Early start helps golfer young golfer

Has been golfing with grandfather since he was three

Brennan Thornton, 9, hits a golf ball towards the hole recently at the Del Norte Golf Course. Thornton has recently won two tournaments. Photo courtesy of Cris Rice

The pair have been at the course most days this summer as Thornton has strived to improve his game, recently winning the first two tournaments he has ever taken part in.

This month, he took first in the under-11 age group at the Humboldt County Junior Golf Association’s Crescent City Open, the first time the group has held an event in town. A short time later, he took first in his age division at a junior golf event at the Bigfoot Golf and Country Club in Willow Creek.

Thornton said he had no expectations heading into the tournaments and “was kind of surprised,” when he earned two first-place finishes.

Already, he can drive the ball 150 to 200 yards.

Anderson first brought his grandson to the golf course when he was only 3.

One of the first things Thornton asked his grandfather as he held his small putter was “Can I hit it hard, papa?” From that moment on Anderson knew he had a golfer on his hands and closely worked with him to improve his game.

Thornton has been a willing student and has closely listened to directions and has a drive to become a better player, his grandfather said.

Brennan Thornton, left, has been golfing with his grandfather Ed Anderson, right, since he was only 3 years old. The pair have been at the Del Norte Golf Course nearly every day this summer. The Daily Triplicate/Bill Choy

“He’s very good for his age,” Anderson said. “He’s committed. He has the potential of maybe earning a scholarship someday, but the main thing now is that he loves the game.”

“It’s really fun,” Thornton said about golf and playing with his grandfather. “I enjoy playing with him a lot. It helps me.”

Cris Rice, the head girls golf coach at Del Norte High, has been the organizer of youth golf clinics in town and has watched Thornton play since he was around 5 and has been impressed by his progress.

“I remember his granddad letting him play on some of the holes when he was around 5 and the way he has improved each year,” Rice said.

“I would say he’s already a good golfer for his age,” Rice added. “He’s got very good skills. You can tell someone has been working with him. He’s ahead of the curve for his age.”

Rice has emphasized the need to encourage kids to take up the sport from an early age in Del Norte County so by the time they reach high school they will be proficient. Currently, many kids come to the high school team with little, if any, golf experience and need time to develop.

Rice wants to change that. He said that there are already a number of young players like Thornton in town, which bodes well for the future. For instance, the boy who took second at the Del Norte tournament behind Thornton, Taylor Farley, has also been golfing since he was young.

While he can drive the ball quite far for his age, Thornton understands that he needs to be well rounded and is working on all aspects of his game, such as putting.

Anderson said his grandson is already well known at the golf course, with many golfers saying “hi” and wishing him luck on the course that day.

“He puts in a lot of hard work,” Anderson said.