On an absolutely gorgeous day back in January, local golfers at Lakewood Golf Course took advantage of the spring-like weather to get in a few rounds. With temperatures in the mid-70s, unusual even for the South, several young golfers at the Phenix City, Alabama, golf course hit the links. Among those after-school golfers was Mason McLaney.
For McLaney, golf isn’t just a fun hobby. He would have been on the golf course that day no matter what the weather. Because the 14-year-old is so serious about his golf game, on this day he is meeting with a new golf coach to start lessons to advance McLaney’s plan for the future.
To understand where McLaney wants to go, it’s necessary to look back at how the talented golf athlete got started on this road. His passion for the game of golf was nurtured early.
“I was just an infant, practically,” McLaney said. “I would watch my dad swing a club. We lived up on Lake Harding, and I watched him hit golf balls around there.”
At the age of 4, McLaney received a set of junior clubs and starting blazing a trail. From then until he was 7, McLaney competed in golf tournaments. Of those numerous tournaments, he came in first every time with one exception.
“I played with that junior set of clubs until I got a set of cut down clubs,” McLaney said. “When I was 7, my dad got me an adult set of Ping clubs and had them cut down. I worked myself up to playing pretty good.”
Baseball drew McLaney’s attention away from golf for a few years. Despite his early success, McLaney decided at 7 years old to put down his clubs and pick up a baseball glove. He played every form of baseball he could until he was 11. Eventually, he went back to his first love.
“Baseball was just something I wanted to see if I could do,” he said. “I didn’t burn out on golf. I did burn out on baseball. Had to choose one sport…golf.”
The past three years have been successful for the golf athlete. He began attending Glenwood School last year and was a member of the school’s varsity golf team, although he was only in the seventh grade. According to his father, Mike McLaney, his son was awarded 26 Top Five Low Medalist awards, one city championship, three city championship runners-up, two Player of the Year awards, one Elite Eight award, and two Sweet 16 awards, all as an 11-, 12-, and 13-year-old.
In addition, McLaney was the two-time Top Four GSGA West Division Leader and recently won the Haskins Invitational PGA Junior Tour Georgia Section in the 12- and 13-year-old division. McLaney also finished fifth at the PGA Junior Championship at Waters Edge at Lake Oconee in Reynolds Plantation, Georgia.
Looking ahead, McLaney is already thinking of college and is preparing to improve his game toward that end. He is being mentored by Chris Whidby, owner of Coach Recruit Me, which assists young athletes in their pursuits of athletic scholarships.
“I was just impressed with Mason the first time I met him,” Whidby said. “He is very well-mannered and respectful. As far as his golf game. I think he is way ahead in his attention to detail. Mason is focused, and you can tell him something just one time, and he has it down.”
McLaney feels Whidby’s assistance helped with the mental aspect of playing golf. After taking a few years away from the game, McLaney said it was hard to get back into the swing of things. He made some adjustments, and with Whidby’s help, he feels better about his prospects of being recruited in a couple of years.
“My goal is to play professionally,” McLaney said. “I think I am good enough to play at the college level, but I want to someday turn pro, and to get there, it all starts now. What I am doing here is the work to help move me forward to get there.
Fast forward to today, and McLaney is focusing on helping his Glenwood team make it to the state championship. He is in his second year on the varsity and often lines up against opponents who are seniors. The coaching he has received, the guidance of his dad, and the recent addition of lessons from golf pro Robert Kelley helped level the playing field.
“I feel pretty confident,” he said with a smile. “Our team should be good, and I am working as much as I can and have great people helping me with the mental and physical parts of my game. Golf is going good now.”
Mason McLaney said he has a strong competitive spirit. He admitted he comes by it honestly as his dad, Mike, is also competitive. The two often golf together, which produces a bit of good-natured rivalry.
Smiling, McLaney said, “I win most of the time.”
Columbus Valley/April-May 2017
Mason McLaney
Glenwood School
Smiths, Alabama
Written by: Beth Welch
Photos by: George McDuffie
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