Georgia Oboh is one of the best things to have happened to Nigerian sport in recent years. OLALEKAN OKUSAN writes on the steady rise of the soft-spoken, Edo-born teenage golfer internationally, given that we are a minor golf-playing country.
By all standards, Georgia Oboh is doing great things on a terrain that is unfamiliar to most of her fellow Nigerians – the international golf circuit.
To say the least, her achievements in golf have been out of this world and sensational for a teenager.
At just 17 years old, Oboh is already a world teen champion, the youngest African to win a professional golf title and the first Nigerian to qualify to play in the Ladies European Tour (LET), a rarefied league of high achievers in golf! Simply put, Oboh is succeeding in golf like no Nigerian before her, breaking barriers with her display at major international tournaments.
When Oboh was named the Discovery of Year at the 2016 Nigerian Sports Award, the teenager apparently took the honour as a challenge to do better. With her parents’ support, Oboh has been working harder than before, traversing the globe to play against the best golfers around the world.
Outside the golf course, Oboh could be shy like any teenager. But the Oboh on the golf course is a different person in her metamorphosis into a formidable competitor hitting birdies after birdies via strong, precise swings of her beloved golf club.
Oboh’s burning love for golf was sparked in her heart at six and fanned into the current roaring flames by her parents. She said: “My parents began playing golf when I was four years old. I started taking lessons when I was six. A few months later, I began competing at local and regional level, in the rain, wind or cold, almost every weekend in the UK. Starting with the British Junior Golf Tour (BJGT) at seven, I was given a handicap of 36.
“But it all really took off when I was named junior golfer of the year in 2008 by the BJGT and also that year I watched the British Ladies Open with my parents and got a ball from the then ladies number-one player, Lorena Ochoa. I really got motivated that day to be the best player that I can be in the sport.”
In addition to her formal lessons to sharpen her golfing skills, Oboh got extra coaching from her dad, Godfrey. “I began taking lessons at Brocket Hall Golf Club in Hertfordshire, England. From there, I had several coaches in several countries but ultimately my father taught me the great game of golf and continues to do so till date. He knows me better than anyone and so I trust that he has my best interest at heart,” she said.
At 14, the youngster put Nigeria on the world golfing map when she won the US Kids Teen Championship. She said: “Winning the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship (Girls 14) remains my greatest moment and it was a turning point in my career. It showed me that through hard work, grit, determination and by the grace of God, I can reach my full potential and become a successful professional golfer. If I truly apply myself, work hard and pray, I can achieve my goals.”
For Georgia Oboh, golf is life. “The individuality makes golf unique because you do not directly play against other competitors. Instead, you play against the golf course, the weather in some instances and more importantly yourself. In golf, your mind can become your worst enemy, especially at crucial times, including pressured situations over the course of a round or over the course of the tournament,” she said.
The 2018 Youth Olympian cherishes the honour of donning the Nigerian national colours: “I see my representing Nigeria as an opportunity to inform people about Nigeria and uplift the status of the nation. This is the time that Nigerians should stand tall and be proud of our roots. We are still a ‘developing’ country but we can use that as the driving force to a much brighter future for the generations to come.”
Undeterred by challenges thus far encountered in her golfing career, the determined Oboh enthused: “There was no time I wanted to quit because of challenges and like any sport, it is a continuous journey with many setbacks, roadblocks and other delays. God has never let me down and I know that success lies in the road ahead. I thank God for my journey as I continue to strive for perfection but settle for excellence.”
Golf has taught Oboh many life lessons for which she is grateful as she continues to draw from them on and off the golf course. Her words: “Golf has done so many things for me and most notably organisation, perseverance and time management. In terms of organisation, you must organise everything golf-related like clubs, clothes to prepare for practice and play effectively. Perseverance, you must work hard despite possible setbacks and delays, persevere in order to achieve great things. Golf has also taught me time management in terms of the split between school, golf and family. I plan in advance not to be overwhelmed with my many commitments.”
Aside from her father, her mother – Evelyn – has also been a strong pillar who ensures that things are in place for her daughter. “My parents are playing a huge role in my life and career as a golfer because they encourage me to be my very best while maintaining a balance between golf and life. They guide and advise me through the major decisions in my golfing career and life in general. I am grateful for all their sacrifices, time, energy and money. I am truly blessed to have them as parents.
“I have never been under pressure to win any tournament because my parents understand that I can only do my best and pray that God sees me through to victory. I see every tournament as an opportunity to grow and learn as life is a continuous journey.
“Winning will come but I cannot just win and then stop working. I must master my chosen sport if I wish to succeed at the highest level. In golf, I have learnt a lot of life lessons and the most profound being patience. Patience can allow you to thrive even in the worst of circumstances and it is a virtue that is an integral part of golf and life. Wait and do not be in a rush as God has set His divine plan in motion for all of us. God runs on no time; He is time,” she said.
In November, Oboh turned pro and iced this milestone by claiming her first pro title at the 2018 Cote d’Ivoire Open in Abidjan.
Though still a teenager, Oboh dreams big for her golf career: “I want to be at the top by the grace of God. I want to become the number one female professional golfer in the world and I plan to inspire Nigerians and Africans to achieve their dreams and pushing past the adversity we face as Africans. I want to win all 5 majors and become the first African to do so. I want to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and by the grace of God receive the gold medal. I will dream big but always keep my feet on the ground,” she said.
Outside the golf course, Oboh is also a model teenager of exemplar conduct. In 2011, she won the 2010 Outstanding Social Behaviour Award presented by the University of Salford. The yearly award is given to a young person who makes an outstanding contribution to their community. Oboh won this prestigious award for her dedication and commitment to golf, her studies and the assistance she has been given to other young golfers, including Nigeria’s lady golfers in London and Manchester, UK.
Without doubt, greatness beckons for Oboh in golf and our country can expect many international laurels in the sport through this exceptional teenage rising star of the game, especially if the Nigerian government, corporate bodies and golf-loving Nigerians step in now to support her dreams.