Kyle Denison '23 Recruiting Profile

           I fell in love with the game of golf at an early age. I owned my first set of golf clubs when I was two and a half years old.  My earliest golf lessons took place in summer golf camps. These summer camps helped my love for the game grow and taught me respect for the traditions and rules of golf. I learned early on the value of playing with adults and of honesty and gentlemen behavior, while playing the game with integrity.

            I started private lessons at the age of 11 and became part of the Valley Junior Golf Association at the age of 13.  I play an average of four to five tournaments a year.  The summer before I started high school in 2019, I was lucky enough to attend the Nike Golf Camp held at the University of San Diego. Staying on the University campus and playing some of San Diego’s great golf courses was both challenging and instructive.  One of my greatest golf thrills was volunteering for the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. I had the honor of being the Standard Bearer for golf pros like Phil Mickelson, Collin Morikawa and Sam Sanders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson.  I will never forget being part of such a prestigious golf event and walking thirty-six holes in one day as a volunteer.  My golf lessons, and competitive games have taught me many things about myself.  I have discovered that I am patient, a quick learner, and an encourager of others.

           Starting my freshmen year playing on my high school’s golf team had been my dream.  So, it was unreal when my first season ended, after we won our first official match, due to the closure of my school.  Until the golf courses re-opened, I was putting on our backyard putting green and adjusting to social distancing.  The Coronavirus Pandemic has forced us all to change, but I feel I have learned some very important life changing lessons, among them patience and perseverance.  Since the golf courses re-opened, I have been working with a private coach and continuing to improve my skills.

            I think my defining characteristics come from my involvement in my school and community. Academically, I study hard and focus on keeping my high GPA. I am currently involved in a wide variety of leadership and character-building activities. I served as a computer programmer for my school’s Robotics Team, and I am the Bass section leader in my school’s Chamber Singers Group. In my freshman year I was chosen to be a member of this group and was voted Most Valuable Person in our end of the year banquet. In my junior year I was also awarded Junior Vocalist of the Year. I have had the privilege of being on our school’s Varsity Golf Team since my freshman year, which allows me to work hard and practice improving my game. All of these activities help me relate, integrate, and respect all walks of life and social groups. They also provide valuable leadership and academic opportunities for me, where my judgment and strategy come into play.

            Early on in school I was identified as Dyslexic, which made it hard for me to read and write. With the help of my mother, and special tutoring, I learned to use new coping mechanisms and took to advancing my academics. These personal obstacles and challenges continue to teach me the value of strong work ethics and encourage me to use my abilities to think differently. My strong visual processing skills, and strategic approaches to challenges help me on the golf course every day.

            Presently, I am looking for a university that offers a good computer science/engineering degree program and a strong golf program that challenges me to improve my skills. I am open to all options geographically in order to find the right match both academically and competitively.