Virginia's Walkky Poised to Make 4th Straight Run at the AA State Golf Meet
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BIWABIK – Virginia senior Olaf Walkky is as close to being a natural as can be found on the golf course.
"My neighbor and my dad asked me to go in like 7th grade," says Virginia senior golfer Olaf Walkky, "Went out to a little 9 hole course by my house, just started hitting around."
A very different sport for a kid who's likes four wheeling, fishing and hunting.
"Kind of a weird combo," says Walkky, "depends if I'm playing good or not. When you're playing good, golf's fun but when you're not golf's not a very fun game."
It didn't take long for Walkky to make golf fun every round.
"In 8th grade I tried to qualify for varsity and I shot 100," says Walkky, "in 9th grade I made it to state. Just kind of came around during 9th grade."
Olaf making three trips to state in straight three seasons, and growing into one of the state's best.
"He went from somebody who was just short and straight to somebody who really hits the ball," says Virginia head golf coach Kerry Bidle, "and has a complete game."
"He's really improved a lot. He works hard and practices a lot," says Virginia senior golfer Dakota Lundstrom, "He started out shooting high 70s now if he shoots low 70s he feels like he should be shooting better."
Olaf and company travel away from the snow, before every season, to get a jump start on their competition.
"We go down to Arkansas for a week and play some golf," says Walkky, "There's 6 courses within a few miles of each other. We go to a different one every day, play 36 holes a day."
And practice teaching Walkky the most important part of the game.
"Its almost harder playing against yourself than playing against anyone else," says Walkky, "cause yourself get in your way more than anyone else can."
"He has the head game and maybe that might be his biggest strength," says Bidle, "and that's what separates the really good players from the good players."
Paired with his experience at the class AA state golf meet.
"It's pretty nerve racking cause up here you only have a parent or two following you," say Walkky, "down there, there's 20–25 people following every group. A lot more on every shot...a lot more pressure."
Olaf is poised to not just make it to state this year.
"I'd like to get a medal at state," says Walkky, "Make it to state first but I'd like to get a medal."
