The late great Arnold Palmer once said: Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated and that’s something that resonates with Brooke Rivers. The second year member of Golf Canada’s National Team Program acknowledges golf is a sport that requires a lot of attention to detail – and that suits her just fine because she enjoys being a student of the game.
Hailing from Brampton, Ont., Rivers—who turns 17 on March 17th—played a number of sports growing up. Besides spending time on the links, she also enjoyed time in the hockey arena, on the soccer field and the softball diamond. But she was drawn to the unique challenges on the golf course.
“Golf is such a big passion for me because there are so many intricate details to the game and there is always something to learn. It is such an exciting sport and it is very rewarding to see results from my hard work”
BROOKE RIVERS
The junior standout understands one of the biggest secrets to success on the golf course is simply to be consistent. However, being able to achieve this consistency regularly in every tournament is the complicated part that requires hard work, dedication, and attention to detail.
Since shifting her focus solely to the sport, Rivers has accepted the challenge of being the best golfer she could be. And she’s enjoyed some impressive results.
In 2019, she won the NextGen Quebec Championship and the Coca Cola Junior Championship.
In 2020, she claimed the AJGA Visit Tallahassee Junior Championship and followed that up by capturing the prestigious North and South Junior Championship in 2021.
The victory at Pinehurst for the 43rd Girls’ North and South Junior earned her automatic entry into this year’s Women’s North and South Amateur, which will be held in July.
She likes the fact that golf allows her to enjoy the outdoors and meet people from all around the world. And on the golf course, the talented young Canadian has some specific short term goals she would like to meet.
“Over the next year I would like to improve my game and my scoring average as well as gaining entrance into some elite Women’s events,” she noted.
Rivers says being part of the National Team Program has played an important part in the development of her game.
“Golf Canada’s National Team Program has provided resources such as personal training and mental coaching which has been very helpful”
Brooke Rivers
“In addition, there has been the added support of coaches coming to tournaments. This has been a big advantage as I was able to gain new ideas to aid in my preparation.”
Rivers currently has her sights set on the next challenge on her golf journey. That involves playing NCAA Division I golf where she plans to continue her learning and development in the classroom and on the golf course.
“Over the next five years, I would like to be placing well at collegiate events,” said Rivers, who recorded an impressive second place showing at the 2020 Ontario Amateur Championship.
The second year National Team Program members says she is motivated by the success of former alum Brooke Henderson as well as others who have gone through the program.
And with the support of Golf Canada, Rivers is committed and dedicated to challenge of reaching her full potential and being the best golfer she can be.
“It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get my game to where it is now and I know that I will have to keep training hard and learning every day to get my game to the next level.”