Jett Simmons - Golfer, Gallatin High School

 

Golf’s Rarity: The Optimist

 

For the second year in a row, Jett Simmons has qualified for The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Every year, The Optimist features the best young golfers from the United States and several other countries such as Argentina and South Korea, just to name a few.

 

Jett’s road to The Optimist began at a tournament in St. Joseph. He endured pouring rain to place first and qualify for the tournament in Pleasant Hill. Fair weather conditions in Pleasant Hill allowed Jett to separate himself from the field. He shot a 41 on the front and a 35 on the back to win by 10 strokes and earn a ticket to Florida.

 

Last year at The Optimist, Jett tied for 26th in the 12-13 age division. That is an exceptional finish for a young golfer’s first international tournament, but, of course, Jett is hoping to improve.

 

“I tried to play good and get some experience,” Jett said of his mindset going into last year’s Optimist. “This year I want to do better and get into the top 20.”

 

Ascending to the top 20 is extremely realistic for Jett. He has another year of golfing experience under his belt and he is in the same age division as last year. Also, this won’t be the first time that he has played a Florida golf course. He knows what to expect now.

 

The Optimist is being held at the same course as last year, so there is some familiarity there for Jett. “I’m going to know the course better this year and I’m going to be prepared for the Bermuda grass greens. I’m also going to take a putting lesson before the tournament starts.”

 

(For the readers who are not grass experts, Bermuda grass makes greens exponentially faster than the grass that is used on Missouri courses.)

 

In comparison to his hometown golf course at Daviess County Country Club, Jett said that the golf course in Florida is very different. “The fairways are tighter and there are more trees which makes it easier to get into trouble. You have to make sure to stay away from the sand traps, too.”

 

Aside from the pitfalls of the course, Jett explained that you also have to be wary of the wildlife. “You have got to watch out for alligators. They’ll get you.”

 

Beginning July 25, Jett will play 18 holes every day for four days with golfers from around the world.

Once he begins his round, it won’t matter what country his opponents call home or what species of grass grows on the course. The only things that Jett will be concerned with are learning from his past experiences, focusing on the shot at hand, and being optimistic towards the future.

 

This is a big tournament for Jett, but when you take away the hype and the flash of The Optimist it’s just another chance to play golf and he has nothing to be nervous about. The competition may be extremely talented, but so is Jett.