From Australia to the US: Josiah Gilbert's Golf Journey

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Smylie Kaufman Show

Josiah’s Journey From Australia to Auburn

Josiah was born on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, near Brisbane, and lived there for two years before his family moved to Mount Isa. Located about a 20-hour drive northwest of Brisbane, Mount Isa was a remote mining town surrounded by red dirt.

As the eldest of five children, Josiah spent seven years there and played nearly every sport except golf. Although the town had one golf course, its fairways were made of red dirt.

When Josiah was nine, his father began a PGA traineeship on the Gold Coast. The family moved there while his father completed the two-year program. Josiah’s first official experience with golf came on his 11th birthday, when he played night golf on a par-3 course.

The family then moved to Perth after his father accepted a job there. Josiah initially played baseball, but the travel, time and expense became too demanding. With his father working in golf and free clubs available, he decided to try the sport at around age 12. He began devoting more time to golf when he was about 14.

Josiah also grew up near Uldrich Potgida, who lived about 25 to 30 minutes away. During COVID, both families eventually decided to leave Australia. Uldrich moved to South Africa about a month and a half after Josiah left for the United States.

In early October, Josiah’s parents gathered the children and told them they would be moving permanently to America in two months. Josiah packed a taped cardboard box and his golf clubs before the family relocated in November.

They settled in Prattville, Alabama, about an hour west of Auburn, and stayed with Josiah’s great-grandmother for several months. His father later took a job at RTJ Capitol Hill, where he became the director of instruction.

Josiah attended Stanhope Elmore while also completing online school because of the challenges involved in transferring credits from Australia. He played one season of high school basketball during the winter. Although he could reach the rim, he said his brother was the one with the real jumping ability.

Just a few months after moving to Alabama, Josiah committed to Auburn in February.