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Dowling ArmstrongGeorgia Christian SchoolValdosta, Georgia by Robert Preston, Jr. photography by Jonathan Chick |
The old cliché “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” has never been more appropriate for anyone than it is for Dowling Armstrong. Dowling is a 14-year-old rising freshman at Georgia Christian School. He’s the top golfer at Georgia Christian and one of the top junior golfers in the state. That comes as no surprise to the people who know Dowling; he’s but one in a long line of excellent golfers. Dowling’s grandfather is an excellent amateur golfer and attended the Senior PGA Tour’s Q school three times. Recently, he shot a 66 in a tournament at the Valdosta Country Club. Dowling’s father, Dale, went to the PGA Tour’s Q school nine times. He played professionally in South Africa and “on every mini-tour known to man.” Dowling’s uncles also played golf at a very high level. As one might expect, with golf so ingrained in the Armstrong family, Dowling got a pretty early start. He says he beat golf balls around his yard when he was about three but didn’t really start playing until he was four. By age eight, Dowling was playing in tournaments. He caught on fast, though he admits that early in his career he didn’t particularly enjoy the game. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t like hitting a golf ball- the problem was that he wasn’t very good. Dowling didn’t understand the manner in which golfers progress. He wanted to be good immediately. When he wasn’t, he became very frustrated. “Dowling liked playing but it was difficult for him when he was younger because he’s so competitive. He didn’t like it when things didn’t go his way. He had a lot to learn,” says his mother, Vivian. Says Dowling: “I always lost, and I don’t like to lose. But I got better and after a few years, I really started enjoying the game.” In his first tournament, a nine-hole affair, Dowling shot a 58. He was frustrated at the outcome but didn’t want to give up. He kept working and gradually his scores began dropping. Now, six years later, he holds a two handicap. He’s turned in a 69 in a practice round and has a 71 and a 72 to his credit in tournament play. Though the early years may have been a little frustrating, they weren’t all bad. Dowling has one hole-in-one to his credit, and it came during that time period, when he was nine. He remembers the shot well. Dowling was playing alone on the Plantation course at the Valdosta Country Club when he holed out the 105-yard par three fifth. “I hit an eight iron. The ball took one bounce and went in,” he says. People were a little reluctant to believe him – that is, until they saw his score. He turned in a 39 – it was the first time he ever broke 40 in his life. Dowling played for Georgia Christian’s middle school and varsity teams this season. The middle school squad plays nine holes; the high schoolers play 18. Dowling has been the low medalist in every regular season high school match (in the state match, he came in sixth out of 69). On the middle school team, he was the low medalist in every match except one. His 13-year-old brother, Dawson, beat him by one stroke (Dowling shot a 36 while Dawson fired a one-under 35). Dawson’s victory led to a little trash talking, which was eventually settled in a grudge match on the golf course. Dowling bested Dawson, shooting a 71 to Dawson’s 74. “That pretty much settled it,” says Dowling. In addition to Dawson, Dowling has another brother, Davis, who is in the fifth grade, and a sister, Maryalice, a fourth grader at Georgia Christian. That’s five years difference among the four Armstrong children. Each of Dowling’s siblings plays golf as well. In fact, they started younger than did Dowling. “Davis started playing tournaments when he was five,” says Vivian. Dowling enjoys competing against his brothers. He often plays his best against his siblings – he doesn’t like to lose in general, but he really hates to lose to them. “I can’t lose to my brothers. It’s like my mind won’t let my body lose when I play them,” he says. |
   Favorite:
Last book Dowling read: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass Dream car: Black Dodge Challenger Most surprising quality: “I can be really funny. I’m also very friendly.” |
According to Vivian, her family is “eaten up” with competitiveness. However, her children respect each other’s abilities and they want to see their family members do well. “The competition can definitely get strong. When Dawson beat Dowling, he wasn’t very happy about it. But if he had to get beaten, he was glad it was by his brother. He was proud of Dawson for being the low medalist,” she remembers. His competitive nature is one of his strengths on the golf course, believes Dale. “He just hates to lose,” he says. Dowling also possesses a tremendous work ethic and he understands the kind of work it takes to excel in golf these days. “You never learn the game,” says Dale. “Fundamentally, he’s improving. We’re also working on the mental aspect of the game. He plays to learn, and we’re teaching him how to think properly on the golf course and realize the shots he has to make.” Dowling plays all over the Southeast, though most of his tournaments are played under the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA). This year, in addition to playing GSGA events, he will play the Georgia Junior PGA, the Future Masters and other tournaments. Dowling finished second in his age group in the GSGA state tournament. He had given himself a chance to win; he was three under after 12 holes. But he double-bogeyed 13, and bogeyed 14 and 15. He saved par on 16 by sinking a 12 footer, and had birdie putts on 17 and 18 lip out. He ended up one over par and finishing second. That tournament remains his favorite moment on the golf course. Dowling believes his strengths are his short game, putting and mental toughness. He has the ability to limit his damage if he has a bad hole. Or two or three, as was the case in the aforementioned state tournament. “I’ve been able to recover well in a round. Even if I score badly, I’m able to finish well,” he says. Vivian agrees. “He’s very smart and observant. If he hits a bad shot, he’s able to recover,” she says. Dowling admits his driver and iron play leave a little to be desired. He’s working on bringing those aspects of his game in line with his putting and short game. “When I’m hitting my irons and driver well, that’s when I can shoot under par,” he states. Dowling is a good student who makes A’s and B’s. He lists math as his favorite subject “when I understand it.” This semester, he’s had a little trouble with his math course. “I’ve really had to work at it,” he says. Dowling also likes science, particularly life science. His parents have firm rule concerning their children’s grades: If their schoolwork slips, no golf. That keeps all four of them working and on task. Dowling, along with his brothers and sister, is self-motivated to do his work and keep his grades up. With all of the kids so close together, they’ve got to be responsible. “They have to make their grades and do their own projects. There’s not enough of me to go around,” laughs Vivian. Dowling has dreams of following in his father’s footsteps and playing professionally. He plans to attend college – at either his parents’ alma mater, Lipscomb, or the University of Georgia – but then would like to go pro. If the pro tour doesn’t work out, he has talked of going into medicine. Dale doesn’t want to push Dowling in any one direction as his career progresses. He wants Dowling to make those decisions. “My goals for him are whatever his desire is. He says he wants to play in college and then beyond if he proves he’s that good. I don’t want to get in the way of the dreams any of my kids have. Dowling is very laid back, but he’s determined to succeed and wants to do the work to make that happen. We’ll see what the Lord blesses him with,” says Dale. In addition to golf, Dowling loves basketball. He was the leading scorer on Georgia Christian’s junior varsity basketball team, and saw some playing time at the varsity level as an eighth grader. His goal is to start on the varsity squad as a freshman, and he wants to continue playing basketball throughout high school. When he isn’t playing golf or basketball, Dowling is hanging out with his friends or participating in activities at the Statenville Church of Christ or the Dasher Church of Christ. • | |
January 2012
Robert Preston Jr. 
Micki K Photography 
