Aiden Tiet, a ninth grader at Garland Christian Academy, began playing golf when he was just 4 years old. He was with his dad, Young Tiet, at the driving range when he picked one of Young’s clubs and began hitting the ball. Young saw potential, so he purchased a set of junior clubs for Aiden. He played at San Jose Municipal Golf Course in San Jose. His
coach was Bill Wilson, formerly of Corpus Christi, Dallas/Farmers Branch and Garland. There was a junior clinic at the club and Aiden began to play there.
“I was playing with other kids so that helped because you are with other people that you can relate to,” Aiden said. “You have more fun that way.”
At 4 ½, Aiden was the youngest child in the junior clinic. He joined another course that had a large junior program at Santa Teresa Golf Course, also in San Jose. His coach was Terry Sullivan. This club hosted a monthly tournament on its Par 3 Executive Course, which Aiden played in until they moved from San Jose to Garland in March 2021. At just four years and seven months, in his fourth tournament start, Aiden shot a 31 (4-over-par) and scored his first win. Most impressively with that win was the fact that he could not reach the green with his driver from the tee box on six of the nine holes! Several years later, he would shoot his lowest score there, a 22 (5-under-par) for a win, while also tying the tournament record that still stands.
Now that he is in North Texas, Aiden primarily competes against 13–18-year-olds. There are some tournaments that go to age 19. One is the U.S. Junior Amateur.
“That’s the biggest junior tournament in the world,” Aiden said. “If you get to that, that’s a huge accomplishment. If you win, it’s even bigger. That’s what you want to qualify for – to play in that tournament.”
During the summer, Aiden achieved his biggest win to-date, a major junior tournament in San Diego (Boys 13-14 division). It’s called the IMG Academy Junior World Championship and it happens every summer.
Aiden has won a long list of tournaments. Just a few of those include U.S. Kids Golf, Junior Golf Association of Northern California, Junior Tour of Northern California, Future Champions Golf, Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship, PGA Junior League, All-American Tour (of Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour), Legends Junior Tour and more.
He calls Firewheel his home course and his current coach is Corey Lundberg. In addition, he plays many other courses in the North Texas area, as well as across Texas and several other states where tournaments take him.
He practices most weekdays and plays in tournaments on weekends. In the winter months when there aren’t many tournaments he practices more. He enjoys being on the course and even on the days that he doesn’t feel like going, once he gets out there, he enjoys it.
“It improves your focus, gives you mental toughness. You have to be locked in,” Aiden said. “You learn etiquette as well. Golf is very respectful, and you must treat everyone with respect.”
Aiden hopes to get a golf scholarship and make the game his career after college. Young said that everything they are doing is hopefully leading him toward that goal. Young also loves the game of golf, so the father and son play together when they can. It has changed their family.
“The sport and everything related to it has changed our lives for the better – 100% –, so get your kids into the sport,” Young said. “What golf is and what it breeds – character, integrity because you’re alone playing against the course trying to do the best you can. You don’t know if your kid has a talent for it unless you get them into it.”
The sport boosts Aiden’s confidence and has also taught him to be resilient. Additionally, it has helped him learn and grow from his mistakes.
Young said that Aiden’s skill is a God-given talent, and they are grateful for it.
“But, all these years, what has propelled us was all the people we’ve met, the relationships we’ve made. People that know Aiden are always so encouraging,” Young said. “We understand as parents that it is all the support that enables him to do what he does. His mom is always out there, too. In the early years, she took him to the course every day for hours.”
Young acts as manager for Aiden. He researches tournaments, keeps up with lessons, plans travel and helps with schoolwork when needed. Aiden said that he couldn’t do it without his parents and knows that he is very fortunate to have them.
His advice to young people who are making decisions about what sports to play is to try everything. He was focused on golf, but he has also played lots of other sports just for fun.
Aiden played GCA basketball last season. He led the team and was named MVP.
“I’ve seen it too many times where the parents try to get them in one thing, and it ends up they don’t succeed or the parents ended up not letting them do what they wanted,” Aiden said. “Sometimes, the parents want something more than the kid wants it for themselves. We always see those kids disappear. They get scared to fail.”