Give Them Some Credit!!!

Who says that college golfers are not athletes? The public persona of college golf is that it is a walk in the park at wonderful golf courses in beautiful weather. Well, walking is part of it, but the major factor is endurance. The first day of a college event is usually 36 holes, which is 36 holes of walking and carrying your own clubs. The day will start by getting up around 530 or 6 so that you can be at the course no later than 7 to be on the driving range. Most events will be a shotgun start at 8 or so. After finishing the morning 18 holes most onlookers think that the players get to stop and have a nice lunch with china flat ware and sip on lemonade. Wrong! The coach will take your score card from you and hand you a nice, yummy boxed lunch. Inside will be a very tasty sandwich with chips, an apple and if you are real lucky a cookie. Oh and you eat this gourmet meal in between shots while playing the afternoon 18.

These days of nonstop concentration last until the sun goes down. Like each of you, that play the game of golf know, you must be totally committed to each shot that you play, mentally and physically or you will not be successful. If you are not in great physical and mental conditions then you’re not going to last long at the college level. I don’t think that college golfers get enough respect for what they have to do, just because they finish the 36 holes does not mean their day is over. The players then head to the range or practice green to work on things that might have not worked that day. Then it is off to dinner and then back to the hotel, by the time they get back to the hotel it is usually past 8 p.m. Then it’s time for school work and sleep, because they are back at it again the next morning for 18 more holes and then a flight or long van ride back home. Yes, they might get to see some wonderful places and play some great golf courses, but it is a lot of hard work and dedication. However, I would do it all over again if I could; it was the best time of my life!