Zidan at Dogwood Invitation.
According to sports marketing surveys, about 66.6 million people across the world play golf, amongst whom 25 million play professionally in the United States, and over 220,000 play in high schools. Today, we focus on two such high schoolers and their journeys with golf.
Growing up, many of us relied on our families for love, inspiration, and life lessons. Such is the story of brothers Zidan Ajani, 18, and Aydin Ajani, 15. The boys’ father desired for both of them to have an active lifestyle, and as such, both boys played various sports–including golf starting at the age of two.
It was the boys’ uncle, however, who took them to golf lessons. From there, Zidan enjoyed the sport so much that he began to play golf regularly. Soon after, Aydin followed his lead. Fully enamored with the sport, the brothers watched the FedEx cup at East Lake for golf in their hometown and traveled to Charlotte to watch the PGA tour Wells Fargo golf championship. This was one of their first exposures to professional golf as young children.
Like many families, younger brother Aydin looks to his older brother, Zidan, for support, and in turn, Zidan, like many older siblings, is ambitious for his little brother to succeed. “I would like for my little brother to be better than me,” he says. Both brothers look up to Tiger Woods as a sports hero for inspiring many athletes to take up the brothers’ much-loved sport, golf. Through Zidan’s unwavering support and Woods as inspiration, Aydin works diligently to excel in the sport as he dreams of playing golf professionally in the future.
Zidan’s support and influence for golf, however, do not stop at Aydin. In the future, Zidan dreams of creating a golf camp and inspiring others to play golf. Zidan has a few additional sports heroes, including Kobe, Nadal, and Ronaldo. Though not golf players, these athletes have taught Zidan a few sports lessons: success comes from hard work, and sports is as much a mind game as it is a physical one.
Zidan’s favorite quote by Michael Jordan is, “I haven’t lost a game. I just ran out of time.” Zidan is inspired by Jordan’s passion and positive outlook on sports as well as life, and he plans on inspiring others with this perspective as well.
Both brothers enjoy the physical and mental challenges of golf. The sport has taught them patience. Additionally, the high schoolers have learned to work together with their team, lift each others’ spirits, and encourage one another to do their best. They attempt to apply the attributes they’ve learned from golf to other parts of their lives as well, such as leadership and confidence. Zidan has become the area lead, and Aydin was elected as his school’s tenth-grade president.
Aydin caddying Zidan at the Dogwood Invitational Amateur Tournament.
Golf is a sport, but it’s also taught the brothers patience, kindness, and how to encourage those around them. Most of all, it’s created a strong bond between two brothers.
Golf is not the only activity that bonds both brothers together, however. Both brothers volunteer in Headquarters Main Jamatkhana in Atlanta, with Zidan being a youth team lead. They enjoy being a part of the debate team as well. Aydin competes at the state and national levels, and Zidan has a leadership role on the debate team. As captain, Zidan manages the debate team on the varsity, junior varsity, and middle school debate teams.
Just like his elder brother, Aydin has some leadership roles as well. He not only won the 8th-grade student council presidential election, but he is also the current sophomore-year class president.
Music is also a significant part of both brothers’ lives. Aydin has mastered the violin since he has been playing since kindergarten, and Zidan has been involved in the orchestra as well, playing the cello for the Jubilee Strings symphony.
As well-rounded individuals, both boys have bright futures and aim to go to college to further their careers. Zidan is currently applying to a variety of colleges and he plans on studying either political science, business/finance, or history/Islamic studies. He is also looking at the pre-law route. Aydin would like to pursue law. Even though Zidan has received offers to play golf at schools, he is keeping his college options open.
