“My dream, for as long as I can remember, is to be a top professional golfer.”- Jaden Deltel
As parents, the biggest lesson that we have learnt is that without the support of their parents, it is extremely difficult for a child to grow and live a fulfilled, secure life, no matter what their life’s circumstances are. Our children need us at every stage of their life. They seek our approval to follow their dream. Jaden Deltel is on his way to becoming a professional golf player—his parents are his biggest fan. Caroline Deltel, Jaden’s mother, talks about the sacrifice they made as a family to support Jaden’s dream.
From Seychelles to South Africa—why?
I was born and raised on the island of Mahe in Seychelles. In 1999, I married David Deltel, also a Seychellois, who was born in Durban, South Africa. Our two children, Kayla (19 years old) and Jaden (16 years old) were born in Seychelles. Currently, my family and I reside in Johannesburg, South Africa after having moved from Seychelles in mid-2017. The move was primarily to offer our children more opportunities to fulfill their dreams. It was not an easy decision but we are glad we did. Kayla is a qualified beautician and has her own home studio where she receives clients for nail work, massages, and waxing. Jaden is one of the elite junior golfers in South Africa and he is a member of the Golf RSA National Squad.
The Biggest Sacrifices
We left everything behind in Seychelles—our house, business, friends, and family. It was a tough decision but we have no regrets when we see how far our children have come in just a few years. Jaden is working towards a professional career in the sport he loves, and Kayla is already managing her own business. This move would not have been possible without the support of friends and family. My mother-in-law is managing our business (we have a small self-catering tourism business in Anse Royale, Mahe called “Coco Blanche”). She is simply the best!
A Difficult Decision but Worth it
Moving away from your family and friends is never easy—the hardest was leaving my father and my in-laws. My mother passed away in January 2005. She was a victim of the 2004 Tsunami that struck Indonesia (she was one of two people who died in Seychelles when it reached our shores), so it was particularly difficult for me to leave my father. As parents, we put our children first, and the desire to give them the best meant making sacrifices. We do not have the same lifestyle in SA; we are very busy supporting Jaden. David spends a lot of time working with Jaden daily—on the golf course, practising, at tournaments, and traveling for events. I also travel with Jaden to events to support him, although it breaks my heart to leave my daughter behind. As his mum, I am his professional cook (at home and on the road). According to Jaden, I am the best cook in the world (I’ll take that compliment any day!). I am also his massage therapist, stylist, hairdresser, doctor, friend, and of course his biggest supporter. Golf at his level is gruelling mentally and physically, and as a 16-year-old, the emotional support of his parents is crucial.
Meet Jaden Deltel
Jaden started playing golf in August 2013, after watching an incredible shot on TV by his hero Tiger Woods. His father, David, was already playing golf and a member at the Seychelles Golf Club—this is where Jaden started his career. From the age of 9, he would play with his father and it did not take long before his talent became clear to all who knew him. His desire and passion were unstoppable, from then on his ambition—to play golf at the highest level. “My dream, for as long as I can remember, is to be a top professional golfer. I see myself playing in Europe and America at the highest level and everything I do is preparing me to achieve this dream. I want to be a champion golfer. I want to win a major golf championship. I will chase my dream until it becomes a reality.”
Jaden has been recognised as a very gifted golfer. His progress on the Golf RSA national junior circuit has been exceptional. He is a member of the Golf RSA National Squad. There are less than 30 members across the entire country, which includes juniors (under 18) and men (over 18). He was selected based on his talent, performances, potential, work ethic, and professional conduct. Jaden has won numerous titles at the national level in South Africa and also in Mauritius. In 2018, he won the Air Mauritius Trophy at 14 years of age whilst competing only against men (the youngest ever to have won the title).
Caroline hopes Jaden will have a long, successful, professional career where he gets to travel the world and make a great living out of the game he loves so very much. She hopes he can become an idol and inspiration for other young people. As for Jaden, he had this to say, “to achieve great things you need to work hard, very hard work combined with talent is required, but more hard work. One of my favourite quotes is “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” and I live by this motto.”
