Preston Cowie may only be three, but the Newmarket golfer already has a swing that’s better than most adults.
Last week, Preston, who started his interest in golf at 18 months by smacking balls with soup ladles, was named the winner of the Best PeeWee Golf Swing in the world for those under the age of three based on an Instagram video of his silky moves. Who judged this contest? The panel included none other than the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, along with the legendary Annika Sorenstam, and LPGA Tour star Michelle Wie.
Preston is no stranger to Golf Town. He comes to our Aurora, Ont. store regularly to putt on our greens and hits balls in our simulators. Our staff all know him and are just as excited to see him walk through the doors as he is to run inside.
So how does a three-year old become a golf sensation with a golf swing that belies his age? His dad, Scott, isn’t exactly sure what drew his son, the youngest of three children in the family, to golf. Scott isn’t much of a player, but he says Preston was hooked as soon as he moved from hitting balls with kitchen utensils and acquired a set of plastic clubs.
“The first day he got the plastic clubs, I remember him hitting a shot into the air,” Scott says. “That was all he needed.”
These days Preston hits balls in his parent’s basement, though his Instagram account shows the toddler smacking shots in the snow and at local driving ranges. It is a video of one of these shots on his Instagram account that led to Preston being nominated for the contest, sponsored by U.S. Little Linksters.
Who does Preston say his favourite golfer is? None other than Tiger Woods.
“I’m not sure he even knows who Tiger is,” says Scott, laughing. “But he sees all the posters in Golf Town and he’ll tell you Tiger is his favourite.”
What’s next for Newmarket’s budding golf star? Scott says Preston is outgrowing his current clubs, and dad says a new set was the prize for the U.S. Little Linksters contest. Beyond that, Scott just hopes to keep fostering his son’s talent and interest.
“My position is that if he wants to play and asks to play, we’ll find the time to let him,” says Scott. “Right now this is just a lot of fun—for Preston and us.”
what a cute boy! soo amazing.