Six-year-old Asher Jaravata in Pinehurst, North Carolina at the world’s largest junior golf tournament. The event attracted over 2,000 golfers aged 5-12 from over 50 countries and included a Parade of Nations where the golfers marched through downtown Pinehurst.
When Asher Jaravata was four years old, he watched the Netflix golf documentary “The Short Game” with his dad, JJ Jaravata, and declared his desire to compete in the US Kids World Championships in Pinehurst, NC, and make friends worldwide. Asher, who had been hitting solid shots since receiving a Fisher-Price play golf set as a toddler, had already been joining his dad on the Moraga Country Club course from the time he was three.
At age six, Asher’s dream came true. “It feels surreal,” said JJ.
Asher earned an invitation to the prestigious competition this past August by shooting even par in two local tournaments. Once there, he shot scores of 39-39-34 on a par 36 course, placing him 17 out of 75 of the best golfers in the world representing 50 different countries. He finished second in California and tenth in the United States.
A first grader at Wagner Ranch, Asher squirms in his chair while being interviewed, proudly displays his trophies and excitedly talks about his three-year-old sister’s budding interest in the game. Besides golf, he enjoys flag football, basketball and math. School, in his opinion, is all right because it gives him a chance to play with his friends.
JJ and Gesa, Asher’s athletic parents, moved to Orinda from Sausalito in 2018 when Asher was just six-months-old.
“We were looking for a good community to raise a family and we found it here,” said JJ.
While Gesa runs competitively, Asher’s passion for golf comes from JJ, who competed at the collegiate level for Lehigh University.
“I hoped my son would be interested so we could play together, but something in Asher just clicked,” JJ recalled.
By age four, Asher had his first birdie and when JJ posted this achievement on social media, US Golf reached out and invited Asher to a tournament at Diablo Creek in Concord. Since then, he has placed in the top three in over 20 tournaments.
“He has the same competitive fire that I do,” said JJ. “As his coach, caddy and sports psychologist, I’m learning to keep it light and fun. I’ve seen too many parents push their kids out of the game. I always tell him, ‘If you aren’t having fun, let’s go do something else.’”
The Jaravatas appreciate how golf teaches respect, patience, composure and social skills. Through Kids US Golf, they’ve learned about the many opportunities available for young kids to improve through a season that consists of six nine-hole golf tournaments. JJ explained that they have a great system where kids can trade in clubs as they grow.
In addition to stories about falling into ponds after lost balls, among Asher’s most vivid memories is playing in a Mountain View tournament with 15 mph winds and monsoon-like rains.
“But I was playing so well,” said Asher who was sad they decided to stop the tournament. “I was even par after seven holes.” When the tournament finally resumed, Asher won.
Asher knows how to keep things simple and enjoy the moment.
“I like that golf gets you outside playing and having fun,” he said. “Riding the golf cart and chipping are my favorite parts of the game.”