Davis Carter’s story as a golfer did not begin as a toddler with a set of specialty clubs chasing balls around the local country club. The eighth grader from Pine Grove Middle School in Lowndes County was not up bright and early on Saturday mornings to accompany his dad or granddad for a hearty breakfast and a round on the links. In fact, no one in Carter’s family golfed. He preferred bass fishing and deer hunting to the idea of organized sports, but a close family friend saw untapped potential in the young man.
In fact, it was just barely two years ago that this friend and mentor, Guy Whidby, first asked the young man to come “smack some balls around” at the Valdosta course. Whidby was so impressed with the boy’s natural talent that he asked Head Golf Professional-General Manager of Valdosta Country Club Cary Brown, PGA, to take a look at the formative golfer and perhaps offer some guidance.
After offering a single lesson to the 11-year-old, the golf coach saw a spark of greatness. Brown said, “He had a lot of natural athletic ability right from the get-go. You could just tell he had something pretty special early on. Now, we’ve been working together for two years, and he has a lot of potential. I think if he keeps working the way he is right now, he can go just about anywhere he wants to go.”
A year later, Carter joined the middle school team in Hahira. In his first year of competition, Carter says he played “okay” because he won a couple of matches, but he never won a tournament. Then, as an eighth grader at Pine Grove, Carter tallied the lowest score in every match or tournament except one. He won low medalist for his region, and the team placed second in every tournament this season while winning the most matches in the region. He shot a 71 on multiple courses across South Georgia, and he scored a 34 in two matches.
While natural talent may account for a lot of the young golfer’s success, Brown says work ethic separates him from the crowd. While many kids his age may make other choices, Carter chooses to spend as much time on the golf course as possible. As the PGA pro said, “The thing that is most impressive about him though is he has done it in such a short amount of time. To do it with good character is another big part of it. To me, that’s more important than any of it. We’re trying to make good young men. Carter has been a great leader and a great example for a lot of our kids. He is focused, and he is dedicated, and that’s a big plus.”
Now, Carter says he plays nearly every day. Meanwhile, his mother, Amy Carter, states that an ideal day for Davis would include arriving at the course around 7:30 in the morning and playing until the sun sets after 8:00 that night. Additionally, the Pine Grove golfer says he maintains a daily workout regimen, and he regularly reads books to develop and improve his psychological prowess. He also works with a putting coach at Sea Island named Mike Shannon to improve his touch.
Concerning the mental aspect of the game, Carter said, “I really think it’s the first priority. I’ve seen some really good swingers who get out there. They’re strong, and they’re killing it past me. They’re hitting great shots, then they come under pressure, and it all folds. I think a great strength of my game is being able to hit shots under pressure. I love being under pressure. I love coming down the stretch and knowing I have a shot at this thing, but it’s not just going to be handed to me. I’ve got to work for it.”
This year, Carter will begin his freshman year at Lowndes High School. And, at 5’3” and 110 pounds, the golfer does not command the most intimidating stature against his fellow middle school athletes. Next season, he will compete against a bigger, stronger, and more experienced field of players. Still, he says he has been the shortest player on the field in a number of tournaments, but as long as he remains focused on his game and maintains the mental aspect of the game, Carter knows he can dominate just the same.
While he admits that he is a good putter and chipper on any given course, consistent ball striking is perhaps Carter’s greatest strength. He plays against guys who are 6’4” and 250 pounds who can drive the ball a country mile, but he says he always approaches that first tee knowing that “God gave [him] what he gave [him], and [he’s] got to use it another way to make things happen.”
The upcoming Lowndes freshman will compete in the Future Master’s Tournament at Dothan Country Club in Alabama from June 21-28. While he has already played with the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour, this contest will mark the biggest tournament of his career to date.
Favorite Subject: Social Studies
Least Favorite: Math
Last Book: Learn to Win One Shot at a Time by Dr. Morris Pickens
Favorite musician/singer: John Mayer
Favorite movie: Step Brothers
Favorite player on the PGA Tour: Harris English
Favorite team: Auburn University Tigers
Cats or Dogs: Dogs; “I can’t stand cats.”
Superpower: Flight
A Golfer’s Mentality
Davis Carter
Written by: Cale Colby
Photograph: Kaitlynn Passmore
