Young Tauranga amateur golfers Mitch Kale and Nathan Clark will be teeing off over the ditch this August and gaining international exposure in the solo sport.

Flying from New Zealand this Sunday, July 31, the Tauranga Golf Club’s up-and-comers will compete in three tournaments while in Australia – the Central Queensland Open, the Pacific Harbour Amateur and the Queensland Amateur.

For Australian-born 21-year-old Mitch, this will be the second time he’s competed in Aussie, while for 18-year-old Nathan this will be his first experience on the international greens.

“I’m quite excited but pretty nervous as well!” says Nathan.

Hours of practice

Both Nathan and Mitch are committed to the sport, with Nathan taking up golf seven years ago and training 20-30 hours a week. To be a top level golfer Nathan says it takes “a level head, discipline and dedication”.

18-year-old amateur golfer Nathan Clark. Photo: John Borren.

Meanwhile, Mitch works part-time at Tauranga Golf Club and practises his game every day.

“I finish [work] at 2.30pm and practise until its dark and then I’ve got a couple of days where it’s just half days so I can practice for half a day.”

Mitch says the Australian competitions will offer invaluable experience and a taste against different opponents.

“It’s just to gain some overseas exposure and put myself a little bit out of my comfort zone rather than just playing with people in New Zealand…it will just get the nerves flowing in a different way and give the chance to play on some tougher golf courses.”

Nathan’s plan in Aussie is simple.

“I’ll just go over, play well, and hopefully win one.”

The challenge

Nathan says he likes the challenge that golf offers.

“It’s never the same each day. It doesn’t matter how hard you work – you can play shit or whatever.”

21-year-old amateur golfer Mitch Kale. Photo: John Borren.

“It’s so easy to measure your success. You shoot 68 or you shoot 79. It’s pretty black and white whether you’re good or not so that’s the aspect that I really like about it, and I’ve always loved just practising and working hard at things”," says Mitch.

Looking beyond the Australian tournaments, both young golfers have their sights set on going pro.

“Hopefully I’ll become a really good professional golfer one day but it’s a long pathway before then. That’s the future goal,” says Mitch.

“I want to make the New Zealand Academy and travel around with them, and then eventually go professional,” says Nathan.