BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
When you live and grow up right beside a golf course, chances are one might develop a keen interest for the game of golf.
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Zack Mayer lives only a stones-throw away from Pine Grove Golf Course. Since taking up the game seven years ago, the talented teenager has become one of the top juniors in the area. His long-term goal is to making a living from the game he loves. |
Zack Mayer, 15, has grown up living in a house just off the green at the 10th hole on the Pine Grove Golf Course and over time has matured into a sound, passionate golfer.
The lefty has been playing golf for about seven years, ever since he first walked onto the course and started hitting balls on the driving range with his older brother.
"I became more interested with golf as I got older," said Mayer. "My house is so close to the course and I wanted to get into a sport, so golf was the natural choice."
Pine Grove doesn't have a strong junior contingent, but that didn't stop Mayer from having a strong showing at this year's Juvenile Pepsi Tour in Blind River at the Huron Pines Golf Club. He shot a 77 and ended up placing second out of field of competitive golfers.
"When I started, I played bad because I was trying to hard," said Mayer. "I thought I was out of it, so I decided to just have some fun and that's when I started to play great."
Mayer birdied the last hole and finished just one stroke behind the champion.
"It was my first Pepsi tour and it felt good to finish that high."
Mayer believes golf is a wonderful past time and a fabulous way to get exercise, among other things.
"My mom says it keeps me off the street and from getting in trouble," said Mayer. "Not that I get into trouble anyway because I'm always here at the course."
Pine Grove club professional George Lacko sees a lot of promise in the young Mayer.
"He can hit the long ball for a kid his size and he's accurate with his shots," said Lacko. "He really enjoys the game and will be a good golfer for years to come."
Mayer has earned the respect of the Pine Grove members.
"The members out here rank me as a 'A' player," said Mayer. "It makes me feel good knowing that I have the respect of the adults."
Golf is monumental to Mayer's life.
"I try harder at golf than I do at school, which is kind of bad," said Mayer. "This is the only sport I'm into, so it's very important to me."
New clubs have made a difference in Mayer's game.
"I used to have a set from Canadian Tire, that I used to call my crappy tire clubs then a member here gave me his old set to play with," said Mayer. "The new clubs made a difference because I get a lot more distance now and I don't have to be embarrassed anymore at tournaments and hide my clubs in a corner."
Mayer knows his strength lies in his drives.
"I don't have a hard swing, but it's accurate and usually down the middle," said Mayer. "I like to keep the ball on the fairway."
Mayer is also a lot more relaxed out on the course and during events.
"I used to get mad and throw my clubs," said. "I broke three clubs last year."
Mayer had a new strategy for this season.
"I thought I would try something new and just be more calm and have fun out there," said Mayer. "I'm not throwing the clubs around anymore because they're expensive."
Mayer would like to be a pro golfer, but knows his chances are slim.
"I'm going to put more into my education," said Mayer. "Maybe I can be a club pro at some course because I like to golf and enjoy the outdoors."
When Mayer puts his mind towards something, good things usually happen. Mayer was in karate for seven years. In that time he achieved his junior black belt when he was 11 and placed 6th in the world for juniors in the National Black Belt league Kata Championships at Niagara Falls in 1999.
A couple of years ago he was the MVP of the Joe MacDonald football league, competing as a running back and safety.
Editor?s Note: Northern Life is running a series on the young guns of golf from the Sudbury area and today features a lefty from the Pine Grove Golf Club.
