My name is Zulé Richter and I am seven years. I have a four-year-old brother who I love… (most of the time, after all, he is probably my biggest supporter and has not missed a single game). From a young age, I showed talent when it came to any game involving a ball. After much encouragement from friends and family, I took the leap and I started my golf journey about 18 months ago. At my second competition, I managed to walk away with first prize and that is when I realised that this could be the start of something great.
Since starting my Golf journey I have been invited to 34 international competitions. I have been invited to the biggest Golf Tournament of its kind in the USA, on the 3rd of August 2023. This is an enormous achievement and a personal goal I have set for myself.
Apart from golf (and sport in general) I absolutely love singing and dancing. I spend my time relaxing by listening to music. As a family we enjoy the outdoors and animals, so we often go to the countryside to spend quality time together. My little brother and I love sitting around a campfire, going on game drives, looking at the animals and spending time with friends and family. In short, I am a normal seven-year-old who loves sports, the outdoors and socialising.
Q&A
What are your CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
- Being crowned tour champion in 2022
- Having won 10+ gold medals in an age group 2 years older than me
- Being invited to play in the World Championships in America.
Tell us where and when your love affair with golf started.
It all started with the encouragement of my parents and their friends and since the first time I picked up the club, I just could not stop.
Are you the sort of golfer who sets yearly goals? If so, what goals did you set for yourself to achieve?
Yes definitely. My goal last year was to win tour champs at Sun City, which I managed to do. My 2023 goal was to be invited to World Champs in America! With hard work, I managed to get an invitation and currently my goal is to make the best of the event and enjoy it with my family!
Talk to us about the strengths of your game and what are the weaknesses or aspects of the game you still need to attend to.
My strength would be that I can get myself motivated, even on a bad day. I have, on more than one occasion proven to myself that after a bad start I can get myself back into the game. I think all golfers put in the hard yards to improve their short game and they are never completely satisfied so I would have to say my short game always needs a bit more refinement.
Do you participate in other sports at school, or is golf your primary focus?
I love doing sports overall, my mom says I always have a ball in my hands! I play netball, hockey and also enjoy wrestling.
Which tournaments would you most like to win and why?
Definitely world champs, because that would make me the best player in the world, in my age group.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
To always believe in myself no matter the situation.
What’s your go-to club in your bag and why?
I love the sound my driver makes when I hit it in the perfect spot! My 7-iron is my most consistent club and has gotten me out of tricky situations on numerous occasions.
What advice would you give youngsters just starting in the game?
Always do your best and most importantly believe in yourself. Golf is a game of discipline and persistence and only the ones willing to put in the hours and be persistent will succeed. My mom makes me recite a saying before every shot I take (breath and believe).
Do you have any superstitions before golf or on the golf course?
No not really, I do believe that God gave me this incredible talent, so I always start my game with a prayer, thanking him and asking for guidance.
Which are your favourite golf courses and which golf courses would you still love to play?
I loved playing at Sun City and Pinnacle Point (that view is just amazing). I love the outdoors and more specifically animals so it would be great to one day play at Leopard Creek.
Long term, what are your goals for the future and how does golf feature?
I would love to be the best female golfer of all time and to have fun while becoming that.
CHIP SHOTS
Tell us 5 things about yourself that most people don’t know.
- I enjoy talking in front of people.
- I am an absolute daddy’s girl.
- I enjoy reading.
- I absolutely love people and come across as a social butterfly, but I do require my time alone in order to recharge.
- I am very scared of the dark but I am not ashamed of it because my dad is also afraid of the dark (don’t tell him I said this).
JUST FOR FUN…
If you had to pick up one animal to describe you, what would it be and why?
To be a bird, to fly free and be able to see the world in all its glory.
Describe the best meal you’ve ever had.
Pasta, always, in any way. Luckily my mom also loves Pasta so I get to have it a lot.
What is your favourite season and why?
-Spring, the freshness in the sky and all the beautiful flowers blossoming.
Is there anything you are addicted to or can’t live without?
My family. I love spending time with my family and golf gives us a great opportunity to spend quality time together in the outdoors.
Tell us about something you hate doing and why?
Tidying up always feels like there is no end to it.
What movie can you watch again and again?
I love Smurfs. It is very relaxing.