Six-year-old Victorian boy wins US Kids Golf World Championships

A gifted six-year-old golfing star from Australia has been crowned the best junior golfer in the world.

Zac Wolfe is turning heads around the globe after winning the US Kids Golf World Championships in North Carolina this month – the latest step towards his Masters-jacket dream.

He claimed the boys’ six-and-under title with a score of seven-under*, beating a field of 73 elite* junior golfers.

The tournament, held each August at the world-famous Pinefield Golf Club, is considered the pinnacle* for junior golfers.

Zac is from the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield South and is a member of Huntingdale Golf Club, where he is known as “the King of Huntingdale”.

The youngster has already chalked up a long list of achievements.

As a two-year-old, he won the world’s best kids’ golf swing – as judged by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus – and at three won the US Kids Tour Local Series in Melbourne to qualify for the world championships.

Zac scored his first hole-in-one at four, before winning the US Kids Australian Challenge at five.

Now a world champion, Zac is focused on continuing his ascent* up the golfing ladder step by step.

“Dad and (I) have a ladder,” Zac said. “On top of the ladder is the Masters jacket. That’s what I want to win, like Tiger.”

But Zac isn’t getting ahead of himself. When nerves kick in during high-stakes* play at tournaments, he draws on the preparation he puts in – including practising at dawn before school – as well as a simple motto.

“Handle hard better,” Zac said of his golfing approach. “And what ‘handle hard better’ means is you handle the hard when it gets hard.”

Zac said he “brought a smiley face” to the world championships.

“I was pretty happy (after being crowned world champion),” he said. “Dad said I’m going to have a party.”

Zac’s dad, Jeremy, said his son was learning lessons in commitment, confidence and making friends with kids from different countries through his golf.

“I’m just so proud,” Mr Wolfe said. “I think what he’s done is so cool. Whether he continues with golf or whatever he does, it’s a great set of experiences for a kid to go through.

“He loves being out there and he’s so creative. His short game is just phenomenal*. It comes through so much hard work.

“Huntingdale created a new membership category for him, a sub junior, which is pretty cool. I’ve been taking him there since he was about three. He works so hard there, it’s like a second home.”

GLOSSARY

• elite: small, select group chosen or regarded as the finest, best, most powerful
• seven-under: the number of golf strokes less than the total set for a par round on the course
• pinnacle: the peak, the highest point, the highest level of success, power, fame, skill
• ascent: upward journey, conquest, moving up a real or imagined mountain to summit
• high-stakes: a challenging situation with significant and important consequences
• phenomenal: extraordinary, exceptional, outstanding

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QUICK QUIZ

1. Zac beat a field of how many elite junior golfers?
2. What was his winning score?
3. What is Zac’s nickname at Huntingdale Golf Club?
4. What is Zac’s motto?
5. What lessons did his dad Jeremy say Zac was learning?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Create a motivating motto
Zac’s personal motto is “handle hard better”. He uses this to inspire him to do his best. Can you think of a motto that can inspire you and other kids to do your best? Write your own motto.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability

2. Extension
Zac uses the idea of a ladder to help him to focus on his goals. Think about something you would like to achieve. It can be big or small. Draw a ladder with your goal at the top and the steps that you think you need to take to reach your goal.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability; Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
VCOP dodgeball
The normal rules of dodgeball apply. Two teams throw soft balls at each other and if you get hit, you have to sit out. The team who knocks out all the players on the other team wins.

VCOP challenge: when you get eliminated, collect a mini-whiteboard and a basic clause from the sidelines. Up-level the sentence (make it better) by adding VCOP. When you show the teacher your completed sentence, you can return to the game.

Play for a set amount of time and the team with the most players left on the court wins.

What can you come up with?