By Gevin Allen
Golf is the best game for juniors. Why? It is the only sport where the competitor is the referee and player. Juniors call their own penalty and are taught to call on themselves when they break a rule. It is designed to teach etiquette, patience, fairness and goodwill towards your fellow competitor. This is where the importance of junior golf shines.
It has been almost 10 years since the soft opening of the club. We have junior golfers that have grown up through the Cordillera Ranch Junior Program such as Walker Hale, Luke Hendry, Jacob King, Chase Phillips and Trip Smith. Taylor Coleman has been an outstanding junior golfer and ranked nationally utilizing the Club as her home base. We also welcome new and accomplished junior golfers who have only been a part of Cordillera Ranch for less than a year, such as Zach Heffernan and Will Williamson. We look forward to watching what the future holds for all of them.
We are proud of our junior golfers. Now it’s time to let them do the talking.
Taylor Coleman
18 years old, Johnson High School
How did you get started in golf?
My dad would take me to golf camps and I was always excited to hit the water balloons our instructor would fill for us. He would also fill one balloon with a dollar bill.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
1) My commitment to play for Arizona State University my sophomore year, 2) My Texas State Championship win, and 3) Qualifying, playing and being in 8th place after the first round in the LPGA Texas Shootout.
Who is your dream foursome?
Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and myself.
Walker Hale
15 years old, Champion High School
How did you get started in golf?
I would spend time with my dad and grandfather. Using a video with my instructor, Gevin Allen, is improving my golf swing.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am proud of recently holing out from 110 yards on #5 for eagle and making the team at Champion High School.
Who is your dream foursome?
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Jimmy Walker (have to put him there) and Rory McIlroy
Zach Heffernan
12 years old, Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary
How did you get started in golf?
I started going to the driving range when I was five years old to hit golf balls with my dad. I entered my first golf tournament when I was six. I played a lot more baseball than golf up until last year. Although I play both now, I am starting to focus more on golf.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of shooting under par for the first time and also getting to play in the U.S. Kids World Championships in Pinehurst, NC.
Who is your dream foursome?
Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods
Luke Hendry
18 years old, Boerne High School
How did you get started in golf?
I got started with golf when The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch opened in 2006. The opportunity to have an unbelievable practice facility and golf course five minutes away was special.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
2014 Men’s Club Championship and 2013 Men’s Match Play Championship
Who is your dream foursome?
Jimmy Walker, Zach Johnson, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and myself
Jacob King
11 years old, Cibolo Creek Elementary
How did you get started in golf?
My dad started taking me out when I was about four years old and we lived in Omaha, Nebraska. We lived on the 10th hole there so I could play all the time and loved to chip and putt. I also learned from Gevin (Allen) — he has been my teacher and friend.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
Playing with Walker Hale at the Ping Four-Ball Tournament at Grayhawk in Arizona. It was a little scary but fun to play against boys in high school.
Who is your dream foursome?
Rory McIlroy, Jack Nicklaus, Walker Hale and me.
Chase Phillips
17 years old, Boerne High School
How did you get started in golf?
I grew up playing baseball but injured my elbow and had to find another sport. Trip Smith and I started playing during the summer and I haven’t looked back.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
I have only been playing for two years so the list is short. However, I am proud of the fact that due to Jack Haby’s instruction and hard work I was able to achieve a single digit handicap my first year.
Who is your dream foursome?
Jimmy Walker, John Daly and Jason Dufner (I think it would make for interesting conversation). Holly Sonders could join as well — I’m sure the guys wouldn’t mind.
Trip Smith
16 years old, Geneva School of Boerne
How did you get started in golf?
I started playing golf when I was really little; I can’t even remember how old but my dad used to take me to a range with him in San Antonio. But I didn’t get serious about golf until I was 10 years old when I entered my first junior golf tournament at Cordillera Ranch.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am the most proud of placing in the Top 10 and receiving an All-State Medal as a freshman last year at my school’s State Golf Tournament.
Who is your dream foursome?
My dad, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and myself.
Will Williamson
12 years old, Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary
How did you get started in golf?
My dad took me out to hit golf balls on the range when I was a young kid, and I played my first round when I was about 9 1/2 years old. I love the game because it is challenging and fun, and the course is very peaceful. Soon after my first game, I started practicing or playing about 6-12 hours almost every day. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the game. That’s when decided I wanted to become a professional golfer.
What golf accomplishment are you most proud of?
Last summer I played in my first U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. It was my first three-day tournament, and kids from all over the world came to play in it. On the first day, I shot a horrendous 88. The second day, I played a mediocre round and shot 78 in the rain. The last day, I shot a new low of 73 and moved up the leader board quite a bit. I didn’t get discouraged, but continued to improve my game each day.
Who is your dream foursome?
My dream foursome would be Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson. I really admire these players and the success they’ve had.
