Fortville Elementary Student Ressie Lemmon Is a Golf Star in the Making

Photographer / Amy Payne

Golf

Fortville Elementary student Ressie Lemmon has a bright future ahead of her on the golf course.

Having already played in tournaments all over the U.S., Ressie recently advanced to the ages 7 through 9 Drive, Chip, & Putt (DCP) National Finals at Augusta, which was moved from this April to next April due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to next year’s trip to Augusta, Ressie and her siblings Elijah and Nellie also traveled to Pinehurst, N.C. in late July to compete in the World Championship (with U.S. Kids Golf) for their age group.

At a young age, Ressie and her brother were introduced to golf by their grandfather.

“My dad, their papaw, is a big golfer,” says Ressie’s mom, April Lemmon. “He got Elijah, Ressie’s older brother, his first set of clubs before he could walk. So, he’s just kind of been the golfing presence around them their entire lives.”

After seeing her brother try his hand at the sport, Ressie needed to give it a shot herself.

“Once she saw that her brother started playing competitively, she decided she wanted to do that as well,” April says. “She may be our most competitive child.”

For Ressie, the game of golf provides a uniquely fun set of challenges, as well as an opportunity for quality time with her family.

“I enjoy competing and that every shot isn’t the same — you kind of have to think about them,” Ressie says. “[I also enjoy] playing with my family because then I get to have some family time.”

With U.S. Kids Golf, April explains that competitors play on regular golf courses but with age-specific regulations.

“It’s age-based and the yardage that they play is based on their age,” April says. “So as they get older, the yardage is increased to make it more of a normal game for them, so that you don’t have a 7-year-old teeing off from the white tees.”

GolfRessie, Elijah and their sister Nellie all compete in U.S. Kids Golf tournaments, as well as Indiana Junior Golf competitions.

“We, as parents, really like it [Indiana Junior Golf] because they do not have caddies,” April says. “So they have to make all the decisions themselves, which I think helps with growth.”

As the mother of many talented golfers, April likes watching her children learn life lessons through the game.

“Golf is very unique in that it teaches that hard work does pay off, and Ressie is finding that out,” April says. “But it also shows that you can put in the hard work and sometimes you don’t reap the rewards because that’s just how golf is. So, it’s all these life lessons they’re learning that I think are priceless.”

In addition to these life lessons, April cherishes the ways that golf has brought her family even closer together.

“We’re always on a golf course, and that’s where they hang out with their papaw,” April says. “So, it’s been really fun because it’s a whole family affair.”

In looking ahead, Ressie certainly has some goals for herself.

“At Worlds, I want to get Top 20 because the Top 20 get trophies,” she says. “I also want to play in college.”

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