Optimistic and hardworking Isabella Heber inspires other young people to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals by breaking down barriers to success in golf.
The 12-year-old Royal Cape Club Champs winner says that very few girls from the Cape Flats participate due to the sport’s exorbitant costs.
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Heber is a member of the King David Mowbray Golf Club, and she has been playing the sport since she was six years old.
‘Golf is a sport that isn’t normally played in our communities because it is expensive, challenging and takes a lot of time and dedication,’ Heber tells the Weekend Argus. ‘My biggest challenge is that my family cannot afford to send me to all the big tournaments. It’s not impossible, though, because, until last year, I played mostly with second-hand clubs and even used balls.’
Heber says she practises whenever she can, and last year she received a brand new set of fitted clubs from a big golf brand after her parents contacted them to ask for a payment plan, but when they saw how well she played, they offered to sponsor a new set of clubs so she could get better.
‘Ultimately, turning pro is the big dream so that I can help and inspire other young people to push past their challenges and realise their dreams,’ she says.
This wish is what keeps her head held high despite her circumstances, which have denied her many opportunities. But, for the same reason, she is determined to work hard in order to obtain scholarships to study and play in America at the college level.
Heber says she wants to travel as much as she can, representing WP and, eventually, South Africa.
‘I’m working hard now to try and win the provincial champ of champs tournament so that I can again represent the province at the national event, but this time in the championship division.’
She adds, ‘My biggest dream is to represent South Africa at the Olympics. I am hoping to get a scholarship after high school to play varsity golf in the States, but first I have to get through high school, which starts next year.’
She is grateful for all of the help she has received and says that she enjoys competitions and the thrill of victory, as well as adding trophies to her collection, ‘especially the beautiful glass ones.’
But, being a seventh-grade student, school comes first.
‘Bella misses out on plenty of major tournaments held in other provinces because of the cost of travel and accommodation,’ her proud father, Wesley Heber, tells the Weekend Argus. He continues:
‘If it were not for the generosity of benefactors like Callaway Golf, who assisted us with equipment to the value of R80 000, or Adidas, who assisted us with golf apparel to the value of about R15 000, it would be almost impossible to continue being competitive in this sport. WP and King David Mowbray also try to assist where they can.’
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Picture: Royal Cape Golf Club / Facebook