Dunne recommends the American dream
GRAEME McDowell, Paul Dunne, Seamus Power and Olivia Mehaffey are just some of Irish players to come through the US collegiate system and triumph on tour in recent seasons.
Leona Maguire is well on her way to joining them with Olivia Mehaffey also waiting in the wings. But there are many more battling to make the breakthrough and a new generation is ready to make its mark.
Several young guns signed letters of intent to attend US colleges in recent weeks, including Kilkenny’s Mark Power, who officially signed up for Wake Forest University and will begin his collegiate career next year.
He will be joined at Arnold Palmer’s alma mater by Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh, who made her mark in the recent Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, while Laytown and Bettystown’s Alex Maguire has signed for Florida Atlantic University.
Like McDowell, Dunne played his college golf for the University of Alabama, Birmingham and speaking on Blackrock College Radio this week — part of a Transition Year programme initiative being broadcast from the school — he explained to pupils at his former school
that playing college golf in the US played a major role in his development as a player.
“I think it was huge,” Dunne said. “When I was playing amateur golf in Ireland, you play a lot of links golf in a lot of bad weather. The result of that is that there are a lot of times when level par is a good score. You can win tournaments with level par or one or two under.
“When you go to America, it’s different golf. It’s perfect weather and perfect conditions and courses. And people who are playing well have a serious advantage over people who aren’t hitting it that well but are scrambling. I think that gap isn’t as wide in bad weather at home.
“You need to shoot 16 under for three rounds to win, which is great preparation for professional golf. Also, just living away from home, away from your parents, gives you independence and you learn to manage yourself, which is also really important.
“And living with teammates means you are being competitive every single day not just during tournaments. That creates that atmosphere and attitude of constant improvement through the whole team.
“If I hadn’t gone to college where I did, I don’t think I’d be where I am now. Obviously, there’s a period of settling in. But having a coach you trust – and it doesn’t have to be a swing coach – is important.
“You need someone to throw ideas at, someone to talk to if you are struggling in class or just missing home. Just someone to confide in. If you are friendly with your teammates and have that competitive atmosphere, you can only get better.”