Best student and player of 2023 in the kids U9 division, Chloe Wang helps and inspires the evolution of the sport at LM Golf School in Canada.
Golf is not one of the sports that can’t be played all year round in Canada. This year, golf courses closed in the third week of November and will only reopen again in mid-April 2024. However, a 7-year-old Canadian golfer is giving hope to fans of the sport, that in the future, more young golfers may emerge whether in golf clubs, driving ranges, academies, and golf schools. This athlete’s name is Chloe Wang.
While all the spotlight was on the Juniors tournaments in Canada, Chloe was in her region, participating in the LMPJ Tour tournaments, an LM Golf School tour. With a memorable performance in almost every stage of this circuit, Chloe won 6 of the 8 tournaments she participated in to win the Best of the Year award!
Chloe has been playing golf since she was 4 1/2 years old. In 2020, her family moved to China, and it was there that she began learning golf motivated by her parents, Ray and Emily Wang, and uncle. Despite her very young age, Chloe returned to Canada in 2022 and under the guidance of Coach Luiz developed further in golf and studies.
The young athlete also participated in three and won two tournaments of the CJGA circuit – Canadian Junior Golf Association.
“I think I can help the evolution of golf. I want to be able to participate in all the tournaments at school, the LMPJ Tour and the World Championship in Northern Ireland (Champion of Champions) next year, make new friends, exchange experiences, and maybe win. The events and championships I’ve participated in have helped me develop and I know I can become even better. I know I can be a Major champion one day because my Daddy and Mom and my Coach believe in me. I learned from my parents to always be grateful to my Coach because he not only teaches me golf, he allows himself to be my Caddie in tournaments and helps me a lot, (this has a value that cannot be measured, and no Coach does that). It’s very easy when you play on the field with a professional caddy. If one day it’s possible, I want to play in my coach’s country, Brazil, and I’m going to train to win. ” Said Chloe!
Despite her maturity in golf, Chloe still embraces her childhood. Every day, after class, Chloe spends 15 minutes playing with her friends from golf school. This is a time when they develop skills with structured and unstructured exercises, combining with other sports and especially soccer, they get candy and chocolates.
Chloe was born in Canada. Me (father), and my brother (Chloe’s uncle) were avid golf fans, so Chloe grew up surrounded by golf. When we returned to Canada, we were lucky enough to meet Coach Luiz Martins, an expert in working with children and young people with a vast history in professional golf. Now she practices golf at the Dome three to four times a week for one and a half hours each time. On other days, Chloe is also learning piano, swimming, and skiing. My wife and I want her to continue with her passion and love of golf, and that golf brings many joys and achievements to her first and foremost, and to us too. We hope that golf can accompany Chloe throughout her life and become her favorite sport. For this reason, we are willing to do anything for this. We hope that Chloe will thrive under the guidance of Mr. Luiz. Words from Ray and Emily (Chloe’s parents)
Chloe, from a very young age, already showed her ambition within the sport. But now she’s even more focused. When asked what she would do with her life outside of golf and whether she would like to go to university, Chloe revealed her preferences.
“I want to go to college, with the help of my Coach because he sends the students there, my parents want that too, but I dream, and I want to be the youngest girl to play on the LPGA Tour.”
This fact is quite curious and difficult to beat. That’s because the youngest golfer to play in a PGA Tour tournament was Don Dunkelberger, at 11 years, 11 months, and 2 days. But that occurred in the distant year of 1937. In more modern times, the record for youngest on the PGA Tour is held by Hawaiian golfer Michelle Wie, when she was invited to play in the 2004 Sony Open men’s tournament, played on the famous American island. Unfortunately, she didn’t make the cut, but she made history by competing at just 14 years, two months, and 29 days!
Chloe’s future in children’s golf is a case of an athlete who, even at an extremely young age, is an international hope, in a sport that is famous in her country of birth even with a few months of the year to practice and that has 5.7 million golfers. All questions about how children deal with pressure when entering sports are important, as well as examples that sports, at any level of competitiveness, are fundamental in the formation of a young woman and transform her into a good citizen.
I always say that the way Earl Woods transformed his son Tiger into the phenomenon he became today is an example for many parents. Earl, first of all, believed in his son and talked constructively with Tiger to make him understand that he was a child prodigy since he was 2 years old.
Words without criticism, without demands, but powerful words from parents, can help their children overcome the most difficult things in their lives.
Tiger encouraged himself and boosted his momentum on the final day of the 1997 Masters, with the words of his father Earl: “One thing, tomorrow when you go out there, it’s gonna be the heart of one of the hardest rounds of your life but if you just be yourself, stay cool, it’s gonna be one of the most rewarding rounds of your life.” Tiger felt the weight of his father’s words and the confidence he placed in him, and the next day he won his first victory in the Augusta Master.
As about little Chloe, I totally believe 1000% that little Chloe could be the next young girl to participate in an LPJA Championship in the future. Chloe has everything it takes to get there, and I hope nothing happens along the way that hinders or harms her journey. Says Coach Luiz Martins.
Harry Feng
Press Coordinator
