Player Profile

PLAYER PROFILE – Riley Millers

Big shout out to Riley Miller from Gosford Golf Club. At the age of 10 he played up 2 age divisions to win the Under 12 boys nett by a massive 15 shots, with a very impressive 26 under par. Well under his handicap with a nett 66, 61,61 and 74. Such a quick improvement in Riley’s game over the last 3 months and extends from his coaching, club experience and time spent with the Central Coast Academy of Sport and Encourage Shield Teams, with massive support and encouragement from all his new golfing friends and Club Members at the Gosford Golf Club

Bensville, NSW

Age: 10

School: Year 4 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School Terrigal

Member: Gosford Golf Club – joined May 2015 (playing for 18 months)

Programs: Central Coast Academy of Sport Golf – September 2016

Representative Teams: Central Coast Encourage Shield Member September 2016

Riley’s Father Jason and Grandparents Ray & Carol got him into golf. From 9 years old, Riley would join up to be the 4^th player in the group and learn more about the game of golf alongside his family.

From aged 9 Riley worked at the Kincumber Golf Driving Range picking up balls to buy himself better golf equipment and allowed him time to squeeze in the extra practice, whilst the friendly Golf Range owner and very encouraging Teaching Professional Lee Akers coaches Riley once a month for any fine tuning that is required on his swing, whilst always concentrating on positive thinking and the fun side of the game.

From there, Riley received on course experience that he needed by playing in Friday Cadets and Junior Clinics under the extremely supportive Gosford Golf Club Head Professional Scott Cubis for his first 12 months as a member of Gosford Golf Club. It wasn’t long at all before Scotty gave Riley the green light to start playing in the 18 hole competitions with the members.

The Winter just gone, Riley put soccer, tennis and cricket on hold to concentrate on his number one love, passion and sport of choice – GOLF.

With Riley wanting to play more golf and lower his handicap, his Dad actually stepped back from the game to allow Riley to develop more as a player and individual playing alongside his fellow members every Saturday and Sunday. Riley has become much more confident and displays a very friendly nature under the guidance and support of his fellow members. Playing alongside a different group of both men and ladies each weekend, Riley learns more and more about the game each week in regards to rules, etiquette, sportsmanship, fun and the toughest lesson of all “Controlling the Emotions”. Gosford Members have kept Riley grounded and continue to cheer him on for the good shots and help him bounce back and smile for when the ball does roll the wrong way. Riley loves all the attention from his fellow Gosford members and runs to the pro shop on arrival, to see Scotty, Tom, Michelle, Mitch or Jarred.

The biggest improvement in Riley’s game of late is time spent with his mentor and young Gosford Club Professional Tom Ballard – Tom takes Riley out onto the Golf Course every 2 weeks to assist with his course management – thinking smart, how to play around and under the trees, steer away from the water, pick alignment targets, identify landing spots and to map out the safest way up each fairway.

Riley only qualified for the Srixon International Sub Junior Classic on the week prior and his big 15 shot win in his first tournament is due to all of the above and Riley making so many new golfing friends and mentors in his recent selection for Encourage Shield and The Central Coast Academy of Sport Golf Program. Plus, he played every day in the school holidays with Encourage Shield being 36 holes in one day.

By playing and practicing alongside other juniors who are 3- 5 years older than him, gave Riley the determination he needed to improve his own game and to work harder towards lowering his handicap like his new mates.

“Golf is such a team sport at this introductory level,” said his father Jason. I asked Riley what was the best thing about his four day golf tournament in the Hunter Valley and he answered practising and having chipping/putting comps with his new mates before and after each game. Whilst to witness the support, cheering and encouragement from his fellow members, Academy athletes and representative team mates was amazing to all spectating parents.

Riley has done himself, his family, team mates and Gosford Golf Club so proud. His Club Captain back at Gosford Golf Club, Graham Chee has been such a good influence on Riley to ensure that the fun remains in the game at all times whilst he improves at such a quick pace losing a massive 12 shots off his handicap in the last 3 months.

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who makes up Team Riley:

Family, Lee Akers, Scott Cubis, Tom Ballard, Gosford Pro Shop Team, Academy Coach Peter Cliff, Graham Chee, Gosford Golf Club members and his golf mates in the Encourage Shield and Central Coast Academy of Sport.

We all agree that golf is the best game out there to help out with the development of a little gentleman and we are all so proud of Riley and look forward to his golf and life development journey.

Happy Golfing Riley, Enjoy.

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