Golfer (11) shines
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Danniela Bekker (right)

Takudzwa Gumbo Cool Lifestyle Writer
Golf is a heavy mental dependent sport that involves concentration and genuine decision making. Having some teenagers taking the sport means they are a lot more intelligent. But each sport has a highlight gimmick that lets it stand out. For basketball, it’s the dunk and three pointer, baseball with the home run, and football with goals, touchdowns and interceptions.
Golf has the hole-in-one, but the difficulty and rareness doesn’t permit it to be a huge draw.

This week CLS caught up with one Zimbabwean girl who is scaling greater heights in sport and it is golf.

Danielle Bekker (11) is closely following the footsteps of the legendary Nick Price considering how the girl has already achieved at such a tender age. The blonde golfer said she loves golf and there was no turning back.

“I started playing golf early last year and at that time I was just playing social golf with my family and we also would practice at the driving range. I had my first lesson with my coach Cathy Riley in April 2013,” she said.

Danielle said she now practices twice a week and is inspired by her family.

“My father and brother are keen golfers and so I spent a lot of time walking on golf courses with them and as a family we always make time in our holidays for golf,” she said.

She said she was lucky to meet one of the best golfers in Zimbabwe, Nick Price, with whom she exchanged a few notes.

“I was so thrilled and happy meeting one of the country’s finest golfers Mr Price. So far, that is the best part in my career. He told me that it’s important to enjoy the game whether playing in a competition or practising and to take time to enjoy each and every shot that I play.
“ I cherish his words as whenever I hold the club, the words always keep ring in my ear,” Danielle said.

Like every other rising star, there have been some challenges but Danielle has resolved to take them head on.

“In Zimbabwe the international junior team events are dominated by the boys.  My goal is to be selected to play in a team event on the same order of merit as the boys and to deserve my selection to represent the country even though I am a girl.

“I will continue to soldier on no matter how boys dominate. This is our time and with golf I am going to be on top,” she said.

She is pleased that ladies golf is growing although it is not supported as men’s golf but hopes it will one day.

“Surprisingly with only a year in her sporting career, Danielle has managed to achieve several provincial, regional and international awards.

“In May this year I came second in the European Championships in Scotland and last week managed to raise my country’s flag high after clinching the Junior Golf Africa Challenge at Zebula in South Africa.

According to golf rules and regulations, with such Danielle is eligible to enter all the big international tournaments next year. Apart from being a girl always with a club on her hand, Danielle does karate and is a member of the Wolverine’s Dojo in Rolf Valley.

“I am a girl of many talents and I do karate apart from golf. This helps me to always be strong and a good body,” she said.

She is the holds a green belt in martial arts and is hoping to add another grade again by the end of this year.

Danielle said her dream was to go and study in the United States and become a professional golfer.

“I wish to get a scholarship to go to college in America to study and play golf.  I want to be a professional golfer,” she said.

She is a former Gateway School student but is now homeschooling doing K12 international online studies that is equivalent to Grade Six.

The talented girl is from a family of two.

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