18-year-old Burkina Faso amateur golfer, Livia Hawah is aiming to ‘make it big’ within the next few years as she attempts to become a professional golfer.
Hawah, who is currently basking in glory after finishing second at the Ivory Coast Golf Open, started playing golf at the age of 14 and since then her handicap has improved.
For her dream to become a reality, Hawah has to play in as many national and international golf tournaments as possible, this will not only improve her handicap but also prepare her for the ultimate goal of becoming a professional golfer.
She says golf has taught her to take one shot at a time and this helped her to appreciate that patience is indeed, a virtue not just in life but in golf as well.
Speaking with Tatenda Gondo, Hawah chats about her greatest achievement as an amateur golfer and the challenges that young aspiring golfers face.
Thank you for chatting with us! You recently finished second at the Ivory Coast Golf Open – how are you feeling about this achievement?
Finishing second was a huge confidence boost, my swing held up nicely and I am glad I managed to win a silver medal. Now looking forward to the next competition.
Please tell us more about who Livia Hawah is?
Livia Hawah was born at a golf club in Kaya, Burkina Faso and right now she is currently based in Ghana. I am an 18-year-old amateur golfer who aspires to become a professional golfer for Gabon one day.
Who introduced you to golf?
No one introduced me to golf but what happened is that my mother used to be a vendor at a golf club and at the age of 14 my passion for golf developed.
What are some of the challenges young aspiring women golfers face?
If you are coming from a less privileged family having access to golf equipment like clubs, golf balls and spikes are difficult. In most instances, golfers from less privileged families rely on handouts of golfing equipment.
What have you learnt from participating in golf?
Golf is unique from other sports in the sense that we players regularly call penalties on ourselves and report our scores. Therefore golf has taught me sincerity and honesty. Second golf has taught me to be patient – you are taking one shot at a time, we apply the same concept in life, hence I strongly believe that patience is a virtue in both life and golf.
How do you train for golf?
My typical training regime consists of two or three rounds per week. I dedicate 4-6 hours trying to find the right formula or rectifying my mistakes and adjusting to the right ones.
What is your ideal playing partner like?
My golf playing partner is patient with a slightly slower pace of play.
Tell us about your greatest achievement as a golfer?
My greatest achievement was winning the Heritage tournament in Mauritius last year. It meant a lot to me because it was an indication of the progress that I have made as an amateur golfer.
What are your career goals and achievements?
My ultimate goal is to become a professional golfer for Gabon, this will help me inspire other young girls like me who also aspire to play golf. I have a dream and to get there I must play as many golf tournaments as possible.
Photo 1 Caption: 18-year-old Burkina Faso amateur golfer, Livia Hawah is aiming to ‘make it big’ within the next few years as she attempts to become a professional golfer. Photo: Supplied
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