Golfhacker: Issue 12

KEEPING
GOLF IN
THE FAMILY
O V E R R E C E N T Y E A R S A M E R I C A N G O L F H A S H E L P E D M A N Y
F A M I L I E S S P E N D M O R E T I M E T O G E T H E R , O N A N D O F F T H E
C O U R S E , T H R O U G H E V E N T S S U C H A S T H E A M E R I C A N G O L F
J U N I O R C H A M P I O N S H I P , F A M I L Y C H A M P I O N S H I P A N D L O N G
D R I V E C H A M P I O N S H I P . T H E B R A N D H A S M E T S O M E
I N C R E D I B L E F A M I L I E S W H O H A V E S T O O D O U T B O T H F O R
T H E I R A B I L I T Y A N D T H E S T R E N G T H O F T H E I R B O N D . H E R E A R E
T H E I R S T O R I E S .
W o r d s : D a v i d W h e a t l e y
P h o t o g r a p h s : M e d i 8 / A m e r i c a n G o l f
Elle and Dean Gibson first
met the team at American
Golf when Elle took part in the
2016 American Golf Junior
Championship. At just 13
years old and playing off 16
Elle plotted her way round the
final, with the help of dad
Dean caddying, to record an
incredible net 63 and take the
girls title. On winning the
event Elle commented, "I
really enjoyed the day,
everyone was really friendly
which helped to calm my
nerves! It was great having
my Dad caddy so he could
share the experience too.”
Elle has since gone on to
finish second by just one
yard in the 2017 American
Golf Long Drive
Championship, during which
Dean showed far more nerves
than his daughter!
Dean credits golf for the
strength of his relationship
with Elle and treasures the
times that it’s just him, Elle
and their clubs, “As Elle has
got better at golf I’ve spent as
much time supporting her as
I did playing but that is just
as special as being on the
course.
That said, one of my favourite
things is just grabbing a few
clubs and heading down to
Topgolf for a couple of hours
with her. We’re guaranteed to
have a laugh and enjoy the
competition. Golf gives me
time with Elle that is so
unusual for a dad and a
teenage daughter and I think
it’s played a huge part in us
getting on so well.”