Junior Savannah Madden prepares her club as the wind blows slightly. Pressure rising, she swings her best shot, her ball glides through the air and lands on the green. To everyone on the outside, Madden appears as if she has been golfing for years, but what many don’t know is this is one of her first times on the green.
Madden first started golfing the summer before her junior year as a leisure activity with her father. When school started, she gave golf tryouts a shot. She didn’t expect a guaranteed spot on the team because of her short term experience. Days after tryouts she discovered she made the team.
“I never knew that an occasional free time activity would turn into my full time sport,” Madden said.
Later, Madden even quit her childhood sport, cheerleading, in order to focus on golf full time.
“Quitting cheerleading was a big deal for us, because she didn’t even know if she would succeed in golf,” Mr. Madden said. “We were all shocked that she picked it up so fast and made the team. Though it was all a sudden surprise we are so proud of her decisions.”
Madden now plays golf for Legacy’s team and practices her skills five days a week. She hopes to improve her skills and continue to get better to maybe one day even play in college.
“I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as Savannah does. She enjoys golf so teaching her is enjoyable,” Madden’s swing coach, Allan Raspberry said.
Madden decided to play golf because of the challenges it poses for her and because she would have the opportunity to play it for her entire life.
“This experience has taught me that if you do something you really enjoy you will succeed even if you don’t expect to,” Madden said. “Success comes from doing what you love even when people around you doubt your abilities.”
