I can truly say that I am a supporter and an advocate of students that are studying the arts, and I assist in providing awards to those students who have clearly, more than once, demonstrated excellence in their creative fields.
If you can remember a few years ago there was a wide a spread controversy about whether golf was a sport or a game, and in April 2013 I wrote a blog about the language and opinions that was being thrown back-and-forth to describe the differences between the two. And unfortunately the answer, my friends, depends on what position you took on this subject. I do believe that “sport” won the debate.
Now, let me put another wrinkle in the mix, I personally believe that golf could, and should, be considered an “art”, as well as an sport. Lets do a visual. You have a perfect club to ball connection. In tennis they called it hitting the “sweet spot”, a perfect swing, a perfect foot and toe pivot, a perfect follow through. The ball is seen soaring through the air, straight as an arrow, making its way to your appointed destination. That my readers, is “Poetry in Motion” aka Art !!.
I guess by now, you’re wondering “where in the heck is this lady going with this”, what was her motivation for this analogy? Well, let me introduce to you a junior golfer who without provocation, recalled my thoughts and opinion on the Art in golf. scenario.
Kasey Torres is a junior golfer from The First Tee of South Los Angeles and a shining star of the Southern California Western States Association. Kasey is a very soft spoken 15-year old, 10th grader that attends Torrance High School, in Torrance, California. She also plays on the school’s golf team. She was very proud to share with me that she currently carries a 3.1 GPA, and a 1.7 golf handicap, and regularly hits, on any given day, in the low to mid 70’s.
This remarkable young lady started her athletic journey when she was 7-years old, playing softball, which she enjoyed, however when she started following along to watch her cousin practice and play golf, she favored her true passion, and her attention and focus immediately turned to golf. With the encouragement of her father, and The Southern California Western State Association, Kasey’s visibility and opportunities in the “World” of golf has increased.
In 2012, now 14-years old, Kasey participated in the PGA’s Junior Championship Tournament at the Donald Trump Golf Course, in Virginia, and won a position in the top fifty.
In 2013, Kasey Torres participated in the Junior PGA West, at the Jack Nicholson golf course, in Palm Springs California, where she took 2nd place with a score of 74.
In 2013 and 2014, Kasey Torres won first place in the Los Angeles Junior Golf Tournament.
June 9-16, 2014, Kasey attended The Player Advanced Academy, along with 23 other junior golfers, at the WakeForest College Academy in North Carolina. This 8-day academy experience is intended for advanced players and to provides an experience that will improve the chances to compete at a higher level. Kasey adds that it also taught her the mental aspects of the game, and how she enjoyed the opportunity of staying on the college campus for eight 8 days.
Kasey shared with me that she teed off in a twosome with pro golfer Jordan Spieth, and 17 other junior golfers, at the 2013 congressional Pro-Am event that was sponsored by Quick-In-Loan in June 2013 in Washington D.C. She stated that this experience was very exciting for her because it was her first East Coast Golf tournament.
On October 22, 2014 Kasey shot a 70 to win the individual championship, in the Ocean League finals at the Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood, California.
Kasey was invited, and will play in the Bridgestone tournament, at the Arrowhead Golf Course, in California on December 6-7, 2014.
Kasey Has qualified, and will play in the upcoming 2014 (December 13-14 ) SCPGA Junior Toyota Tour Cup.
Kasey Torres concluded our talk by sharing with me that “Golf is my life”, and that naturally she wants to be a pro golfer, however she is realistic. She feels, first and far most, she needs to focus on her education. History is her favorite subject, and believe it or not she does have time for hobbies; such as reading, drawing, and wouldn’t you know, also art.
I applaud the Southern California Western States Golf Association, for their continued impact on the lives of youth, and for their dedication to promote a strong Southern California Junior Golf program, by supporting and nurturing junior golfers, such as Kasey Torres, Bakari Bolden and many others.
Until next time!
Barbara Taylor is a freelance writer who enjoys golf and is living the golf lifestyle! She is based in Los Angeles, California. | Email
Barbara Taylor is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, California. She loves golf and is living the golf lifestyle.
