Kelly Jo Dowd

To what extent do you involve yourself in Koda’s golf training? I’m her support system. She tells me exactly how she’s feeling all the time.

How is home schooling?  What do you have to do to prepare Koda’s daily studies? Mike takes care of this and I assist, especially with English, when needed.

You broke a traditional stereotype by moving from the wait staff at Hooters to managing the restaurant. What lessons have you learned in the business world that you want Koda to know/practice? A strong woman can do or be anything she wants to do or be… but there are sacrifices, like time spent away from the family. 

Koda said you are her inspiration. What about Koda inspires you? She gives me the strength and inspiration to get through treatments, to fight for a longer life.

What’s it like raising a teenage girl who’s also a golf prodigy? It’s awesome.  It helps to keep her focused on the right things.  Female athletes are so much more assertive and self-directed and less likely to fall prey to the negative influences life has to offer.

Mike Dowd

Did you initially decide to coach her yourself or get a ‘pro’ coach?  Still, you’re involved with her training a lot, aren’t you?  I coached her myself for the first couple of years, when she was 4 and 5, but then got a pro.  Now, I organize and provide structure, like making her schedule, etc.  I also spend time on the course with her.

Have coaches told you that her prospects as a pro golfer are pretty much set in stone?  They’ve said that she has all the tools to make it if she wants to put the work in and avoid the pitfalls of athletic competition.

How do you balance her training time with her ‘hanging out off the course’ time? She practices Monday through Friday about 4-5 hours, and trains two times a week.  She takes the weekends off.

Are there any particular times when you don’t want her to practice?  Saturday and Sunday … unless she has a tournament, then she has Monday Tuesdays off.

What’s it like raising a teenage girl who’s also a golf prodigy?  I guess typical for the most part.  At times, it can be a little trying because of the strong will factor.

Hers or yours?  I’d say both.