SPRINGDALE — The contract Kyle Robinson had his father sign in 2010 was simple enough.
The piece of paper read, “Dad, promise we will join a golf club in one year.” It was a pledge the younger Robinson was determined to see to fruition, even hanging it in his bedroom as a constant reminder.
There were only three weeks left before the one-year deadline was up when the Robinson family drove from Dallas to Fayetteville with the idea of moving. Time dragged by for Robinson as the family spent hours in Fayetteville discussing the pros and cons of the move.
But there was a silver lining.
“I was bored, but I knew after that meeting, we were going to go to The Blessings Golf Club and join,” Robinson said.
And they did. The family made the move and Robinson played his first round at The Blessings a year from the date his father signed the contract.
Fast forward 2 1/2 years, the move and Robinson’s hard work have paid off.
The Shiloh Christian freshman finished third at the Class 5A state golf tournament, then shot a 4-over-par 76 to place fourth at the overall state tournament in Little Rock, a lofty finish for one of the youngest competitors in the event.
“We knew Kyle was a good golfer. But he has changed so much, improved so much, in the last year,” Shiloh golf coach Jordan Cox said. “First, he’s grown like crazy. He’s really improved because he has such a great work ethic. He loves it.
“There are kids doing sports that do it because they have to do it. Kyle is the kind of young person that you’re saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got to come in now. We’ve got to go inside. It’s time to go home.’”
Robinson’s work ethic helped him have a standout freshman year and showed him he could compete against top competition, despite his relative youth.
His 3-over-par 74 at the 5A tournament left him in a three-way tie with the Hot Springs Lakeside duo of Chandler Cain and Cameron McRae, who qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur. Only the top two advanced to the overall tournament.
McRae won the four-hole playoff, but Robinson drained a putt to beat Cain and punch his ticket to the overall tournament.
“Right as I hit the putt, I knew it was in,” Robinson said. “I even did the little fist pump. So that was awesome. After that, I knew I could hang with all these older guys.”
Robinson has come a long way in the five years since his father started taking him to chip and putt as a 9-year-old novice.
“I begged my dad to play in my first golf tournament,” Robinson said. “I had been playing for about six months. I go there and I shoot 128. A 68 won it. After that, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m not good.’ But my dad still made me. Now I have a really good short game, I think. It’s basically what saves me.”
Robinson’s success has made him the latest athlete from his family to showcase their skill at Shiloh.
His oldest sister, Rylee, set the 5A state pole vault record while in school. His other older sister, Reagan, was a key member of a Lady Saints volleyball team that made it to the 5A state semifinals this fall.
“I’m very glad we all have different sports,” Robinson said. “Because I could not stand having a sister that was better than me at my own sports. I couldn’t stand that. That would stink.”
Robinson is not only the best golfer among his siblings, he can now claim the title of best golfer in the family. He hopes to play collegiately at Arkansas, which also practices at The Blessings.
“I know a lot of them,” Robinson said. “I see them do a few drills on the putting green. When they’re gone, I see what they’re doing and I do it.”