IVOR— Dusty Scott’s mom was recently asked to name a famous athlete she admired.

Her response was, “I’d have to say my son, Dusty, who is a golfer.

He’s going to be famous one day.”

It would seem that Walter Dustin “Dusty” Scott, a 2007 graduate of Tidewater Academy, is thinking along the same lines. The 18-year-old will enter Florida Gulf Coast University this fall to complete his education.

Accepted into the PGM program, he will major in Professional Golf Management.

“I absolutely love it,” Dusty said with a grin from the green grass of Cypress Cove County Club last week as he practiced his swing. “I can think of nothing else I’d rather do.”

The only son of Dixie and Alice Scott of rural Ivor, the young athlete has been playing since he was 12.

He said it is not unusual for him to practice from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. or later.

“When it starts to get dark, I just pull my pickup over here and turn the lights on.

That way, I can stay as long as I want.”

Dusty began playing golf when his dad started playing at CCCC about six years ago, he said.

“I’d tag along with him when he played. It took about three years, I guess, for dad to realize how interested I was, so we joined the club.

Dusty said he then got a job in and around the pro shop so he’d be able to practice more.

“At first dad would drop me off here before he went to work in Ivor and come back to pick me up at the end of the day.

“When I became old enough to drive, of course, I’d come over by myself.”

With a four handicap, Dusty says his score runs in the low-to-mid 70s most of the time.

Since last year, he has participated in four tournaments, two in Virginia Beach, one in Chesapeake and Roanoke.

In the 18- to-24-age division, he said he tied for third place after the first round in the Virginia Beach match this year.

As for school, he says a common misconception is that he’ll be playing golf all the time.

“Oh boy, I just wish I could.

“But unfortunately, that’s not the way it works.

First, I’ll have classes just like anyone else and I will not be playing on the golf team there.

“Rather, I will be learning things like how to teach golf.

In other words, I’m preparing myself for the business side of golf and will have a teaching license when I graduate.

He said the four and a half year program offers 22 options, things like marketing, teaching and golf course ownership or design, for instance.

He will graduate as Class A

PGA Certified.

Each summer there will be an internship and Dusty expects to serve his first in Oregon.

Thinking ahead, Dusty chose the Florida University, he said, because “there you can play golf all year round.

“I know there are at least four colleges closer to Virginia that offer programs in golf, two in South Carolina and two in North Carolina, but I thought because of the weather, I’d be able to play more golf in Florida—time permitting of course.”

The young golfer says he would not be where he is today without the help of some very good friends.

“CCCC pro, Danny Morgan, for instance, watches me all the time,” he said.

“If he sees that I’m having trouble with a swing, he’ll help me out.”

He mentioned also buddy Austin Teal who started at CCCC and now is the assistant pro at Sleepy Hole Golf Club in Suffolk.

“He’s been one of my biggest supporters and has been very influential in my game.

In fact, I think he knows my game better than I do.”

Dusty

feels very fortunate in that both his parents and grandparents, Russell and Mary Ann West, support him in every way.

“They see that I have what I need,” he says.

“Dad goes with me to all my games, if possible and mom won’t let me leave the house unless I’m dressed appropriately,” he added with a smile.

Just over 6 feet and 135 pounds, Dusty says he’s in perfect health.

Although he admits to being a perfectionist, he sees no problem with that.

“I’m working on how to control my anxiety.

I know that I have to do this in order to be a good golfer.”

Indeed, if desire and dedication to the game offer some measure of success, then Dusty is destined to make it to the pros.

“It’s awesome,” he beamed.

“I just hope that one day, I’ll be as good as just some of the players I’ve met in this profession.”

He admits to being a perfectionist.