The Road To Success

"Competing in junior tournaments is just like playing professional golf," he told HK Golfer at Fanling. "You are travelling around, competing and getting used to new courses and you have to learn to adjust to ever-changing conditions." He also added that he became improved noticeably when he started competing outside of his home country, mainly because the level of competition was so much higher in other European nations.
So what can local golfers learn from both Poulter and Manassero? Well, to start out, it's important to keep in mind that while they each took vastly different paths, they both worked incredibly hard to get where they are now. Their dedication and work ethic has contributed overwhelmingly to their standing as world- class professionals. The fact that they were both introduced to golf at a young age – Poulter at four, Manassero at three – and grew up around the game is also significant. This exposure so early on in their lives helped them build solid fundamentals, which is of course key for anyone hoping to replicate their achievements.
It is important for junior golfers in Hong Kong to know that they do not need to be the number one ranked player, or win every tournament, or even one junior tournament if they want to fulfill their golfing dreams. As Poulter and Manassero’s stories have shown us, there is no one route to glory. Success at a junior level does not necessarily equate to success at a professional level. Similarly, a relatively unsuccessful junior golf career does not necessarily indicate an inability to improve and compete later in life.
In my opinion, the best thing that you can do is work hard, stay dedicated and see where that takes you.

David Cunningham III lives in Hong Kong and writes about junior golf on his website, www.teengolfworld.com