in on areas that I saw were lacking during the last, for example, putting or bunker shots. Practicing the areas that I need to work on helps me gain confidence during the tournament. When on the range, I ensure all of my clubs are going consistently straight, especially my driver. Right before a tournament, if a club is still not going straight, I plan and strategize to adjust, such as hitting more irons off the tee or woods instead. In my putting, I work to solidify my tempo with my metronome for speed control. I also like to work on 6 to 10-foot putts to build confidence before the tournament.
If possible, I try to schedule a practice round before a tournament. During the practice round, I take notes on where to aim on the tee based on where I am missing my drives and where not to go. I also prioritize taking note of dead spots around the green or areas that would be hard to recover from. However, many times I am not able to play a practice round before a tournament, so I've learned to rely on GPS tools like Swing U and 18 Birdies to analyze the course beforehand. Similar to a practice round, I make note of what clubs to use off each tee based on wide spots in the fairway, look for dead spots, and plan targets to aim at.
On the range, I am only focused on getting loose, rather than working on my swing, since I trust the practice I have done beforehand. I don't believe trying to fix my swing while warming up before a tournament is effective; instead, I make adjustments on the course, such as slightly closing the face if my ball is going right, or choosing an aiming spot more left than what I had originally planned. I spend most of my warm-up time putting, as I think it is much more important to figure out the green speeds than hitting balls. During my putting warm-up, I putt from different distances, continuing to use a metronome. Then, I continue to build confidence by putting around the hole from 6 feet. Finally, I putt from different places on the green to calibrate the green speeds and test my aimpoint.
I want to compete in college because I love the challenge and team atmosphere created at the college level. In addition, I know that competing in college is a key step toward my ultimate goal of going professional. College golf forces you to perform under pressure, stay consistent, and grow as a player and teammate, all aspects that can help me learn and improve. I'm excited to be part of a competitive environment where I can learn from coaches and teammates who are just as driven as I am.
I am looking for a team with strong coaching, a competitive schedule, and a team culture that supports each other and is united, rather than simply multiple different golfers that play tournaments. Academically, I look for a program that values strong academics, allowing me to grow as a golfer but also push myself to learn in a supportive academic environment.
College golf will challenge me to be more independent, disciplined, and mentally mature. Balancing school, practice, and travel will definitely push me, but I know that it will bring out my best. Being part of a team will also help me grow as a communicator and leader, preparing me for life beyond college.
I'm a focused and supportive teammate who brings positive energy to both practice and events. I always try to stay engaged in what I'm doing while also being aware of how I can help teammates and the people around me. I want to be someone that others can rely on both on and off the course.
Whether it be from my parents or my coaches, I take constructive criticism very seriously, and never personally, as I see it as an opportunity to improve both my game and as a person. With my coaches, I always work on the changes they suggest immediately and diligently. I value direct feedback and believe that being coachable is one of the most important qualities one can have if they want to keep growing.
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