A Strong Cub with His Own “Menu for Success”

Bryce Johnson has just turned nine years old and is already looking like the next Tiger coming out of the woods. However, while he holds this legendary golf hero in the highest regard, his goals are clear. Bryce has composed his personal “Menu for Success” and at the top of the list is, “I want to be better than Tiger Woods.”

Bryce is a 3rd Grade honor student whose favorite subjects are social studies, science, math, and reading. He enjoys all of the activities typical of nine year olds, especially playing with his friends. But when he picks up a golf club, he’s mature beyond his years, a serious athlete with incredible ability.

Bryce’s Coach

Bryce has been coached by Kevin Smeltz who teaches at the David Leadbetter Academy of Golf at Champion’s Gate in Orlando and has been coaching Bryce for two years. Kevin is the Director of Instruction, and also the Director of Training & Certification for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy’s 26 locations throughout the world.

“The David Leadbetter Academy has taught numerous champions what it takes to win. For the most part it’s pretty much the same instruction for children as for the adults,” Kevin explains.
 
Kevin advises that several of the most important aspects of golf that children must master in order to become champions are, “Good fundamentals. Balance, the composure element, to keep focused when things aren’t going their way, discipline. I think this is what Tiger had instilled in him.”

When asked to describe Bryce’s overall talent Kevin says, “He’s a tremendous athlete for his age. He has the instinct to store power and use it.”

Early Signs of Outstanding Ability

When he was only two, Bryce began to imitate dad Bryan’s golf swing and surprised everyone as his “baby swings” evolved into the poised stance of a player. At the age of 4 he made his first par on the third hole he ever played, an 82 yard par 3, and this same year, his first birdie, a 123 yard par 4. At 5 years old he made his first eagle, a195 yard par 5.

July 29, 2005, was a very big day for Bryce’s family. Five year-old Bryce won his first tournament at Becky Sauer’s Summer Golf Camp by eleven strokes in the Seven & Under age group. After mom, Lisa, cheered this event, a baby brother arrived that afternoon!
 
Bryce’s playing history is highlighted by three first place wins at 6 years old, one at 7 along with three second places and two third places, and at 8 he accumulated an astonishing fourteen firsts and six second places. Among these his best scores overall have been a 9 hole with a score of 33, an 18 hole with a score of 68, and a tournament where he scored a 34.

Bryce Goes to the U. S. Kids World Championship

Bryce was only able to play in half of the tournaments when he was 7. So, in order to qualify to play in the U. S. Kids World Championship, he had to qualify (shoot a 45 or better) as an 8 year old. Bryce shot a 44 at the World Champion Qualifier in Pensacola so the family planned their August trip to Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Bryan and Lisa had the impression that this tournament would follow a similar suite to others, so it seemed like a great opportunity to combine the tournament with a family vacation. They arrived a day before the tournament and enjoyed a leisurely swim.

The next day they stepped out of the car at the front nine at Mid Pines and were stunned to see that most of the kids had customized clubs! Some had even brought their swing coaches! Many had arrived early and had played several days or more before the tournament. So it was no surprise that Bryce’s game paid the price of the naive new comer.

Bryan described the experience and said, “You could look around and tell who was there for the first time like us. The ‘best of the best’ throughout the world was there – Bryce had one guy from South Carolina on one side, and another from Beijing on the other. It was so cool. It was a good experience in terms of learning. We learned how to prepare.”

Bryce teeing off at the tournament he won
in his age group on Feb. 21, 2009 at
Southwood Golf Club, Tallahassee, FL
 

An Awesome Swing

When asked about Bryce’s most outstanding abilities as a player, Kevin Smeltz says, “He’s good at everything. He has a fantastic swing.”

Bryce is able to maximize his body weight through technique to drive the ball as far as he can and averages 155 yards with his driver off the tee. At his 55 pound weight, that’s an amazing 2.8 yards per pound. Consider the following comparisons with Tiger and two of the top PGA players who are among the longest drivers on the tour:

There are no PGA players or kids his age who average near Bryce’s power per pound and Kevin Smeltz is highly impressed, “Bryce is looking pretty good! This just goes back to his athleticism and his instincts. I’m sure if he threw a baseball it would also be equally powerful.”

Bryce Talks Golf

Q: Why do you like golf so much? “It’s mainly a fun game.”

Q: How old were you when you first started playing? “Two and a half.”

Q: What is your practice schedule like? “Every other day we golf one to two hours. Saturday and Sunday, too, just to play the course.”

Q: Do you have advice for people who get upset when their game is not going well? “Try not to get too mad in golf and try not to hit it way too hard or it will mess you up.”

Q: Is there another person besides your Dad who has really helped you to become such a good golfer? “My coach, Kevin Smeltz.”

Q: Do you prefer a hat or visor? “A visor. A regular hat gets too hot.” 

Q: What brand of clubs do you prefer? “U. S. Kids Tour Series.”

Q: Who makes your favorite ball? “Callaway.”

Q: What is your favorite club? “Seven iron. It goes really fast!”

Q: What course would you like to play on? “I want to play the Masters. It’s more challenging.”

Q: What is your favorite course in Tallahassee? “Golden Eagle.”

Q: Who is your golfing idol and why? “Sergio Garcia! He’s just a fun person to watch.”

Q: Who is your golfing mentor? (Immediate body lean with pointed index fingers) “My Dad!”

Q: How do you describe yourself as a golfer? “I can be kind of shy in golf and I can be positive, mainly.”

Q: Why do you think you are especially good at playing golf? “My coach and my Dad.”

Golf Instills Crucial Life Skills in Youngsters

Bryce Johnson is grounded in the strong values taught to him at home that are reinforced by what he learns every time he steps on a golf course.

There are so many valuable life skills learned in golf that it sometimes seems as if the sport was invented primarily for youngsters.

Children are bombarded by fantasy video games, luring them to stay inside for hours, straining their eyes at a screen and filling their minds with mediocre, often violent content.
 
Golf is positive reality and provides much more than the healthy benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. It also teaches the essential formula for youngsters to become successful adults.

The heart of golf is continuous learning. To become a better golfer, being a “good student,” open to new ideas and information, is essential.

A good swing comes from practice and hard work, not luck. Everything worthwhile in life requires hard work.

Golf is a game of honor, fairness, and integrity. When a transgression is made, the player takes responsibility for it. Children learn to be accountable for their mistakes as well as how to become good citizens who are honest and trustworthy.

Hitting the ball where it lies – learning to take what you have and doing your best with it is vital for living a positive and productive life.

Golf is also a sport of etiquette. Youngsters learn good manners and respect for adults as well as each other through the established convention of the game to be courteous and well behaved at all times.

Golf requires attentive listening and the ability to focus without distraction. These are essential abilities youngsters learn in golf that they take back to the classroom everyday.

Youngsters can apply all of these very valuable life skills and strengths acquired through golf to their homes, schools, and communities, as they become responsible adults and the role models of tomorrow.

Composure and Character

When asked what sets Bryce apart from other players his age, Coach Smeltz says, “He has really good composure. A lot of kids his age lose their focus when they make a mistake. Bryce doesn’t.”

You’d think he’d be struttin’ his stuff a little but Bryce has an unassuming attitude about his prowess as a golfer. He is an outgoing yet slightly shy young man with an endearing sense of humor who loves to skip when he’s playing well.

Coach Smeltz, who has known Bryce for two years, commented on his unpretentious, well-mannered demeanor and says, “He’s a testament to his upbringing. He has a very supportive family. They’ve raised him to be that way.”

Rising Star Is Blasting Off

In Bryce’s “Menu for Success” he has written things like “hard work,” “discipline,” “practice,” “listening to coach,” and perhaps most important, “it takes liking the sport.”

When asked if he recommends golf to other kids, Bryce exclaims, “Yes, because it is a really fun sport. Once you learn it, you’re going to have a blast!”
 
It will be fascinating to watch the continuing blast of this bright rising star. When asked what he sees in Bryce’s future, Kevin Smeltz says, “Anything he wants. That’s truthful. It’s kind of a generic sounding answer, but in his case, it’s true.”