For the first time in more than a decade, New Brockton High School has a golf team, and its season starts Monday.
The Gamecocks will travel to the Andalusia Country Club to take on county rival Elba and Andalusia and Charles Henderson.
For Gamecocks head golf coach Brad Smith, the goals for this inaugural season are simple.
"If I can get them on the bus and off the bus, I’ll be doing fine," he said. "I just want to introduce these kids to competitive golf."
And introduce is probably the proper word for half of the golfers on the team.
Only three of the six players have previous tournament experience.
The most experienced is Smith’s son Steven, who competed on the Robert Trent Jones Junior Golf circuit this year. Smith finished second in the 14- and 15-year-old division.
Steven is a freshman.
Junior Michael Redd competed with Enterprise’s team last year, but has since transferred into New Brockton.
Sophomore John Donaldson is the other golfer with experience. Donaldson competed on the junior high level in California.
Brad Smith realizes for the others, golf will be a bit different from what they are used to.
"On the weekend, if you hit it in the bunker, you just pick it up and throw it out, and you don’t count the stroke.This is by the book," he said.
Smith took his team to a recent rules seminar at Highland Oaks Golf Course in Dothan.
The U.S. Golf Association sponsored the seminar.
Despite the players having to pay more attention to the rules, Smith said another objective is to keep the game fun.
The coach said there is no pressure to win a state title or even play for collegiate scholarships this year.
Smith added some players, with additional help, could possibly get a scholarship by the time they graduate.
"(Sophomore) Sawyer (Whittaker) is hitting the ball better than I expected. If he continues to get better, he could have a shot at a small-time college scholarship," Smith said.
In his first year coaching golf, Smith said his coaching philosophy revolves around the short game.
"Most of the strokes are lost on and around the green. If you can chip and putt, you’ll be OK," he said.
Smith said that is why the team will be on the putting surface three of the four days the team practices each week.
The coach said he is proud to have a golf program this year at New Brockton.
"I’m looking forward to it. We’ll keep it alive as long as there is interest in it. I’m hoping it’ll catch on," he said.
Eight people tried out, with six making the team: seniors Colton Bastion and Josh Roberts, Steven Smith, Donaldson, Redd and Whittaker.
Smith knows without parents’ help, the team could not exist.
"Golf is a very expensive sport. I want the team to be self-sufficient, so I charged a $100 fee to come out," he said "Parents are responsible for equipment, shoes and the fee. (They) and the kids made this happen. My hat’s off to them."
New Brockton’s first match is set for a 12:30 p.m. start.
No comments:
Post a Comment