The Happy Path Of Kristen Hill

Devens, Mass. – In a national championship like this one, where golf is played at the highest level that teenagers (mostly) can muster, ambition runs rampant.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is a championship for public-course players and it’s a hotbed of dreams. It’s not uncommon in the media center to hear these youngsters speak of thrilling plans – of one day winning the U.S. Women’s Open, of leaping into the pond at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, of maybe even becoming the greatest golfer on the planet.

Their parents have taught them to be modest, but now and again their dreams peep out. Their bright hopes are attractive, and inspiring. The contestants are young, healthy and fiercely talented. And some of those dreams will come true. Count on it.

Kristen Hill

So Kristen Hill, a cheerful 19-year-old from Weston, Fla., nearly knocked our socks off when she spoke.

“I actually don’t practice as much as these other girls because I don’t want to be a pro,” said Hill. “I just come out here and hit the ball and have a good time and laugh. It works out for me.”

Hill’s face beamed. She had just completed her second stroke-play qualifying round with a 74. Add that to her opening 69 and she’s perched at 143, one under par and safely into the match-play bracket. She obviously has professional potential. At these championships, nearly every junior or college competitor has professional aspirations. It can be a great career that offers excitement and possible riches. There’s wonderful travel against the best competition. But it’s not the life for Kristen Hill.

If she didn’t want to be a pro, what did she want to do?

“I want to be able to make a difference, in some way,” she said. “I love kids. I think it’d be amazing to run a golf camp and see these kids improve because of what I’m doing. I’d get a big satisfaction out of that. And just be happy. I’d just like to have a nice family. I don’t have to have a big house or anything. I just want to make a difference in someone’s life and I’ll be happy.”

Hill was introduced to the game when she was one of those “kids.” At seven, she accompanied her dad, David Hill, to a Florida driving range and hit balls off mats. When she was eight, she attended clinics organized by LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, a program to introduce girls to golf. It’s supported by USGA funding and in 2009, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Kristen attended LPGA-USGA Girls Golf clinics in West Palm Beach and Miami. “I remember having a lot of fun and that’s pretty much what got me started,” she said. “I was a natural, my dad said, and I played all the sports, like soccer and softball, but golf was the one that I wanted to do most because I enjoyed it.”

She played in Florida junior tournaments and events conducted by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). When she was 15, she even defeated former junior star Vicky Hurst, who is now in the Rookie of the Year race on the LPGA tour.

“I tried several instructors over the years, but none of them worked out,” Hill said. “So my dad became my coach about six years ago. He’s not an amazing player but he’s an amazing teacher. He taught me everything I know.”

Her father studied golf magazines to learn enough to stay ahead of his budding student. “And he watches the Golf Channel about five hours a day,” Kristen laughed. “He’ll see something on TV and when we go to the range, I’ll try it.”

Hill competes some in the summer and, as far as she’s concerned, traveling and seeing the country is the best part. “It’s like a vacation, but you get to play golf at the same time,” she said. “It’s like, perfect.”

The Hills have made the trip to the WAPL a family affair, although Kristen’s younger sister, Amanda, doesn’t play golf. Their mother, Julie, “is my cheerleader.”

“My favorite thing about these tournaments is the time we spend together,” Julie said.

David is his daughter’s caddie, and this too is an unusual tale. David has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, yet he carries the bag. “Sometimes his leg bothers him, so I carry the bag for a couple of holes. We know he may be in a wheelchair some day but right now he’s loving this.” Kristen said.

Kristin plays on the women’s golf team at the University of Akron (Ohio), which is a long way from Weston, Florida. “I love Florida but I always wanted to go somewhere different, where it snowed and where the trees turned colors,” she said. “We had two days that were 30 below zero, and I liked it, actually.”

Her college team is also dedicated to making a difference. Team members do volunteer work at the local zoo, read to children and teach them to play golf. “We do what we can,” Kristen said. “We help the community. Our school is big on that.”

Kristen and her mother stood near the scoreboard near the end of a cold, damp day. Clouds scudded overhead. The day was rife with wet socks, umbrellas, soggy towels and golf shoes that looked as if they might dry out in November. But standing so close to each other, the smiling daughter and earnest mother didn’t seem to notice.

“What I love most is Kristen’s upbeat, positive attitude all the time,” said Julie. “She doesn’t give up, even if she’s had a bad day.”

“Why, thanks, Mom,” Kristen said with a shy smile.

Amateur glory. The pro tour. A happy family. A golf camp for kids. Ambitions all have honor and as someone once said, “In the bright lexicon of youth, there is no such word as fail.”

Rhonda Glenn is a manager of communications for the USGA. E-mail her with questions or comments at rglenn@usga.org.