When you picture home, you’d envision a couch, a bed, a television set, and a kitchen. For Kaua‘i high school senior golfer Jennie Pleas (pronounced place), home is the golf course with a bag of clubs, a putting range, a
When you picture home, you’d envision a couch, a bed, a television set, and a kitchen. For Kaua‘i high school senior golfer Jennie Pleas (pronounced place), home is the golf course with a bag of clubs, a putting range, a bucket of balls, and a hat.
“I practically live on the golf course,” Pleas said. Her mother, Kelley Pleas, is the manager and head golf pro at Puakea Golf Course, making it the reason why Jennie spends so much time on the green. The entire family plays golf, and to them, golf is everything. “We talk about it at home too,” Pleas said.
Pleas began golfing at the age of 10, finding the sport “mentally straining and hard” at first. With the frustrations she felt with the sport, Jennie decided to quit at the age of 11, but got back to it at age 13.
“I hated it at first, thinking it was the most boring thing ever, but now I live for it and when you’re older, you appreciate it more,” Pleas said.
For the past four years Pleas has played for the Kaua‘i High School golf team and has competed in the state tournament for three years. “It would be four years, except that I didn’t compete in 2002 because I messed up in school,” Pleas said.
Recently, her team, consisting of Shelcie Takenouchi, Mary Akutagawa, Kimberly Yama, Kiilani Matsuyoshi, and Miki Ueoka won the 2004 David Ishii Golf Tournament that was held at their home course in Wailua.
“We were runner up to Hilo in 2003, so we made it a goal to win 2004,” Pleas said. Her outstanding performance also earned her the runner-up position in the individual competition.
Like other athletes, Pleas has a “lucky charm” she holds onto while she’s competing on the green and that’s her lucky ball marker. “I’ve had it since I was a freshman, and I always have it with me when I’m playing and I also use the same brand of golf balls with the same number on it all the time,” Pleas said.
As a high school senior, free time is hard to come by, but Pleas does exactly what she loves when there’s an extra hour to spare.
“On my free time I golf and all I ever do is spend time on the course,” Pleas said.
With her gifted talent and experience, Pleas played in other tournaments, like the Women’s Public Links tournament in Florida, competing against Punahou’s Michelle Wie.
Among all well-known golfers, her favorite is Sergio Garcia. “He’s young and I think he’s cute,” smiled Jennie.
With high school graduation approaching and college on coming up, Pleas plans to attend Reno University in Nevada where she earned a full scholarship to play golf and she’s planning on majoring in Business Management.
Pleas hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and run her own golf course someday.
