National Treasure

MacDonald Representing Zimbabwe In World Amateur During Time Of Economic, Political Strife Back Home

October 6, 2008

By Andrew Blair

Zimbabwe's Nicholas MacDonald came to the United States to pursue his dream of playing professional golf.

Though he'd been to Florida once for a junior event, he left his native land - alone - in his mid-teen years after being recruited by Virginia Tech on a golf scholarship. His introduction to Blacksburg, Va., was seemingly as swift and powerful as his golf swing. For one thing, he'd never seen snow before, until experiencing it during the first semester of his freshman season.

"I knew what it was, but I'd never seen it personally," he says. "The winters here - I've never seen anything like it in my life. It's pretty cold in Blacksburg."

A new climate wasn't the only thing with which he had to get acclimated. In addition to golf, he grew up playing cricket, squash, hockey and rugby, but never experienced American football before being inoculated into Hokie nation.

"I'm used to rugby and now there's people passing a ball forward, all kinds of things" MacDonald laughs today. "I had no idea what was going on, but I've learned to love it."

If America is the land of opportunity, MacDonald has made the most of the chances he's earned with a strong work ethic, playing in every tournament during his four-year Tech career before using up his golf eligibility last spring. He's excelled in the classroom as well. A business administration major, he'll complete his degree requirements at the school this fall.

On the course, his game continues to prosper and he was selected by the Zimbabwe Golf Association to represent his native country at the World Amateur Team Championship Oct. 16-19 in Australia. On a personal basis, MacDonald speaks glowingly of his younger brother, Marc, who recently won the Zimbabwe Amateur and hopes to someday play college golf in the U.S. The two will comprise the two-thirds of Zimbabwe's squad at the World Amateur.

But away from golf, MacDonald carries concerns about his native land that is seemingly a shadow of its former self, democratic in name only. Political differences have ravaged Zimbabwe, resulting in an economic crisis that has affected his dad's plastics manufacturing company, which is sadly on the verge of collapse. The economy itself is suffering from hyperinflation. Many, including MacDonald, viewed the country's recent presidential elections as fraudulent.

This summer, the country ran out of paper to print money, and in reality, there's nothing to buy for even those who have some form of currency by other means. With impoverished areas facing famine from the lack of food in the shops, some people are bringing in goods from South Africa, a 10- to 12-hour transport by car.

To hear these struggles, including an 80 percent unemployment rate, it's easy to count one's blessings. Even though MacDonald admits "home is home," he considers himself lucky to be in Blacksburg and away from the economic and political strife.

"I've got an education behind me now and it's improved my golf tenfold," he says. "If I had to, I would do it all over again."

Already impressed with MacDonald's game, Virginia Tech golf coach Jay Hardwick was also struck by MacDonald's demeanor the first time he met his prospective recruit 4½ years ago.

"He took his hat off when he shook my hand," Hardwick recalls. "I thought, 'This is the kind of young man that I'd like to be around for four years.' He had a very good golf game, but was also very sportsmanlike.

"He never won our most dedicated player award any one year, but if I ever gave one for a career, he probably would've won it hands-down. Coming from a Third World country, he's seen conditions that some kids have never dreamed of. He's always mature about his golf game and life, and [he] has kept it all in perspective."

Despite its problems, his chance to represent Zimbabwe in a prestigious international team competition is something he looks forward to in the fall.

"Even though there are certain things that I'd like to change, I've still got pride in my country," he says.

At U.S. Amateur Championship sectional qualifying this summer, MacDonald's approach shot at Salisbury Country Club's par-5 17th hole landed in an embankment and unluckily bounded into the water. The resulting bogey cost him a shot at playing the Amateur by one stroke.

MacDonald has since recovered from the disappointing setback. Now he's hoping his country and people can do the same.

"I'd like to see it get back to where it used to be with a thriving economy," he says. "All the pictures from a long time ago are beautiful. It had all the resources you could want - mining, agriculture, great tourist attractions. You can see its potential."

One doesn't have to look very far to know that MacDonald is one of his country's most valuable assets.