Amazing Kids! is proud to highlight the Amazing Kids! of the Month!

Each month, we showcase kids who are accomplishing amazing things.  We hope that by telling their special stories, we will inspire other kids to accomplish their own amazing achievements. 

Amazing Victor's Story

Meet Victor Bracy, an amazing 12 year old junior golfer (soon to be 13 on Valentine's day!)  It seems that whenever and wherever Victor is playing golf, people stop and take notice.  Victor, like the other February Amazing Kids! of the Month, seems to have been given a "natural" athletic talent. But along with that talent, Victor and the other amazing young athletes sure work hard to always improve and stay competitive! 
 
 

"Little Tiger" and his award-winning swing

Victor's amazing grandmother says Victor also showed a natural talent for karate, and won some karate tournaments in the past!  But now Victor just concentrates on his real love, golf.

Victor is so talented in golf that he placed 3rd in his very first tournament at age 9!  He takes lessons from Mr. Alton Duhon, an amazing golf pro, and practices as much as possible, (mostly Friday afternoons, Saturdays and every Sunday) in between school and doing his homework.  Victor, like all the other junior golfers, works hard to keep a 3.0 grade point average in school.  He has two main goals in his life:  to do well in school and to become a professional golfer!

When asked about his "heroes" in golf, Victor has a funny story to tell.  When he first started golfing, Tiger Woods was not as well known as today.  Because Victor had met professional golfer Corey Pavin at a tournament, Corey was Victor's first golf hero.  So when a producer for the Oprah Winfrey Show contacted Victor and asked him who his hero was, he told them:  Corey Pavin.   It was only after he learned he was not chosen to appear on the show that Victor learned what the producer was looking for:  kids who thought Tiger Woods was their hero!

Now, of course, Victor knows who Tiger Woods is, and has even gotten to meet him!  The funny thing is that today Victor is known as "Little Tiger," because he reminds many people of Tiger Woods as a young golfer.  A parent of a friend that Victor golfs with gave him the nickname, and a hat that says "Little Tiger," and the name has stuck with him ever since!
 

Amazing Victor proudly displays 
one of his hard-earned trophies

Ever wonder how an amazing young golfer gets started?  Well, when Victor's grandpa, James Bracy, decided to learn to play golf, Victor, who was age 4 at the time, was always getting in his way, trying to play with the golf ball!  So, Mr. Bracy bought some plastic "toy" golf clubs for him, and he noticed how good Victor naturally seemed to be!  However, there were no junior golf clubs made at the time, and a friend and fellow golfer, Angelique Johnson, suggested to Victor's grandpa that he have an adult club cut to fit Victor, and voila!  Victor started his career, at age 4!  Way to go, Angelique!  Amazing Angelique is still a good friend of the Bracy family, as well as a teacher and a mentor to Victor.  In fact, she is so close to the family that she even calls Victor "son." 
 
 

How it All Began...

Victor lives with his amazing grandparents, who not only support and love him and help him with his school work, they believe in Victor and help him practice golf so he can reach his dream of becoming a professional golfer some day.  After all, it's not every day that you can say you have an amazing "Little Tiger" for a grandson!
 
 

"Little Tiger" Putts and Strutts His Stuff!

Victor is very lucky to have some other amazing mentors in his life.  Former professional baseball player Mudcat Grant and his friend, former professional football player Reginald Allen, have been very helpful to Victor, inviting him to play in their yearly tournament which benefits children.  Way to go, Mudcat and Reginald!

Victor also has a special penpal, professional LPGA golfer Connie Chillemi.  They met when they played in a PGA Pro-Am tournament together in Woodland Hills Country Club in November, 1999.  Now they write to each other, and Connie helps give great golfing advice to her young penpal.  Way to go, Connie!
 
 
 

Victor and penpal, 
LPGA Golfer Connie Chillemi

Victor is a member of several junior golf associations, including Western States Junior Golf Association (WSJGA), the Southern California Professional Golf Association (SCPGA), the Young Golfers of America Association (YGAA), the Ladies Professional Golf Association/Urban League (LPGA), and the Junior Golf Tournament Association (JGTA).  He plays in several tournaments throughout the year.  Since he first started playing in tournaments in 1996, Victor has played in over 78 tournaments (too many to list here!)  He has gotten first place more than 13 times, 2nd place 14 times, 3rd place 5 times.  Several of the tournaments were team play and fun day tournaments too! 
 

Index
Read Victor's essay called "If I Could," written when he was 11 years old and who knows?  Maybe you'll want to sign up with a Junior Golf Association near you and become a junior golfer too!

Read Victor's essay called "All I Can Be," written when he was 12 years old and read some of the very wise advice his grandpa gives him! 

Read his "biography" he had to write for the Urban Youth Golf Program.

If I could, I would get a very good education in elementary, junior high, high school and college, and get on the high school golf team.  That would help me to get a good scholarship to a very good college that has a golf team, like University of California, Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.) or University of Southern California (U.S.C.). 

If I could, I would like to play in all the Junior Amateur Tournaments.  If I could, I would like to play in the Junior World and the Los Angeles City Championships and win them all!

If I could, I would become a P.G.A. (Pacific Golf Association) golfer, and win some tournaments.  I will not forget the people who help me to become a pro! 

If I could, I would build a golf center for young golfers.

If I could, I would not like to be like Tiger Woods...I would like to be better than Tiger Woods!

If I could, I would try to get more Black Colleges to start golf scholarship programs. 

If I could, I would visit the sick in the hospitals, and I would visit the schools.

If I could, I would get a place of my own.  I am going to have my own airplane, cars and I am going to travel to South Africa, Germany, Japan and Taiwan.

But before I get that far in life, I would like to make good grades here in my 6th grade class, and make "A's" on all of my tests.  I would like to get to know all of my classmates better, and to know my teacher better and, if I could, I would like to be a good friend to everyone.

Victor Bracy
Age 11
9/17/98

Name------Victor Bracy
Age--------12
Home------Los Angeles
Ambition--To be a professional golfer

To be all that I can be, I have to start with a very good education and hard work to get things done.  Nothing beats hard work -- except having fun!  My grandpa reminds me that bad stuff doesn't last, and we work together on problem solving. If I lose a golf game or tournament, or get a bad grade, we talk about it.  He lets me know that it is not the end of the world, and if I want to be all I can be, I will have to put the past behind me.  My grandpa tells me, 

If I am going to be all I can be, my grandparents will have to set reasonable boundaries.  Research shows that children with parents who set fair rules, give clear reasons for their rules and consistently enforce them, end up with higher motivation, better social skills and greater self-reliance.

My reading is my biggest problem.  I read very well at home, but when I am in class, I freeze up.  I am afraid if I make a mistake, my classmates will make fun of me.  But I am not going to give up, because I have faith in God, and with God on my side, I know I can be all I am meant to be.

To be one of the very best in youth golf, and another program, I need to stay in school, be a good citizen, and be a role model for the other students.  My grandfather tells me that in order for me to be all I can be, I will have to improve and get a good education.  He tells me,

Victor Bracy
03/11/99

Victor and his pals at the Urban Youth Golf Pro-Am

Favorite Activities/Interests

Other than golf, I like school and church.  Math is my best subject and I like working on my PC.

How You Were Introduced to Golf

By my grandfather, as he was trying to learn.  I would get in his way, so he purchased a plastic golf set for me.  My swing was so good that he had a real 8 iron cut down.  I have been a golfer since the age of four.

Your Greatest Golf Moment...

was my hole in one at Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course, hole #3, par 3, 153 years, February, 1998.

How Has This Program or Golf in General Effected Your Life

This golf program has helped to better my life.  I've learned to appreciate more than just the competitive side of golf.  Golf has made me a better student in school, and it has helped me to make so many new friendships with pro golfers, basketball stars, baseball players, etc.  I have met lots of good people, and I've gotten to travel a lot.  Golf has taught me to "think positive!"

What do You Like Most About Golf?

I find happiness in being surrounded by highly motivated peers and adults in a competitive and supportive environment.  I love playing at country clubs from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, from Alabama to Ohio.  I love the game of golf.

Who is Your Golf Hero and Why?

As a pro golfer, Tiger Woods is my hero.  But there are other heroes in my life.  Mr. Alton Duhon and Angelique Johnson.  They made me the golfer I am today.

If You Had a Million Dollars, What Would You do with It?

 I would invest in stocks or bonds or both.  I would make a big donation to Junior golf, Urban Youth, and give my grandfather and grandmother a few thousand.  I would set aside moeny for my education and help the poor.

What Are Your Plans for the Future?

I am going to get a good education.  I hope to get a scholarship to help me get that good education.  I am going to put my best foot forward at all times.  With God's help, I am a golfer, and I love the game, but my education is #1.  I am somebody, and as I get older, I am going to be somebody.

Calling All Amazing Kids!  We Need Your Help! If you are, or know any kids who are, doing amazing things, we want to hear about it!  Send us your stories, so we might be able to feature you too someday!   Please be patient, and we will do our best to tell your story some day -- hopefully soon!