Published in BREJK
Author: Svetozar Okrucky
He became the first playing golf professional in Slovakia and desires to win some of the biggest torunaments. Peter Svajlen (25).
Your last name caught my attention. The national soccer team goalie Anton Svajlen was best known player in Czechoslovakia in the 60s and his son Lubomir was national handball team goalie. Are you related in any way to these two successful athletes?
Anton Svajlen is my dad’s cousin. Anton and his son were very successful in the sport they chose so I hope I will be able to follow on the same path.
Both of the Svajlens played ball games. Have you ever been interested in such sports?
Since I was a little boy I was involved in multiple sports, hockey, basketball, volleyball. I was not able to stick to any of those for more than three or four years.
You started playing golf when you were fourteen. How did you get involved?
If I said it was on accident it would not be far from the truth. I was on a two week language camp in England where I stayed with a family that played golf. They took me to a driving range with their son one day and a local professional showed me some fundamentals.
What was different about golf that got you interested?
I have always been interested in golf. When I came across it on TV I watched it all the way till the end. There was something about golf that made me curious about this sport. After playing golf for a while now I can say that I like it more than other sports for few reasons. Golf is played outside on fresh air in beautiful surrounding. Every player is responsible for himself and his own result. There is no one that can make his score worse or better.
Your early beginnings were right behind the Austrian border. Why did you practice and play abroad?
When I started playing golf there was only one nine hole course in the whole country. I took my first lessons there but I started practicing in a nearby Hainburg in Austria pretty soon. They had an 18 hole championship course at that time which was even more affordable than the one in Bernolakovo.
Very important chapter in your golf career was time spent in United States…
Yes, not only I attended university there but also learned a lot about golf. After playing in first few tournaments I realized the competition is lot tougher than what I was used to at home. I remember admiring some of the players on the course while playing with them. It became a motivation for me to work harder and practice. My second year in U.S. I became one of the better players and my last two years I became one of the best. I received multiple awards during those years but most valuable was the All-American award that I received both of my last two years.
Looking back at five years playing college golf.
I was a great experience. I did not just learn about golf but I also obtained a valuable MBA degree. It was an experience that I would recommend to anyone.
When did you decide to give up your amateur status and turn professional?
I originally wanted to wait till I would be done with school which was in May 2011. My decision was sped up by the Slovak Golf Association. In 2010, when I was not at my best after a wrist injury, but I was still the best player in the Slovak rankings and best ranked Slovak in world rankings, SKGA did not send me to almost any international events. I knew that I would not be able to play in any events that I wanted to play so I decided to turn PRO in August 2010. As a professional I was not limited by SKGA but strictly based on my resuts.
What is the biggest difference between amateurs and professionals?
The basic difference is that professionals are allowed to earn money by playing or teaching golf. Professionals play golf to make money and amateurs have golf as a hobby. It can be also said that professionals are usually better players.
Is it even possible to make a living by playing golf?
I just started my professional career so it is not easy. Tournaments that I play in do not have as large purses as main tour tournaments. The help of sponsors is critical during this time and without them I would not be able to do what I am doing. After a player obtains status on main tour and is able to keep it, the prize money earned should be enough to maintain appropriate comfort of living.
What is more important in golf, mental or physical game? Or is it something else?
I believe that it is a combination of mental, physical and technical skills where mental part is most important. Almost every tour player is technically well equipped so the differences in this area are minimal. The mental part is 70% of success, maybe even more.
Do you enjoy practicing?
I really enjoy golf and that is the main difference compared to all the other sports that I played before. Time flies by when I practice and sometimes I have to make sure that I get enough rest after practice.
What do you enjoy more putting or driving the ball?
Every golfer loves to hit a long straight tee shot. I enjoy more when I see the golf ball disappear in the hole after hitting a long putt.
Have you ever had a hole in one?
To achieve a hole in one a great amount of luck is required. There are many unpredictable factors. Maybe that is the reason why I never had one.
Do you know if you hit a good shot right after you hit it?
Yes, I believe every professional golfer would be able to tell where the ball would go right after impact.
If you hit a bad shot does it bother you or do you forget about it right away?
During the round it is best to forget about the bad shots. Only one shot is most important during that time and that is the one player is above to hit. Thinking about bad shorts does not make the score better. There is time to analyze them, but that is after the round and then erasing them from memory.
Wind, cold, rain, sun… How Important is weather while playing golf?
The weather can significantly change a golf course. It can make it more difficult or easier. If it is cold the golf ball does not travel as far. If it is hot the ball goes far but the heat is uncomfortable for players. If it rains the ball does not roll very far which can have a great impact on scores on a long course. Weather makes player change the way they play the course and their equipment.
One more obligatory question – What does golf mean to you? What would you like to achieve?
Golf is not only a hobby for me but recently it became my job as well. It is a great way how to spend time with people in beautiful environment. I want to have status on one of the main tours and win tournaments. It is a process that will take few years but I am patient. I have no reason to be in a hurry yet.
