Casper’s golf journey: from childhood clubs to championship courses
Casper Holst-Christensen, hailing from Denmark, attributes his deep-rooted passion for golf to his father, Jon. “My love of golf stems from my Dad,” Casper reflects fondly. “I think he actually bought me and my brother clubs back when we were four or five years old.”
With a professional badminton player as a father, competition became second nature for Casper and his siblings. By 12 years of age, Casper had nearly achieved a scratch handicap and won three or four local tournaments consecutively, solidifying his belief in his potential.
Living with ASD, or to give its full name, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Casper experiences the world uniquely. “For me, I’m very impaired in my hearing, so I don’t really have any sense of filter. I hear every single thing going on around me all the time.”
This heightened sensitivity to sound can be overwhelming, but Casper has trained himself over the years to maintain balance in golf and life. “I trained myself through many years to have better focus, but it’s still difficult with the sound aspect.”
Despite these challenges, Casper finds solace and strength in golf. “That’s why I love golf nowadays. It’s the constant mental battle on the course every time I play. It doesn’t matter if I play Sunday rounds with my Dad or in big tournaments, it’s the same feeling, it’s the same battle.”
Casper’s passion for the game is palpable in every swing, inspiring others with his dedication.
His journey with golf has been a personal escape and a professional endeavour, as he works as a qualified PGA of Denmark teaching professional.
“What I really like is inspiring other people. If I can do that through different ways, either teaching or playing, that’s kind of what I set out to do with being a part of EDGA and being a part of this G4D.
“I still love playing too much. Just being on the course is still just a little bit more awesome than teaching, so I still want to pursue that. I want to try to get as good as I can possibly get.”
The 28-year-old’s commitment to the sport never falters. His aspiration to be the best in the world drives him.
“When I saw the G4D, I thought, I want to be the best in the world. I want to be on this circuit. I want to play every single event if possible. That’s my goal.”
Since receiving his diagnosis, Casper has been remarkably open about his condition.
“I don’t think it’s scary. And if you joke about it a bit, people think it’s okay to talk about it. I just perceive the world a little bit differently, and that’s completely okay.”
His candid way of speaking aims to break down barriers and encourage others with disabilities to embrace their differences, fostering a more open and accepting society.
For Casper, golf is more than just a game; it’s a way of life. “So I’m very open about it. This game probably means everything to me. I do it for fun. I do it for work. It’s taught me everything about how to deal with adversities, how to make decisions, how to think properly, and how to interact with other people. It’s basically the essence of me in a game.”
Casper Holst-Christensen exemplifies remarkable resilience and unwavering passion through his journey, inspiring others to take up the sport and embrace their unique challenges.
NB: When using any EDGA media, please comply with our copyright conditions