Mhotsha continues upward golf journey
Ouname Mhotsha continues her upward trajectory in the world of pro golf in the USA. She began scripting her golf journey when she was still a seven-yearold girl striking the ball at the Gaborone Golf Club.
Mhotsha is in the process of becoming the first Motswana to be part of the LPGA tour. For those who have followed her career, this accomplishment seemed inevitable. Mhotsha’s quest to turn professional started when she was 13-years-old, four years after she first held the club. “I started learning how to hit a golf ball when I was seven years, and I entered club competitions around the age of 12 and I was able to win the 2009 Club Championship as my first major competition,” Mhotsha said.
“I shot a 65 gross score out of nowhere and I remember seeing myself hit shots that I saw on television. I used to wish to see someone from my country playing with the pros that I watched on television. Little did I know that I was talking about myself,” she added.
Mhotsha said she decided to go for college golf and see if it was going to lead her to professional golf and it did. She played college golf in two schools in the USA, first at the Alcorn State University in Mississippi while she completed her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics.
She also played at the University of Arkansas in Monticello located in Arkansas when she
completed her Masters in Forest Resources. “After college golf, I got the confirmation from within that yes, I could pursue professional golf because it will not only benefit myself actualisation but those of others as well, especially those who grew up with little opportunities like myself,” said the soft-spoken Mhotsha.
Being a professional golfer does not come cheap and the player had to come up with a plan to fund her dream. Mhotsha said the fundraising campaign is ongoing. She said the project has attracted a lot of key players in sport, particularly in the golfing industry in Africa and the USA.
“Some businesses and organisations have reached out as well to show interest and support in different ways. There is a lot of support from individuals, my family, friends and young people who are my main motivation,” she said.
However, Mhotsha said there is a lot of financial support and partnership needed to enable her to play tournaments and assist her and her team to implement projects and fulfill the purpose of the professional golf journey.
“My coach and I have been looking at some tournaments in the Cactus Tour. This is a tour that is based in Arizona, which is where I am currently based,” she said.
Mhotsha recently got into a partnership with SISU Sport Management Company. She said the contract with the company would enable her to have representation and commercial support throughout her professional golf career.
“Myself and my agent, Lindi Ngwenya attended a sport conference that was organised by Africa Sports Ventures Group a few years back and we connected afterwards because of some alignment in our values and our professional goals,” she said.
Despite being overseas, Mhotsha intends to return to where she first learnt to hit the small and durable white ball at the Gaborone Golf Club. She said together with her team they would be doing some projects back home and taking part in some tournaments to support different good causes.
“I want to encourage young girls to look for places of inspiration. These for me came from family members, my grandparent, golf club members, the professionals I watched on television and African golfers that became my elders when I was away from home at tournaments. There is always someone who can inspire you to find out about your purpose and learn to embrace who you are as a person,” she said.