Keeping Up With Kris

Some play it.

When his son Kristopher was four, everything changed for Mark. His wife Yukyong forced Mark to take the little toddler with him one Saturday. “I dragged him with me and he watched. The next thing I knew, Kristopher was at my side on the course every weekend,” remembers Mark. “I had no choice but to buy him some kids’ clubs. As they say, that’s how it all started. I took him to the range and started teaching him to play well enough so he could play on the Heidelberg Golf Course, which frowned on kids playing and despised slow play.”

Thankfully, Kris was naturally-gifted, very talented, and loved going to the range at all hours. Father and son often did not get home until 10:00 on school nights. “We’d hit balls on the lighted range at night even in the winter. I would take him out on the course at night, bringing along hot chocolate and snacks to make the outing more like a party,” recalls Mark. “When no one was around, I’d let him hit pitch shots and sand shots until it was completely dark.”

A whole new way of playing “catch”…

Father and son often played one unusual game that Mark Douglass won’t participate in any more. “I would go to the 50-yard marker and catch his shots in my baseball cap,” explains Mark. “Since that time, Kristopher has become the golfer that I will never be, winning over 30 tournaments,” beams Kristopher’s proud dad. “My focus shifted to making him the best player he can be, and helping him take his talent as far as his desire will allow him to go.”

You live it.

Golf has been a wonderful way for Mark to teach his only son all the life lessons which go with playing competitive golf. Leaning to control emotions…Learning to never quit…The lesson that hard work does have its rewards… How important honesty is, in golf and in life…How to be calm under pressure and never be intimidated by others…To have the confidence to win.

Mark, Yukyong, and Kris live in a golf community (surprised?) in the suburbs outside of Augusta. He works with all types of real estate properties, specializing in golf communities throughout the Central Savannah River Area – which boasts some of the top golf courses and golf communities in the world.

Read about Kris in the Augusta Chronicle
http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/091406/gol_96624.shtml

Milestones

First Tournament Win: age 7
PARS International
Doral, 26-30 December 2002

Lowest Competitive Round: 67
30 Sep 2006

Total Wins: 36

Number Holes in One: 1 (age 11)

Achievements: 2002, 2203 & 2008 Participated in Junior World, San Diego, CA

Winner Rob Perry Championship 2005, 2006 & 2008
2006 Player of the Year – Atlanta Junior Golf
2007 Player of the Year – Augusta Area Junior Golf

2008 Wins

Lowest round 2008: 70

Augusta Area Junior Golf Association
The Patch Municipal GC, Augusta, GA
1/2/08
Score: 40

Atlanta Junior Golf Organization
Collins Hill GC, Lawrenceville, GA
6/5/08
Score: 77

Atlanta Junior Organization
The Southland CC/Stone Mountain, GA
6/24/08
Score: 80

Augusta Area Junior Golf Association
The Patch, Augusta, GA
6/12/08
Score: 37

GSGA Junior Sectional
Forrest Hills, GA
Score: 75
6/15/08

Atlanta Junior Association
Dunwoody, CC, GA
6/30/08
Score: 75

Augusta Area Junior Golf Association
Rob Perry Championship
Score: 76
7/18 & 7/21/08

Cannongate Tour
Braelin
Score: 80
8/31/08

Doral Publix – December 2008
Scores: 84, 78 T35

Upcoming Events

Georgia Cup 25-26 Oct 08
Callaway Gardens

Kris’ Golf Instructors

First Golf Instructor – Ted Long (Germany – St. Leon Golf Club)

Primary Instructor – Gregg Hemann (Jones Creek Golf Club)

Putting Coach – Mike Shannon (Sea Island Golf Club) 912-638-5119

Kris’ Golf Tips

Playing tournaments in the rain can be difficult. Always keep a big supply of gloves in zip lock bags and change gloves as often as you need. In tough conditions this will save you some strokes.

Junior Golf Links (Tournaments)

All-American Junior Golf Tour: http://www.aajgt.com/

Georgia State Golf Association: http://www.gsga.org/layout9.asp?id=436&page=13843

Atlanta Junior Golf Organization: http://www.atlantajuniorgolf.org/

Augusta Area Junior Golf Association: For more information, call Michael Carlisle at (803) 641-3528.

Canongate Junior Golf Tour: http://www.cgperformancecenters.com/jrtourwebsite/junior-tour.php

Georgia Junior Golf Tour: http://georgiagolf.com/net/content/go.aspx?s=32884.0.2.17

Junior Golf Scoreboard: http://www.juniorgolfscoreboard.com/

Southeastern Junior Golf Tour: http://www.sjgt.com/index.asp

U.S. Kids: http://www.uskidsgolf.com/redirect.cfm?locationID=15301&menuID=7