Growing Up Green

Despite their illustrious career within the international golfing arena, Gavin and Galven Green tell that they are still regular people trying to figure out life as they go along

- Fiona Kee

Gavin and Galven Green’s story begins like so many others: As a child Gavin followed his parents to a driving range, and like most children, he wanted to imitate his parents. To their surprise, the starry-eyed seven-year-old could hit the ball. It wasn’t long before they began to realise the passion the young lad had for the fairway game. Galven, on the other hand, was only one year old at the time, but as soon as Gavin signed up for lessons, little Galven was tagging along to classes with his big brother.

“My brother and I found our passion for the game almost instantaneously,” said Gavin. “And we have been playing golf for as long as we can remember. I picked up my first club when my parents brought me along to a driving range, while Galven picked it up when he and I went to a driving range, and he started hitting golf balls with a club.”

Parents, Vivienne and Gary Green, were noticing their sons’ interest and natural talent. But like most parents, they were also sceptical of their sons’ determination to stick to their new-found hobby. So, when Gavin started asking for his own set of golf clubs, both Vivienne and Gary decided to use the opportunity to teach young Gavin the importance of not quitting when the going gets tough, and to be a good role model to his brother. Their decision led to Gavin using his own ang pao money to buy himself his first set of golf clubs, and the rest was history.

“My husband and I have always agreed to encourage them to go after their passions, and to never live our dreams through them,” said Vivienne. “And whenever it came to golf, we never had to nag at them to go practise. Instead, they were the ones nagging us to take them to the driving range!”