Zhu He, a 7-year-old boy from Beijing, has been taking part in junior golf games held in the United States since 2013, and hit his first hole-in-one in a pre-game last year. [Photo/China Daily] |
During one of the US visits, Zhu He cried for the first time because he felt he result was disappointing.
But the father says: "We play for fun, we are not aiming to be professional.
Zhu Zhizhen believes golf is a good way for his son to develop his character.
To play golf well, a player needs to do repetitive but standard movements, and it is easy to make mistakes and feel frustrated during the process. This will make the child persevere, determined to face challenges and difficulties, he says.
Zhu He has showed such qualities over the years, Zhu Zhiwen says, citing the son's determined long hours of practice that result in good handwriting and rope jumping.
"It is too early to hope for him to become a professional. First of all, I want him to learn how to be a better person through playing golf," the father says.
Since the beginning, Zhu Zhizhen has recorded his son's activities on social media, including Sina Weibo and Wechat. The Sina Weibo account has nearly 2,000 followers, and many of them have spoken highly of the child in their comments.
Zhu He, who is enrolled in a public school, says: "Apart from golf, I also like many other sports, such as football, basketball and swimming, but now I don't have much time for sport, because I need to study.
"I want to study hard because I need brains to play golf better.
"I'm the only child in my class who plays golf, but that doesn't make me feel special or proud. That is because, after I fail to win a trophy in a golf game, I have to do my homework.
"The other kids in the games are all bigger and taller than me, and it is difficult for me to win them, but I do win only occasionally.
"My favorite sport is golf, because I want to play golf better."