I love people who are ahead of the game … athletes who face the best and make their competition look incompetent. Both on the professional and amateur levels, athletes of this magnitude are born every day.
Well, not necessarily. For the majority of these athletes, natural ability has little to do with the fact that they stand out.
Take Michael Jordan for instance.
If Jordan was born with his ability to play basketball, why is it that he couldn't make his high school team after the first couple of tryouts?
Many who have only seen clips of Jordan may say, “I could never do that. That man was just born with a special talent.”
But those who know about Jordan realize that he didn't just work to get that point of greatness, he continued to work harder than his opponents after he reached that point of greatness.
Greatness isn't born, it's made. And an individual's greatness can only be built through his or her own blood, sweat and tears.
Sometimes, however, it's not that dramatic.
Many readers have seen me mention Katherine Hepler on a number of occasions.
Why?
Because at 13-years-old, I believe she understands what it takes to be above her peers in the sport of golf.
It's not because she holds the amateur record at the Pasfield course in Springfield with a score of 30 (the amateur record of all ages, not limited to her age group).
Although she accomplished this feat at 11 years old, that's not what makes her great.
It's not because she chooses to play in tournaments against 17 and 18 year olds, beating members of the U of I golf team and other athletes at this level. She did this at one time to become the youngest person to make the championship flight of the Women's Western Amateur Tournament.
Although she accomplished this feat at a younger age than golf legend Nancy Lopez, that's not what makes her great.
It's not because she motivates other athletes on the course, while dealing with rude people who are jealous of her abilities.
Although she endures attitude and discrimination not meant for a person of her age and still performs at a high level, that's not what makes her great.
It's preparation that makes Hepler who she is.
Before she even steps out on a course or even sees a fairway, chances are she already knows how she will play that course.
Recently, I had the privilege of looking into the private preparation of Hepler. What I saw made me realize why she is who she is.
Hepler looks at each green on the Internet, prints it out and maps out her strategy based on what she sees. If you look up most of the courses played by both high school and college level golf teams, you will see that almost everyone has this opportunity.
However, few take advantage of it. As a matter of fact, I'd bet that some of you reading this right now will blow off a perfect example of preparation. You won't do it because it's outside your skill level or you don't have the ability; unfortunately, some of you will ignore the advice because of its source - a 13-year-old girl.
To preserve Hepler's secrets, I will not mention the course that she analyzes. Isn't this irrelevant anyway? You can find this information for most of the courses in the state.
Hepler's notes
For Hole No. 2 on this course, Hepler writes: “Play your drive to the right side again. Wherever you are, don't go for the green in two - that is a big number.”
Not only does she know where she'll hit the ball before she wakes up that day, she knows and recognizes her limitations.
She also realizes where she can make a move. On Hole No. 3, Hepler writes: “TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS HOLE!!! It is the easiest hole on the golf course at only 219 yards.”
Why wait until you get to the hole to find out this information? Knowing this fact may help you be more aggressive on Hole No. 2, depending on your score.
Hepler knows that on some holes, she has options. On Hole No. 7, she writes: “You have two options: either hit a six iron to the 80 yd. area, or hit a driver over the water aiming about ten yards to the right of the green.”
She'll examine each option before she reaches the hole and make her decision based on how she feels and how she's performing. If she feels out-of-sorts when she starts playing, she doesn't have to analyze her options on the spot. She will already know the best path to success.
Hepler is also aware of her environment. On Hole No. 11, she writes: “You can just hit a driver to the right side of the hole; the cart path won't come into play. On the second shot, the creek runs in front and to the right, so play for middle left of the green.”
My favorite part of looking over her notes is seeing that she offers pre-words of encouragement, as well as recognizes her potential ego.
These examples include: “Play a driver if you're in a good mood; the bunker in the center of the fairway shouldn't scare you; don't feel bad if you bogey this hole; don't get greedy if pin is back right.”
Making these notes is what allows Hepler to travel to courses she's never seen and beat the people who play them regularly.
Although these notes are a large part of Hepler's success, it's not the only ingredient. She knows how far she can hit, and most importantly, understands her limitations and how personal mood can affect performance.
The point is that it doesn't take a large amount of money or technology to prepare. It just takes a little practice and preparation.
Knowing that Hepler makes straight As in school and is still able to socialize with her friends shows that she doesn't devote her life to practicing golf.
Hepler's preparation should be taken as an example of how to start on a path towards success. It doesn't just work in golf; it works in every sport and every aspect of life.
Did I mention that she plays hockey?
