Aspiring junior golfer aims high
"I just picked up a branch off the ground and started hitting some pebbles around."
Golf RSA national squad member and Glendower golfer, Nash de Klerk (14) hopes to one day be an internationally known golfer.
De Klerk, who is a member of the junior and amateur Inter-Provincial Team (IPT), realised his passion for the sport at a young age.
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The first time de Klerk showed an interest in the sport was while he was a toddler on holiday with his family.
“I just picked up a branch off the ground and started hitting some pebbles around,” said de Klerk.
After seeing their son’s interest in the sport, de Klerk’s parents bought him a set of beginner golf clubs.
When he was six years old he started playing PlayBall golf.
At the age of 10 de Klerk started playing golf seriously.
Since de Klerk started playing he has won a number of SA golf tournaments.
Some of his achievements include winning the u-15 Challenge in 2017 and winning the Bridge Fund Manager (BFM) Junior Series 2017/18 Tournament.
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In February this year de Klerk was selected for the 2018/19 Golf RSA national squad.
“I am happy with all of my achievements,” said de Klerk.
Although de Klerk has a number of achievements under his belt, he hopes to become an even greater golfer.
De Klerk said his biggest dream is to play golf in America.
“Golf in South Africa is good but in America, it is so much bigger,” said de Klerk.
“I hope to be a great golfer in a few years’ time.”
In order to achieve his dream de Klerk trains at the University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre. He trains for at least five or six hours a week.
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On April 22 de Klerk participated in the BFM Junior Series North finals held at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Course.
On the day De Klerk competed against six other golfers for the right to represent South Africa in America later this year.
Although the course had been redone, de Klerk felt confident of his chances of playing well.
“I have played at the Royal Johannesburg before so I wasn’t that nervous,” said de Klerk.
