Interview
based. In India its more “block” practicing
where you hit balls for two hours straight
and then putt for two hours. Whereas in the
US, you are doing tasks, being tested every
day, being taken out of your comfort zone.
You are learning to be “comfortable being
uncomfortable”
AP: The amount of technology available to
help analyze and make improvements in my
game. Trackman, 3D analysis, and Force
plates all help speed up of learning process
and take all the guess work out of what I
need to focus on. The numbers do not lie.
Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE
OF BEING BASED IN THE US FOR YOUR
GOLF GAME?
ST: The biggest advantage would have to be
the fact that I got to play golf every single
day. The proximity of everything was a big
factor in that but overall I think having the
opportunity to play every single day was
huge.
AP: The biggest advantage is being able
to compete in the largest/most prominent
events in the word on the top golf courses.
It is diffi cult to compete on the world stage
when you are not used to competing on
really fast greens or golf courses which may
have three or four inches of rough if you
miss the fairway.
Q: HOW DID ATTENDING THE INTERNATIONAL
JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY HELP PREPARE YOU
FOR COLLEGE?
ST: Attending IJGA made me manage
my time way better. Since I did not have
my parents with me nudging me to do my
work, I learnt some things the hard way
but I learnt them nonetheless. I learnt how
to get my work submitted in time, get time
for practice, workout and get a good
amount of rest as well. These are
the things that are crucial in the fi rst
few months of college and I think attending
IJGA made my transition into college easier.
AP: IJGA helped me work and live
independently as well as get much better at
time management. I developed much more
self-discipline.
Q: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE
GOING FROM JUNIOR GOLF TO COLLEGE
GOLF?
ST: I think the biggest difference is the
competitiveness. In junior
golf usually you have people
your age but in college golf
you have people as old as 22
competing with you. So that
means some players are more
mature than you are and that
makes things interesting for
sure.
AP: The competition gets
tougher, the courses are longer
as well as harder. Classes in
university are more demanding where you
really have to be organized and focused to
make sure you get the most out of each and
every day.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING A
COLLEGE ATHLETE?
ST: I love the fact that I’m representing
someone other than myself. Golf is a
very individual sport and it can get lonely
sometimes. So when you know you are
representing your teammates, your coach
and your school, it makes things easier when
the going is tough. You know you have
people to back you up.
AP: l love how you get to represent your
college in a sport while studying. The team
atmosphere is incredible, the camaraderie
which you develop with your
teammates is amazing. It is so
different than just playing for
yourself as an individual.
Q: NOW THAT YOUR FIRST YEAR
OF UNIVERSITY IS COMPLETE,
WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGES ABOUT
BEING A STUDENT ATHLETE?
Arjun Puri
ST: Time management is the
toughest thing about being a
student athlete for sure. We are playing 10-
12 events a year and that’s about 20 missed
school days. So as athletes we have to make
sure we are academically on top of things so
that we remain stress free when we are on
the golf course.
AP: Managing time and making sure that
neither golf nor studies suffer at any point of
time. You are held accountable for both and
can’t afford for either to slip.
Saptak Talwar
Q: DO YOU FEEL YOU WOULD HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME
GOALS AND BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY IF
YOU WOULD HAVE STAYED IN INDIA FOR
YOUR GOLF AND SCHOOLING?
ST: I don’t think so. I think things would
have been tougher if I stayed back home. I
would have to stop golf as much as 4 months
in a year and that really puts a halt in your
growth of the game, I don’t think I would’ve
been where I am today if I stayed in India.
AP: Coming to the US certainly helped
balance golf and studies which was
something tough to attain in India. I do
not think I would have achieved the same
amount of success had I remained home.
Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE
A STUDENT FROM INDIA WHO WAS
CONSIDERING COMING TO THE US FOR
GOLF TRAINING OR ACADEMICS?
ST: I think it is a great idea for anyone to
come to the US to pursue golf or academics.
It is a land of opportunities and there is a
lot more to learn here. There are numerous
opportunities and whether or not you seize
them is on you. The US is the only place that
allows you to continue amateur golf as well
as study and I think everyone who is able to
do so, should give it a chance.
AP: There are so many opportunities in the
US, however nothing is given. Even in the
US you must work hard in order to achieve
your goals. Coming to the US you will
become independent, however you must
maintain your discipline. You can never
forget to work hard, especially in golf as this
is the only way for a player to improve.
To enquire about training opportunities or to
learn more about our junior golf programs
please visit IJGA.com.
GolfPlus Junior November-December 2018
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