Family right behind LPGA star
Brooke Henderson’s game in ‘a great place’
They’ve been called The Dream Team – LPGA star Brooke Henderson, her sister/ caddie Brittany, dad/coach Dave and mom Darlene.
While 22-year-old Brooke has been sensational since joining the women’s professional golf tour in 2015 – winning more than $6.5 million – family has always come first.
The parents, Dave and Darlene – now both retired – are well known in the area. Dave worked as a teacher for the Upper Canada District School Board for 31 years – at Lombardy Public School for 15 years and at Caldwell Street Public School in Carleton Place for 16 years – and Darlene was at Lanark County Support Services.
Dave encouraged both his daughters to hit golf balls from a young age. He and Brittany, also a terrific golfer, would trail after Brooke at the home course – Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club – with the younger sister, then four, convinced that whoever got the ball in the hole the fastest was the winner.
“I always wondered why they were taking so long,” said Brooke. “I would go as hard as I could. I only really hit the ball maybe 20 yards at that time. So I’d go in 20-yard increments and hustle – I’d be on the green and they’d still be back in the fairway.”
At the family cottage, near Rideau Lakes Golf Club in Westport, Dave would encourage the girls to hit dandelions with each golf shot, paying the girls a nickel if they did it.
“(My dad) wanted me to practise my swing,” said Brooke. “I was making money and working on my swing so all was good.”
Along the way, Dave, a good golfer himself, became Brooke’s golf coach, creating a dynamic of being both dad and coach.
“I have a really unique relationship with my dad where he’s my coach on the golf course – he pushes me, he makes sure I’m continuing to get better and working on the right things – and off the course, he’s one of my best friends,” said Brooke. “We try to make sure the two are separated, that him being a dad comes first. He’s my coach so he’s going to tell me to work on things that I need to work on. I want to get better so I’m always listening and trying to improve in those areas he thinks I need to. We’ve worked it out. I’ve been working with him as my coach my whole life. At this point, we kind of know that he’s Coach on the golf course, but off the course, it’s just Dad.
“We love to just hang out. I’m grateful he’s been able to help me so much in life and in golf. I think it’s maybe a bit unique that we can work together and also have a great relationship away from the course.”
Asked to describe her dad, Brooke said: “He has a great sense of humour. To be able to coach both your daughters is incredible. He was a school teacher for a long time – that ability to be able to teach young people has definitely come through with his coaching. He’s a great guy, we enjoy each other’s company.”
Darlene’s role in the daughter’s success shouldn’t be forgotten either.
“She didn’t really pursue any sports growing up,” said Brooke. “It’s kind of surprising, but she doesn’t play golf at all. She loves to come to events and watch, she’s always been so supportive. She’s really kind, maybe the most positive person I’ve ever met. If you’re having a hard day or going through something, she’s really easy to talk to, she’ll help you feel a lot better.” Brooke returned to Smiths Falls from her Florida home in March before the COVID19 pandemic border lockdown. In her only two events of the LPGA season in January, Brooke earned $102,169, tying for fourth in one event and tying for 15th in the other.
“I felt like my game was in a great place,” she said. “When I was in Florida, I was playing every day so I went through a long break waiting for the courses to open back up (here). It’s pretty fun playing the courses I grew up playing on. It’s funny thinking I grew up playing the courses to (get ready to) play in junior and amateur events, now I’m playing these courses to (get ready to) play against the best in the world. It’s been an adjustment for everybody. It’s crazy how much the world has changed over the past few months, I think this is my longest competitive break. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to compete again. I just want to make sure we do it safely and not put anybody at harm.”
Brooke is always quick to acknowledge her family for playing such a big role in her success – she’s already had nine career professional wins, with 49 Top 10 finishes.
“To make it to where I have – to play on the LPGA Tour – there were a lot of sacrifices they made early in my life. Driving me all over to get me to tournaments, every day after school practising with me – there were so many little things, but they really added up to huge things. I’m really grateful for everything they’ve done and continue to do to allow me to live this dream out on tour and be the best person I can be.”