Golf season in full swing

by Alex Bi staff reporter

As spring brings the beginning of the new sports season, the Mounds View girls golf team prepares for another exciting year of competition.

This season, there are many new faces on the team. Many players look forward to the new relationships and experiences that come with new teammates. “I am super excited to get to know them [new players] and to reconnect with girls who I have played with for a long time,” said senior Erica Ganske.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the new girls on the team and making new memories with each one of them,” said freshman Olivia Matthies.

An overlooked aspect of golf, as pointed out by Ganske, is the unique athleticism it takes. “It [golf] doesn’t have high amounts of physical exertion. While this is true, it makes up for the logic and player IQ necessary to effectively play the sport,” she explained. “In other sports you work alongside a moving ball to score a point. In golf, you have the power to not only strategically decide where the ball needs to go but also how best to get it there.”

Moreover, while golf is usually thought of as a game played in good weather, the team often has to endure poor outdoor conditions. “I have played matches in rain, snow, sleet and hail; it is safe to say that the show goes on rain or shine in the game of golf,” said Ganske.

The weather can heavily impact player performances. “It affects everyone, even the pros. If it is very windy or rainy it will affect your performance. You have to be able to quickly adapt to the weather you are playing in,” said Matthies. To perform well even in unfavorable weather, junior Mabel Chen stresses that having a strong mentality is incredibly important. “Even if the rain is pounding and the wind is crazy, maintaining a positive mentality will boost your mood and thus your performance.”

“I hope to inspire the younger girls on the team to continue to pursue this sport and to gain confidence in their abilities as a player.”

Erica Ganske, ‘23

However, for some, keeping a positive attitude can be difficult, especially during a stressful or competitive match. To combat that, Ganske explains that players must play the game hole by hole. “Some holes may be better than others, but the important part to remember is that once you finish a hole, you have the opportunity to reset and try again on the next.”

While the team’s main goal is to place first in their conference, Ganske stresses there are other things just as important as placement. “I hope to inspire the younger girls on the team to continue to pursue this sport and to gain confidence in their abilities as a player,” she said.

Matthies especially is focused on selfimprovement. “I want to do better this year than years before and work the hardest I have,” she said.

A favorite part of the season for the team is the tournament at Brookland Golf Park. “There’s a bunch of teams at only nine holes, so the match takes all day, but they grill hamburgers and hot dogs during the day, so we can stop by the grill whenever we want to grab a bite to eat. This match is also more relaxed since there are so many teams, so we always talk with each other while we’re waiting for a hole,” said Chen. The tournament is scheduled for May 17. With the team’s next match April 24, the team looks forward to hopefully playing in nicer weather this season and working towards placing first in the conference.