The Wee Highlander Tour Inaugural challenge at Eagle Ridge GC. On Saturday 16th May 2020. The results and match report.
We were recently asked by our good friend and longtime supporter of Highlander Junior Tour, Neil Barnhill, if we would be interested in creating a competition specifically for our youngest lovers of the game, the 8 and unders! Our response was a categorical YES ….how many times have you heard that it’s great to get kids started in this wonderful game for life as young as we possibly can ? We certainly believe that to be the case.
Our aim from this point is to help their young golf game develop by providing them with a fun challenge that introduces them to a competitive setting and gives them a path to take in time to step up to our 18 hole junior competitions.
What we came up with was a 6 hole stroke play challenge over approximately 1350 yards from our own specially created tees …this was not going to be an easy course for the kids to master but that’s the way we think it should be!
Our competitors went out in pairs, each announced onto the tee by name and each with their “caddy-daddy” (and moms!) along for support and guidance!
What followed in the next 90 minutes is what I can safely describe as the most fun Fiona and I have had watching golf for quite some time!
If this is the real future of the game let me assure you it’s in very safe hands with these youngsters…everything that is good that we love about our game was right there on full display!
We watched Respect, Integrity, Passion and Fair Play in abundance but throw in the fact they have more energy and enthusiasm for playing than most (in 90+ degrees of Florida Sunshine!) and you can begin to understand why it was so much fun!
Each of our players had some fine golfing moments..and just like the rest of us “seniors” they had moments to forget! Unlike almost all of us though they have quite a few more years to work on their game than we do!
Six tough holes complete…courtesies exchanged and it was time to head back to the clubhouse to count the scores and present the winner.
All of our players deserve great recognition for their efforts. To the parents we also thank you for bringing the kids to play and for believing like us that competitive golf even for those so young is great for developing not only their golf game but their character and good habits too.
Our winner yesterday and the recipient of our first ever Wee Highlander Champions Medal was 5 year old Koen Huther who posted a great score of 32 over six holes. Congratulations Koen..good job young man!
Koen’s play was exceptional at times and to his smile as he proudly displayed his Champions medal to everyone at Eagle Ridge was a worthy way to end our first Wee Highlander Challenge!
The full scoreboard is shown below. Again well done to all of our players. We hope to see you all next time on The Wee Highlander Tour.