Eight-year-old Harriet Bordman from Yorkshire discovered her talent for golf while attending her sister's lessons. After taking her first swing out of boredom, her parents were amazed by her natural ability.
Key points
Harriet Bordman is eight years old.
She is from Yorkshire, England.
Harriet tried golf while attending her sister's lessons.
Her parents were surprised by her talent.
She plays regularly to spend time with her sibling.
Mentioned in this story
Harriet BordmanTilly BordmanYorkshire
Harriet Bordman.Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
Harriet Bordman.
Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
NEED TO KNOW
Harriet Bordman from Yorkshire, England, first picked up golf while tagging along to her older sister Tillyâs practices
After testing her first swing âout of boredom,â Harrietâs natural talents quickly stood out to her parents
Today, Harriet plays regularly and is motivated by the idea of spending time with her sibling
On any given afternoon at the golf course, Danielle Bordman can be found watching one of her daughters chase a dream and the other, quite unexpectedly, discovering one of her own.
Her oldest, 11-year-old Tilly, has been making waves in junior golf competitions near their home in Yorkshire, England for years, a focused and driven young athlete with big ambitions. But itâs her younger sister, 8-year-old Harriet, who has quietly become the familyâs most surprising story.
What started as a tag-along routine quickly turned into something no one saw coming â and it all began with a swing taken out of âboredom.â
Harriet wasnât always interested in golf â in fact, far from it.
â[She] hadn't âenjoyedâ golf up until recently,â Bordman, 39, tells PEOPLE exclusively. âShe decided to reluctantly give it a try because sitting in the cart eating snacks wasn't the true meaning of getting fresh air and being outdoors with the family.â
What used to be sideline entertainment slowly shifted when Harriet began stepping onto the course herself, following her sister from hole to hole. It didnât take long for curiosity to turn into action.
âShe learned how to play from her big sister, Tilly. Tilly is an avid player and is doing well in junior competitions,â Bordman explains. âHarriet comes to practice with Tilly and just happened to pick up a club out of boredom, and gave it a whack.â
That one spontaneous moment two years ago revealed Harrietâs remarkable and âtotally naturalâ swing.
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Harriet Bordman.Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
Harriet Bordman.
Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
What makes Harrietâs talent even more surprising is that sheâs actually left-handed but plays right-handed, due to her sisterâs âright-handed hand-me-downs.â
With plenty of time tagging along and some swing guidance from her dad, Rob, Harrietâs skills began to take shape. Still, talent didnât automatically mean love for the game.
Harrietâs relationship with golf has been complicated, especially when things donât go perfectly.
â[She] hates hitting bad shots â trust me, they're not even that bad! But she must have got her âperfectionistâ attributes from her sister, Tilly, who is similar,â Bordman reveals. âSo when a shot doesn't go to plan, Harriet 'hates golf because it's hard, it's tough, it's not easy, it's frustrating!' â
At one point, Harrietâs dreams lay elsewhere entirely. According to her mother, the elementary schooler âalways wanted to be a hairdresser or a makeup artist, not a golfer,â and often asked, "'Why do I have to go? Tilly wants to be a professional golfer, not me!ââ
Harriet Bordman.Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
Harriet Bordman.
Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
But whatâs kept Harriet coming back isnât pressure â itâs connection. Bordman emphasizes that encouragement, not force, has shaped Harrietâs journey.
âThere was no truth in the joke about âforcingâ her to play golf. We have given Harriet so much positive feedback and encouragement about her golfing abilities in the hope she realizes her possible potential in the sport,â the mother of two shares.
Over time, that support and the joy of shared experiences began to change Harrietâs perspective, and now, the game has taken on a new meaning.
â[Harriet] adores her big sister. She is her best friend and biggest role model and inspiration. She enjoys playing golf with her sister the most,â Bordman admits.
Tilly and Harriet Bordman.Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
Tilly and Harriet Bordman.
Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
These days, Harriet is out on the course around four times a week, often turning practice into play. From friendly competitions to family challenges, the focus remains on fun.
And somewhere along the way, Harriet also makes time for competitions. So far, she has only competed in three events, including two 9-hole Rock Golf competitions. Just last week, she won her qualifying round to advance to the regional semi-final of the Faldo Futures, set to take place on May 11.
âHarriet made her own decision to enter a junior competition, but understands that she needs to put the work in running up to the event, to help her play as well as she can,â Bordman shares. âShe now finds this a challenge and is eager to improve.â
Harriet Bordman.Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
Harriet Bordman.
Credit: Courtesy of Rob & Danielle Bordman
What began as boredom has become something much more meaningful: a shared passion, a growing confidence and a bond between sisters that continues to deepen with every swing. And for Bordman, thatâs what matters most.
âHarriet can be who she wants to be, and do what she wishes,â she tells PEOPLE. âIt would be amazing to see both girls play golf side-by-side in the future, whether that be for a hobby or as a career. I am sure she will succeed in anything she puts her mind to!â
