Upper Valley golfers had better watch out, there is a new superstar on the green and he’s ready to put you to the challenge! Quechee resident, 11-year-old Matty Du Plessis, is entertaining fans across the world with his incredible golf skills and his YouTube videos.

Despite a late start walking, Du Plessis began golfing at the age of two, using a plastic golf set to keep his balance. His parents, both avid golfers, introduced him to the sport and made it a family event. For a short while he also swam on the Quechee Swim Team, but decided on golf. Being homeschooled allows him time to focus on his golf, his entertainment skills and his academics—all while he travels around the world.
Du Plessis’ eternally positive attitude is infectious. In a recent interview with NECN VT, he said, “You hit a bad shot? Fine. But the more positive you are, the less your misses will become.” A great sentiment that demonstrates his positive attitude that keeps him going even when the going gets tough.

Du Plessis’ eternally positive attitude is infectious. In a recent interview with NECN VT, he said, “You hit a bad shot? Fine. But the more positive you are, the less your misses will become.” A great sentiment that demonstrates his positive attitude that keeps him going even when the going gets tough.

Despite a late start walking, Du Plessis began golfing at the age of two, using a plastic golf set to keep his balance. His parents, both avid golfers, introduced him to the sport and made it a family event. For a short while he also swam on the Quechee Swim Team, but decided on golf. Being homeschooled allows him time to focus on his golf, his entertainment skills and his academics—all while he travels around the world.
Du Plessis’ eternally positive attitude is infectious. In a recent interview with NECN VT, he said, “You hit a bad shot? Fine. But the more positive you are, the less your misses will become.” A great sentiment that demonstrates his positive attitude that keeps him going even when the going gets tough.

Quechee Club Golf Professional Johnny McCosker says that everybody around the club recognizes Du Plessis and his dad. They are there almost every day with Du Plessis often practicing from lunch until dinner!

McCosker first noticed Du Plessis natural skill as a golfer when he held a series of lessons on the full swing two years ago. “Even [then], I had little to comment on [regarding his swing] at the end of each class, that’s just amazing. He’s a dedicated, quality player who is lucky to have the time and such great parents.”

Du Plessis records tournaments whenever he can, and watches to learn and to cheer on his favorite golfers, but admits, with the ability to “speed through the slow bits.” His favorite tournament is the Ryder Cup and he’s a huge fan of the LPGA.

“Lydia Ko is probably, in my mind, the best golfer in the world, ladies or men’s. She doesn’t over-power courses, but makes the right choice more than anyone else. She’s 18-years-old, world number one, and shows that age is nothing but a number.” While his goal is to reach a handicap of 54, he said he wouldn’t be surprised if she gets there before him (this goal is the inspiration for his 18undaPar campaign).

A passion for charity tournaments

Du Plessis loves to golf for charities. His 2015 charitable goals include trying to beat his personal best from last summer where he played 108 holes in the Summer Solstice Golf Marathon and raised $1500 for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD).

This year, one of his charitable challenges is to try and birdie every hole on the Quechee Lakeland course in less than 41 days to raise money and awareness for the Black Heart Foundation (blackheartfoundation.org.)

The Black Heart Foundation, registered in both the United Kingdom and the United States, supports community initiatives that provide educational access and learning opportunities for underprivileged youth. The foundation focuses funding at the grassroots level, where it can make the most significant and effective impact on children and their environment.

You can follow Du Plessis in his challenge on Twitter @md_18undapar, or #18UndaParChallenge2k15, and help support positive educational outcomes for children around the world.

For many kids, all of this media buzz might go to their heads, but not Du Plessis. He plays for the love of the game. When asked what his favorite aspects of golfing are, he says, “making birdies, pulling off a shot you have been practicing, and hanging at the range with my boys, [residents from around the Upper Valley] Bowdon, Colby, and Lucas.” Sounds like a typical 11-year-old to me, even when he’s shooting his rap video in Cape Town, South Africa, London, and inside the Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hanover, NH.

@md_18undapar on YouTube

You can watch any of Du Plessis’ videos by searching @md_18undapar on YouTube. The videos feature him performing tricks and skills such as putting two balls into a hole at one time, putting the ball back and forth between his legs while walking, and more recently, writing and performing rap songs about golf. My personal favorite video is “#StopDropAndMakeA12Foota” where, not only does he putt incredibly well on random streets, various golf courses and even in an airplane, but he also shows off some great celebratory moves, which will bring a smile to almost anyone’s face.