East County Athlete of the Week: Jaxon Brown

Jaxon Brown is a Lakewood Ranch-based golfer. Brown went 3-0 for the South team at the Junior Florida Cup, held Aug. 1-2 at Sara Bay Country Club in Bradenton, helping the South capture the team title. 

When did you start playing golf?

I started getting into golf when I was 5, maybe even younger. My dad (Jerome Brown) played golf and was pretty good, so I grew up around it. I started playing it more as I got older and decided I wanted to stick with it. My family actually moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2016 because it was a place we could play golf year-round. 

What is the appeal to you?

You always get out of it what you put into it. It is a straightforward game even though it is also a complex game. It is straightforward because if you give your full effort, you’ll become the best player you can be, and if you don’t try your hardest, it will show. A lot of sports are like that to an extent, but it is especially true in golf. Physical talent only goes so far. 

What is your best skill as a golfer?

How I manage myself before a round. I understand the preparation. I know what I have to do to be able to play. Physically, I'm not that different from everyone else. But I say to myself, 'I am going to hit every shot to best of my ability. I know that I have prepared myself the best I can.' 

What have you been working to improve? 

A lot of stuff, including my attitude. I don't mean, like, antics on the course. I mean how I talk to myself after a shot and how I think about my rounds afterward. I try not to think about missed opportunities. I stay positive and in the moment. Being negative can never help you. 

What is your favorite memory?

Honestly, when I think about my favorite memories, most of them aren’t about golf. They are about being with family or on road trips. They are about going to the hotel pool with friends or laughing at dinners. It's always about the people you are with. They are what I remember. 

What are your goals for the upcoming high school season?

My one big goal is to continue getting better every day, in whatever form that takes. I have smaller goals but they all revolve around that one big goal. If I keep getting better, I am on the right path. 

What is your favorite food?

I have to go with steak — cooked medium — with lots of A1 sauce. 

What is your favorite subject?

I have always been good at math, so I will go with that. Math is a lot like golf. It's analytical. 

What is your favorite TV show?

I recently watched the series "3%" on Netflix and thought it was pretty good. I have also been watching "The 100." Those are probably my two recent favorites. 

Which superpower would you pick?

I would pick teleporting so I could get to places instantly. I hate traveling. 

What is the best advice you have received?

To always progress. Always improve. Either you are getting better or you are getting worse, because someone else is getting better and passing you. 

Finish this sentence: "Jaxon Brown is …"

An over-thinker. I always over-analyze things. I use numbers to think my way through things versus just doing it and trusting my gut.