“Jr. golfers in USA get more chances to compete”

Hawaii Pacific University Student, Aniruddh Kedlaya Of Bengaluru On College Golf In USA

Every month Golf Digest India in partnership with the International Junior Golf Association (IJGA) and Albatross Junior Golf Tour India brings you tips and advice to help groom the future champions of Indian golf.

In this issue, we bring you a conversation with Aniruddh Kedlaya who also attended the IJGA Golf Academy in South Carolina and has gone onto pursue college golf.

GDI: What made you want to go to the US for golf training?

I heard from many people that opportunities for a golf career in the United States were better if one attended college there.

GDI: How did attending the IJGA help you accomplish your goals?

I gained access to amazing coaches, teachers, and facilities that transformed me into a better golfer and student.

GDI: What is the biggest difference between junior golf in India and the US?

Its the number of tournaments that are held. Junior golfers in the US are given several more opportunities to compete than in India.

I love the amount of time that I get to practice in college. With an efficient schedule, we have enough time in the day to play 2 rounds of golf, go to class, and then to the gym. The team atmosphere that exists in college also keeps the competition going…

GDI: How has the adjustment been transitioning from high school in the US to college?

It has not been much of a hassle for me as I followed a similar daily schedule at the IJGA as I do now in college.

GDI: What is the biggest difference between competing in junior tournaments and tournaments at the college level?

I would say, its the pressure. .Your score does not only affect you as an individual it also affects the other people who play for your college team. This is because, in college, golf is a team sport. The total score of the team is taken into consideration for ranking, thus putting pressure on every player to perform.

GDI: What do you love most about college golf?   Is the team atmosphere fun?

I love the amount of time that I get to practice in college. With an efficient schedule, we have enough time in the day to play 2 rounds of golf, go to class, and then to the gym. Time management is key in college. The team atmosphere that exists in college also keeps the competition going and takes away any boredom

GDI: What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me starts with fitness in the morning from 6:30 am- 8:00 am. Then golf practice from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. And in the evening, I attend college classes from 5:00 pm to 8:45 pm. After that, I get back home, make dinner, do some homework and go to bed.

GDI: What was your biggest challenge this semester at school?

It’s the food. Food can get quite expensive out here in Hawaii and therefore we make our own food most of the time. This was a challenge for me because I have not had much training in cooking previously and this semester ended up becoming more of an experimental semester with regards to food.

GDI: What advice do you have for junior golfers in practice rounds?

In practice rounds, I would advise junior golfers to focus more on the course and to take good notes. Looking at a hole from all angles can give a person a better idea as to how the hole can be played to their game. Marking lay-up yardages, noting down what clubs to use and drawing the slopes of the greens, can give a person more freedom to play during a tournament as all they have to do is look into their course book where all the important information is already written down.

GDI: Can you tell us what travel during tournaments is like in college?

Travel for tournaments can get pretty hectic. We usually travel the day prior to the practice round and reach that evening. On the first day of the tournament, we play 36 holes and on the second or final day of the tournament, we play 18. We usually leave in the evening on the day of the 2nd day of the event. At the same time, we are also required to keep up with college work. Yes, it does get tiring, but if you manage your time well, it’s not too stressful.

GDI: Were academics challenging as you moved from HS to College?

Not really because the first year of college mostly contains general education classes – a lot of which we had already covered in high school.

GDI: What do you do for fun in the evenings/weekends when you are not playing golf?

I usually go to the beach or hike the mountains of Hawaii.