Treaty 3 teenager heading to golf school

Couchiching First Nation’s Tyson Morrisseau is looking forward to training with Tiger Woods’ former swing coach after being accepted into the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy.
“I was really excited and I really didn’t believe I got in,” Morrisseau said. “I have a chance to do something that I love and being a role model for First Nations people in Canada and America.”
The Grade 8 student is the first Native American student to be accepted into the academy, located in South Carolina in the southern United States. He received confirmation in late August that he was accepted for the 2012/2013 school year after filling out an application in June.
“I’m really good at it – it’s a very peaceful game,” Morrisseau said, noting his strengths are chipping, driving and his iron game. “I’m very accurate, very consistent with them.”
Morrisseau has been concentrating on his short game over the past three years.
“Anywhere from 50 yards in, he is pretty good,” said Morriseau’s father, Calvin Morrisseau. “Right now he’s working on trying to put spin on the ball so he can bring it back towards the hole if he goes past.”
Morrisseau usually practices his swing using lessons from the Internet and the Golf Channel. Calvin even set up a mini golf course in the back yard for him to practice on.
“He actually downloads these tips and these lessons on his cell phone,” Calvin said. “So he’s out there practicing those swings all the time. He’s always got a golf club in his hand.”
Morrisseau has been playing golf for 10 years since he was three years old.
“When they started the golf course (here in) Couchiching, he came out with me,” Calvin said. “He’s probably about an eight to 10 handicap. He usually shoots around 82 to 84, depending on how he’s feeling that day.”
Morrisseau usually plays golf about four to five times a week at the Heron Landing Golf Course, located about five minutes from his home on the reserve.
“And I work out a lot,” Morrisseau said. “I do pushups, sit ups and I run two miles a day, and I lift weights.”
Morrisseau is scheduled to attend a two-week custom training session at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in March.
“He’ll go back in September and spend the school year down there,” Calvin said. “What I like about it is they have a really strong academic program. All of the young people that go there have really good academic credentials when they come out of it.”
Morrisseau will also be required to attend a certain number of tournaments each year while attending Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, so he’ll be ranked nationally and be eligible for scholarships at colleges and universities in the United States.
“It’s the path that is going to give him the best opportunity to be a PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association of America) golfer,” Calvin said.
Although the Morrisseau family has a $65,690 bill for the first year’s tuition, they are receiving help from the community through a redirection of Tyson’s high school tuition towards the academy’s fee. They are also planning a monster bingo with proceeds to go towards the tuition fee.
“The Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy is giving him $5,000 towards his tuition for being the first Native American to attend the school,” Calvin said. “And we’ve also made an application to the Dreamcatcher Fund.”
Calvin said the family will also be receiving some autographed materials from Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens for auction to help pay the tuition.
“There are a lot of different people trying to chip in to help in their own way to make sure Tyson can get to try and reach his dream,” Calvin said.