Golfers transition from individual to team play

-Kyle McGuffey

Golf. Some call it a lazy man’s sport. Others call it their favorite sport. For 19 Westlake guys it’s a way to get to college, a way to be with friends, or a way to show off their athletic talent. But for golf team members, the sport is more than something they love to do. It has gone to the next level, where personal glory isn’t the top priority.

“Playing team golf makes you play more conservatively,” freshman Paul Campbell said. “Ordinarily when you make a mistake it only affects you, but in team golf, your mistakes impact the entire team.”

The transition from individual tournaments to school tournaments is challenging. When players shoot a terrible score, the entire team suffers. Even when a player shoots the lowest score out of everyone, his team might not win. This concept is a far cry from what players were used to as individual competitors.

“If you mess up, the entire team will be affected by your poor choice, so playing team golf makes you think about the risk and reward shots a little more,” Paul said.

Strong senior leadership helps set the tone for how effectively the team faces challenges. Senior Ryan Matthews and senior Kevin Krainz are the team leaders this year. Despite having a little more pressure on them, they say being a team leader can be fun.

“It’s pretty sweet because I answer to no one except for coach and I can give orders to everyone else,” Ryan said.

Other challenges the golf team members face include pressure that comes when playing in a tournament and the rigorous practice and training schedule. But the determination of the boys team to place better in State than last year (they placed 4^th) makes all of the hardships an afterthought.