Like many parents of teenagers, Sameer and Ruchi Gaur have a difficult time keeping their daughters away from their smart phones.
But Sameer Gaur found one family activity where it’s difficult to text friends and check for updates on Facebook or Instagram — golf.
“When we do play (together), its beautiful,” said Sameer Gaur, the father of Hinsdale Central golfers Jahanavi and Roshannah Gaur. “It’s the one place where all four of us can put our phones away and hang out for four hours.”
It was Sameer Gaur’s idea about five years ago to suggest to his daughters that they learn golf. Jahanavi was 13 and Roshannah was 10. Sameer Gaur took his daughters to the practice ranges at Oak Brook Golf Course or at Cog Hill.
“I do golf. I enjoy the game,” Sameer Gaur said. “My wife and myself consider it a life sport. We thought we could get them into it.”
The Gaur sisters have thrived in a short time. Roshannah Gaur, a sophomore, tied for eighth place at last year’s Class AA state meet and was the top scorer for the state champion Red Devils.
Jahanavi Gaur, a senior, was an alternate for last year’s state tournament and did not play. But she appears on track to make her state meet debut next month as one of the team’s top six scorers.
At the Waukegan Invitational on Sept. 12, Roshannah Gaur had an 83 and Jahanavi Gaur shot 84 at Bonnie Brooke to help the Red Devils win the team title.
Roshannah Gaur remembers beginning to play in the sixth grade.
“When I started off, I was really bad,” Roshannah Gaur said. “I have somewhat of an athletic ability, so there was enough room for me to get better really quick.”
The Gaur sisters started out like many other golfers with their share of struggles. After about a year, the Hinsdale sisters began taking lessons from Dan Kochevar and John Perna at Oak Brook.
“Dan and Perna break it down to a science,” Jahanavi Gaur said. “They said, ‘If you do it correctly, you’ll get the result.’ “
Sameer Gaur has noticed how passionate her daughters have become. Even if it’s raining, the sisters will still practice outdoors at Oak Brook. Jahanavi is gaining interest from colleges to play golf and Roshannah also would like to pursue golf in college.
“I think they got the value of golf pretty fast,” Sameer Gaur said. “Their golf lessons translate to lessons in life and their academics. They do better with their grades in golf season. They learn how to be disciplined, work hard, work strong and, if you are in a bad spot in a round, you learn to fight back.”
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When tournament directors ask the sisters if they mind playing in the same foursome, the Gaur girls shake their heads and say they do not mind competing against each other.
“I like golf for the people,” Jahanavi Gaur said. “Golf allows you to meet such good people. It’s fun to be around them. I have such strong friends that I couldn’t make anywhere else.”
Sameer Gaur said he spends less time playing now and more time watching his daughters. He now keeps statistics for his daughters and tracks their scores. Roshannah Gaur averaged 79 over the summer, while Jahanavi’s average was 81 for tournaments, Sameer said.
The sisters played nearly 25 rounds over the summer, including five events together on the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour. Jahanavi shot a 82 while Roshannah Gaur shot an 84 to finish 1-2 at the Jarvis Memorial July 6 at Cress Creek in Naperville. At the MAJGT Championship July 27-29 in Normal, Roshannah won (75-79-72—-226) while Jahanavi tied for eighth.
*Hinsdale Central won its second invitational this season, taking the Providence Celtic Swing Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19, with a 319 to beat Wheaton Warrenville South by three strokes. Junior Selina Zeng (76) tied for second and Jessica Lee (77) placed sixth.
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