Six and nine-year-old golfers have impressive drive for success

Six-year-old golfer Teddy Taylor has another name for his caddie — Daddy. 

His father Ben Taylor carries his golf bag and provides moral support for the young Dartmouth golfer.

Not to be outdone, his older brother, Barrett, also keeps caddying in the family. His mother Meaghan Taylor serves as his course-side right hand. 

The family involvement of the Taylor family is par for the course. As the youngsters make names for themselves on the local, regional and national golf circuit, their parents appreciate the chance to spend family time together.

“A lot of these long car rides to the tournaments, it’s really good quality time,’’ Ben Taylor said.

At the rate the young stars are going, lots more road trips will be in their future.

Both boys have qualified for the 2023 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, to be played in August 2024 in Pinehurst, N.C.

The top 150 young golfers in the world compete at the event, which is considered the premiere junior golf tournament in the world.

Ben Taylor noted modestly that his sons “stack up pretty well locally and hold their own nationally.’’

As young as they are, Barrett and Teddy are already experienced golfers. Both started swinging a club at age 2 and played their first rounds of golf at 4.

Their winning ways started soon after.

In June 2020, Barrett won the first golf tournament he played in. Since then, he has won 27 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, taking the title in 63 percent of all tournaments he has played.

His achievements include qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships and for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 U.S. Kids Golf New England State Invitational Championship.

In 2021, he won 11 consecutive tournaments throughout New England. He also won the US Kids Golf Boston 2020 Summer Tour, the US Kids Golf Boston 2021 and 2023 Spring Tour championships.

His younger brother’s successes are no less impressive. Teddy won the very first tournament he entered, in October 2022, and won the 2023 US Kids Golf New England State Invitational Championship in Connecticut, where he competed against some of the nation’s best young talent.

He is in the midst of a 13 consecutive tournament winning streak throughout New England.

In 2023 alone, he won the US Kids Golf Boston 2023 Spring Tour,  Summer Tour and Fall Tour championships.

So what drives these young golfers?

Practice — and lots of it.

Barrett and Teddy, fourth and first graders respectively at DeMello School, golf every day.

Both hit the New Bedford Country Club, where they are members, year-round, with only serious snow keeping them off the course.

And soon they will be able to play in all conditions without leaving their home. The family is adding an addition to the garage with a golf simulator for practice anytime.

They are still in grade school, but are already looking ahead to college golf — “where it’s warm, ‘’ Barrett said, with Teddy adding, “probably Florida.’’

Then they hope to go pro.

But for now, they continue their drive for golf, mixing it with a busy schedule of schoolwork and playing hockey.

“It’s peaceful,’’ Barrett said of the game. “You get to play whenever you want,’’ without having to stick to a team schedule.

For their proud parents, the sport has created strong friendships with other golf families they have met on the tournament circuit, which they say has enriched their lives.

“We have friends from all over New England,’’ Ben Taylor said. “We follow each other’s’’ achievements.

Based on their current swing of success, the Taylor brothers will provide lots to keep an eye on in the course of their careers.