Nicky Litherland

Nicky won the Highway Christian Masters Amateur Event three times in 2010; February, July and September (which he won with an awe-inspiring round of 66). The competition was held at Gainsborough Greens Golf Club, on the Gold Coast at Pimpama Queensland and is considered to be one of the most difficult courses in Australia. Adam Scott visited Gainsborough Greens when he was home and even held a clinic there in January 2010.

Nicky has enjoyed playing at various golf club’s; having met many who have expressed great encouragement and interest in his golfing pursuit. This encouragement and interest has aided in grounding his dream, making it even more tangible, driving the dedication that sees him diligently playing and practicing daily. Continual improvements in Nicky’s game week to week clearly reflect the true nature of his mindset and determination to achieve what he so fervently believes in.

Knowing Nicky has the ability to compete with and defeat professional golfers had been an egging frustration over the years; a persistently nudging sign that became an absolute realization. Nicky made the decision to pursue his dream and to this point he is unequivocally on track to reaching his goal play as a Professional Golfer on the PGA Tours of the world. His commitment is unwavering and with his feet firmly planted on the ground, walking the right path, he will get there.

Nicky moved from Perth to Brisbane in May of 2009 so that he had a better chance of pursuing his career goals and could be closer to his wife’s family. Their two very beautiful baby girls are 13 months apart, Alyssia born October 2008 and Isobella born November 2009. In January 2010 Nicky moved again; this time to the Gold Coast (better known as the Golf Coast) looking for more ways to propel his future forward. Nicky resided alongside the Hope Island Links where inspiration surrounded him every day.

Until recently Nicky chose to work in high-end employment positions for white-collar businesses. He sacrificed his dream, believing that his family must be provided for adequately and must have everything they desired. Certainly a morally noble belief yet it lacked the contentment one finds when fulfilling ones dreams. Nicky’s dream has been hindered by his self-sacrifice and until recently a lack of encouragement and support throughout his entire life. He has suffered a lot over the years and has conquered many barriers.

Nicky’s childhood was not a privileged one. Primarily from a single parent upbringing with four siblings, an unwell mother and very limited finances. Nicky’s first golf set was an Emrick half set, purchase from a local BigW store by one of his older brothers who had begun employment. Many people in Nicky’s life were far less supportive, criticizing his dreams, telling him to put his efforts into ‘real’ pursuits and not silly dreams. After out-growing his first golf set Nicky moved toward his first “real” golf set namely the Daiwa Tri-Ace irons (3-PW), Daiwa Hi-Trac 1 iron, Daiwa Hi-Trac Driver and 3 Wood and the Team Daiwa Tour Staff Bag, this was at the height of Ian Baker-Finches career, one golfer Nicky really admired.

Nicky and his wife have been together for five years now. He taught her how to play golf shortly after they met and to this day golfing is at the heart of them both and their daughters will soon follow suit. The door opened for Nicky to pursue his lifelong dream after a disheartening blow occurred in his employment and his wife encouraged him to make a decision to follow his heart; to finally pursue his dream and achieve what he was meant to achieve. It was time to grab hold of the chance, to make the sacrifices, and to give Nicky every opportunity to make his dream a reality.

With this decision came the need to make a number of changes, particularly financial ones, cutbacks have been implemented, budgets are in place and a more simple life ensued. The upgrading of Nicky’s dream from being just a ‘thought’ to the first step in becoming a ‘reality’ began with an update in his golfing equipment.

After so long and many years of building strengths and endlessly improving Nicky had outgrown the tools he had; it was most definitely time to change. Nicky spent eleven years using custom made AusMac Tour Blades designed by Henry Griffitts, which were beautiful clubs yet had outlived their suitability. With his new weapons of choice he became more inspired than ever to make his dream a reality.

Having competed in the Australian PGA Tour School in December of 2010 Nicky and his family have had to endure many trial and tribulations in order for him to fulfill his dream of competing on the world stage.

The past thirteen months had seen Nicky and his family move from one form of temporary accommodation to the next, this was as a direct result of awaiting Visa’s for their travel to the United States of America.

Selling all of their worldly possessions to financially assist in their move had seen these much needed funds eaten up with delays associated with the provision of visa’s, basically depleting their savings to nil upon arriving in the USA.

In a tenuous position, and with the costs associated with competing now a real issue with continuing to pursue the “dream” Nicky is once again confronted with an obstacle that he is determined to overcome.

With the financial support of one of Nicky’s sponsors, Annie Infinite of Saucy Social Media (a.k.a. Annie Robinson) and Bridgestone Golf Nicky has been able to update his equipment to a complete set of Bridgestone J40 Irons and Wedges which perfectly complement Nicky’s great skills and abilities.

In January of 2012 Nicky & his family moved from Australia to the USA to pursue his career on the NGA Tour for which he had ‘Fully Exempt Status’; yet everything did not progress as planned due to circumstances out of the family’s control; financial struggles led to Nicky being unable to compete.

Nicky was forced to return to Australia to manage and lay to rest some personal business and to improve the financial security of his family. Whilst there Nicky was injured in a motor vehicle accident which has hindered his return to his professional golfing career for the 2012 season as he works to strengthen his game and physical self once again. With that behind him, upon return to the USA on the 8th August 2012 he began a rigid exercise regime which has returned Nicky to peak fitness and successively enabled him to tackle preparations for the 2013 professional golfing season head on.

As part of Nicky’s commitment to the list of current supporters and sponsors, in-turn future stakeholders in his future, he has aligned himself with the charitable organization known as assisting children’s futures; fighting the battle to prevent child neglect and loss.

Personally advocating for these charities, and the children they represent, raising public awareness to the plight of children by speaking at events specifically dedicated to helping them and in-turn raising much needed funds at these events, increasing the Social Media footprint that currently exists by promotion through his own social media resources and website, donating a percentage of his earnings for the 2013 golf season to these charities, displaying their logo on Nicky’s tour bag and golf shirts is simply the beginning.

Nicky has had a decorated junior and amateur golf career. Being granted a “full exemption” for the 2013 season on the illustrious NGA Pro Tour coupled with competing on both the Gateway and Golden State Tours in 2013 will enable Nicky to reach a vast number of individuals, groups and businesses with his message, not to mention provide Nicky with the ability to prove himself on the best developmental golf tours in the world.

Now based in Houston, Texas Nicky and his family have a solid platform on which to turn the dream into a reality.

This is Nicky’s story… A PGA dream brought to life…