Gallery • 9 Photos

Zahir Hassan

WALKING IN. The golf team heads to practice, hopeful and excited to kick off their new season.

Ready, set, swing! Boys golf drives into action as they prepare for their first matches of the season.

When one thinks of golf, they think serious, formal, uptight, quiet and individual. At SPA, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth; the number of people who attended tryouts was surprising, with many hopeful players filling the course.

At practice, as the players were chipping and working on their short game, Coaches Pope and Werner were laughing and assisting each player with their shots. Similarly, the team would talk as they swung through shots, helping each other and smiling more and more as the practice progressed.

Throughout the session, the team slowly rotated around the hole, practicing different angles and strokes in each shot. The team further implements this unique style of relaxed golf by not forcing every player to compete. Players are encouraged to compete whenever they have the opportunity, but there are no rules stating that a player must compete in matches during the season.

Besides the fun and games on the golf team, some players try to constantly improve with each stroke they hit. Sophomore Quentin Sentz tries to “learn the course he plays” to really understand how he wants to play. Sentz treats each practice like a match. “I compete with my teammates [during practice] to simulate the pressure during a match or a tournament,” he said.

Senior Rowan McLean, having not played many JV or varsity matches in his three years of playing because of club soccer conflicts, firmly believes that “you get what you put in” to SPA golf. McLean is now a leader on the golf team and aims to participate more during his final golf season for the Spartans.

Furthermore, captain Will Fenlon has goals beyond team success. When asked what his goals are individually, he stated he wants to win state. When asked if his odds of winning were good, he confidently stated, “Absolutely.” Fenlon also tries to “get the boys fired up” so that they can support each other and compete hard each day.

The team’s support for a relaxed and inclusive style of play shows on the course. Their relaxed, enjoyable and competitive atmosphere is the reason why the golfers are filled with joy and laughter, as well as competitive teammates who are willing to go the distance.

The team will play on Monday at 10:00 am in the Conference Championship Meet at River Oaks Golf Course.