“I wouldn’t say there’s a standout best golfer,” said Hudson. “We definitely all have our strengths and our weaknesses and stuff, but I wouldn’t say there is a clear cut best overall.”
During the summers, the families are always together, travelling to various tournaments and sometimes they become each other’s direct competition, which Hudson said can make for some tense moments around the supper table.
“It’s friendly, but definitely a little awkward,” he laughed. “Lunches and suppers are a little more quiet when it gets hardcore, especially between brothers.”
Hudson’s mom, Raigan McDougall, said going head-to-head is tough, especially at the lobstick where they can knock each other out.
“That’s a tough one, but you know they all kind of take their turns winning and doing their best and that’s the best thing. They all want to win…don’t get me wrong…they’re all competitive, they all want to win, but they really are happy for each other when somebody does great.”
Raigan said all of the kids started golfing at a young age.
“They would always go out on the golf course and I’d walk behind one swinging a little plastic golf club up the fairway and there would be their Dad coaching another. Hudson was tiny when he started golfing 18 holes at Cooke because he just wanted to keep up with his brother Ronan,” she said.
“Golfing is something that you can do your whole life, so, it is definitely good to start young and just go out and try it. You’ll never regret it,” Hudson said.
Emmett McDougall said some of his best memories have been on the golf course with his family.
“My cousin was at the Junior Lobstick and needed to chip in to go to the next round and all of our family was watching him…just circling him around the green. The guy against him hit a pretty good shot that was close. If my cousin missed the chip and the other guy made the putt, he would have lost…but my cousin made the chip and went on to play the next day and we were all pretty happy with everyone cheering on the sidelines.”
“That’s the best part about golf, is seeing the love they have for it,” said Raigan. “The love they have for the game and especially the love they have for playing the game together.”
Emmett added golf is something all of the McDougall’s would like to take as far as they can. In the meantime, they’ll keep hitting balls, making memories and the occasional bet against each other. In fact, Emmett has one for his cousin Hudson.
“Oh yeah. I bet I can beat him in a long drive.”
—