Andrew Lee’s golf résumé got a little more impressive Dec. 14, when he won the U.S. Kids Golf Tour Fall Series. He now has that, a Player of the Year award, a mentoring job and a hole-in-one to his name.
Not bad at all, especially for someone who only has been playing golf seriously for two years.
Oh, and he’s also 13 years old.
Lee, an eighth-grader at Tomlin Middle School, took a vested interest golf in December 2011, after playing just for fun with his father, Duane Hall.
“I played baseball for a while, but I got bored of it,” Lee says. “I had played golf before with my dad, so I tried it again and I loved it.”
He ran track for the school this season, normally competing in the 800-meter race, but golf was always the top priority.
He cites the golf culture as his favorite thing about the sport, the reason he decided to stick with it without thinking of a return to baseball.
“People aren’t rude,” he says. “It’s a calm sport. You’re only playing against the course and yourself.”
QUICK START
When Lee became interested in playing golf full-time, his family gave him their full support. Although he only plays for fun, Hall ended up coaching his son — a role he still fills to this day. They’ve frequented the YMCA Par 3, in Lakeland, and Lee normally plays all around the city.
“Grasslands is my favorite course,” he says. “It’s really nice — not too easy. It gives you a challenge.”
Lee began attending and volunteering at a number of golf tournaments and has met several celebrities along the way. He got to meet Rickie Fowler, his favorite player, and Fred Couples at one tournament, and even got to putt for NBA legend Charles Barkley at another.
“His swing has gotten better, but it’s still weird,” Lee says.
Lee’s first tournament win came in December 2012, at the Par 3 in Lakeland. He remembers that the weather was particularly rough that day, but everything worked out in his favor.
“It was cold, windy — really hard to play,” he says. “It was a par 3 course. I’m not normally great at putting, but my short game was good that day.”
His favorite memory, though, happened in 2012, when he did something that many golfers spend decades trying or hoping to do: He hit a hole-in-one on his home course.
“It was the day of my birthday party, Feb. 9,” Lee remembers. “Hole 4 at the Par 3 in Lakeland. I hit a 105-yard hole-in-one, and then I had my birthday party.”
Fast-forward to 2013. Lee competed in the Tampa Local Tour over the past four months, starting Sept. 23, with a win at Crescent Oaks. After two second-place finishes, behind Brandon’s James Morotti II, Lee jumped back into first place overall on Oct. 28, shooting an 86 for a second-place finish at Summerfield Crossings.
THE FUTURE
Lee is taking the winter season off to work on his game, saying he needs to work on his putting and chipping. What was once his strong suit became the weakest part of his game, after he decided to get better with the irons and driver and somewhat neglected the short game.
Taking the winter season off also will let him focus more on his activities at Tomlin, where he’s quite involved. Lee is a member of the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America, and is also an eighth-grade representative in student government.
He also plans on enjoying the vacation from school. Outside of golf, he enjoys fishing around Walden Lake and playing pickup football with his buddies.
Lee’s goal is to start competing again in May — presumably back on the U.S. Kids Golf Tour for one last time, as 14 is the cutoff age for eligibility.
He’ll also continue his side gig, mentoring other golfers at the First Tee of Lakeland. Since last fall, Lee has volunteered his time and knowledge once a week at the course.
“The manager just asked me, one day, if I wanted to help the kids” Lee says. “Plus, it would give me some practice.”
Lee ends up coaching anyone who comes to him and asks for help, even if it’s just quick tips. He has no regular mentees, so he hasn’t been able to track any kid’s progress over a certain amount of time. But, he and his parents love what he does.
“It’s great that he serves the community, that he gives back,” mother Nikki Hall, says.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ABOUT ANDREW LEE
AGE: 13
SCHOOL: Tomlin Middle School, eighth grade
LOWEST ROUND IN 2013: 86
FAVORITE CLUBS: Irons
FAVORITE COURSE: Grasslands, Lakeland
BIGGEST SHOT: Hole-in-one, Feb. 9, 2012
OTHER OCCUPATION: Golf mentor, the First Tee of Lakeland