Golf has captured Sierra Bezdicek’s interest

Sierra Bezdicek has quite a swing and a powerful kick, and her weapons of choice are golf clubs and a soccer ball. The sports, one solitary and the other with a team, have taught Bezdicek a lot about what it takes to succeed. “I practice – a lot,” she said, “But it makes perfect.”

Bezdicek, 11, has been playing soccer since she was in the first grade. Often she would sneak onto the field and practice with the older girls on her sister, Savana’s team. “She’s mature,” said her dad, Randy Bezdicek, “She’s always played with older girls. She’s above her level in both soccer and golf.”

Bezdicek started playing golf when she was 7 and began competing at age 8. She plays in both Washington and Idaho Junior Golf and has taken home more than 25 trophies and awards.

Weather permitting, Bezdicek practices up to 20 hours a week. Area golf courses like Wandermere and the Deer Park Golf Club provide special rates and instruction to junior golfers. Bezdicek also practices her strokes before catching the bus to Midway Elementary School.

“I’m lucky that my dad created a target range in our backyard,” she said. “Savana and I are able to hit up to 100-yard shots to multiple targets and greens from the outside mats.” The targets pay from 25 cents to $5 for a hole in one. The money she earns in target practice serves as her allowance, which she uses to pay for half of her new clubs and other necessities.

Her goals are to win the Washington juniors title and then go on to play Division I college golf and earn her Ladies Professional Golf Association card. She also wants other girls her age to join her in the sport. “It’s hard to find any junior girls to play golf with. Other team sports seem to grab the attention,” she said. “Yeah, it’s more frustrating and a harder sport to learn, but it teaches me a lot of self-control and focus.”

Her other passions include choir, the outdoors, and animals. “It will be interesting to see where she goes in the future,” her dad mused.