“Youth is wasted on the young,” is a popular saying that has stood the test of time, but it doesn’t always ring true.
Sure, Kailua-Kona resident Blake Nakagawa has spent plenty of time watching television and playing with toys in his short few years on earth, but nearly half of his life has been dedicated to a sport that can cause even the oldest, most mature men to lash out in a childish tantrum — golf.
The four-year-old Nakagawa is already making headlines in the golf world. He is currently the 6-and-under Big Island Junior Golf Association Champion, winning two of the four tournaments he’s entered this year.
The young golfer picked up the the gentleman’s game when he was only two, after going out to play with his father, Kiley Nakagawa.
“My wife would tease me and not let me go out and play unless I took my son along,” said Kiley Nakagawa, who is a 10-handicap. “I’m okay but he’s just a natural. He also watches golf all day and you have to be a fan to watch golf.”
By the age of three, Blake Nakagawa could read putts and he showed a knowledge for the game that was beyond his years.
“We were at Sports Authority to buy a beginners set that included a 7-iron, 3-wood and putter, and he looked at me, held out his hand flat, and said, ‘I need a club that looks like this,’” Kiley Nakagawa said. “At three years old he already knew about loft.”
Blake Nakagawa says his favorite part about the sport is going to the driving range. On practice days, which usually occur once a week, he will play five or six holes. When he starts to lose interest, his dad will take him to the range until he gets tired.
The young golfer says his favorite club to hit is the driver because, “the ball goes far.”
Blake Nakagawa is also training once a week with Reece Alnas, who he calls Uncle Reece. Alnas is an assistant pro at Kukio Golf and Beach Club. The duo work out on the range at Waikoloa Village Golf Course.
Nakagawa never whiffs, according to his father, and at the Hilo Junior Match Play Championship this year, he connected on a shot from 70 yards out that that hit the flag stick. He finished second playing in the 8-and-under division.
“That was my best day ever,” Nakagawa said, despite admitting that he had a bad dream that night.
Perhaps Nakagawa’s bad dream was about putting, which he’s not a big fan of.
“Mom always says two putts, not three putts,” Nakagawa said. “It is best when you chip in so you don’t have to putt.”
He is also not a fan of the rain in Hilo.
“My shoes get wet and my feet get all wrinkled,” he said.
Nakagawa says his favorite golfer is Jordan Spieth, but his father added that he has also liked Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson.
While his love of golf shows on the course, Nakagawa lives a full life. He likes to play soccer, surf and hang out on the beach. His parents just bought him a new shovel, which he was eager to use.
Nakagawa also recently started preschool. He likes it so far and enjoys seeing his friends. He also said his teachers are nice. However, he did have an incident recently where someone stepped on his fingers. Luckily for him — and the golf world — it has not effected his golf game.