June 16, 2018 Shyla wins at the Peggy Kirk Bell Discovery Series tournament.
BY AAGD STAFF
(February 5, 2019)
Shyla Carolyn Brown is an active 10-year-old who became involved in golf at age 4. Her attraction to the game came by way of following her doting dad around their local golf course, shortly thereafter, he bought her first set of plastic golf clubs.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Shyla’s parents, David and Dahalia Brown, relocated the family to Matthews, North Carolina several years ago. There, in southeastern Mecklenburg County, just outside of Charlotte, the youngster enjoys school and excels in her science class.
“I like to know how things work and why they work the way they do,” says the little miss who aspires to one day become a scientist and a veterinarian. And with her smarts, Shyla has been a member of the P.A.G.E Gifted Kids Association since 2015.
Actively playing golf, Shyla is a member of the US Kids Golf Club and plays 2-3 times a week with either her peers or with her mom and dad at Divide Golf Course located in the city. “I enjoy the competition and the feeling of winning.” And it is a feeling which she often has enjoyed.
On June 16, 2018 she received accolades from BlackGirlsGolf for winning the Peggy Kirk Bell discovery series tournament. “WOW! We are so proud of you. Way to focus and get it done,” said an Instagram post. The youngster has also been nominated for the 2018 African American Golfers Hall of Fame.
“My last competition was the summer of 2016. I entered my first tournament on my mom’s birthday, which is June 12th, and she told me to win her the game as a gift, which I did. Because it felt so good winning, I went on to compete in 7 other tournaments, which I also won, and, also won the championship at the end.” During that same time, Shyla entered the PGA Drive, Chip & Putt contest, where she won the local and regional levels and made it to the regional at Pinehurst.
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So who has assisted this young player with gaining such great golfing skills? “All of my golf training has come by way of my dad, who has been coaching me since the age of four,” she says. So, with that, there is definitely a strong father-daughter bond between the two golf aficionados. “My dad’s coaching has taught me how to read greens accurately and angle my golf shots more precisely, lowering my scores,” says Shyla who wears a comfortable, naturally curly hairstyle.
Shayla with her parents Dahlia and David Brown at PGA National Resort Champion Course, West Palm Beach, FL.
“My biggest challenge in the game is staying focused…but I stay motivated by thinking about the tournaments I have won, so far, and by watching my golf shots fly when I have a great hit.”
When Shyla is not in tournaments or practicing golf she enjoys playing with her dog, Sugar, in addition to reading, swimming, playing mind craft, or conducting science experiments. Among the athletes she sees as role models: ” I admire Tiger Woods because of all his wins and in being an African American, I have someone to look up to. I also love to watch Lydia Ko and Ricky Fowler.”
