Last night Gaylen Blosser and I went out to the Turtle Creek Golf Course to watch and take pictures of the Greenville Girls and Boys Golf teams. As we pulled in, there were many parents standing and waiting for their opponents (Piqua for the girls and West Carrollton for the boys) to arrive. Once things got started, late of course, Gaylen and I drove around taking pictures of the contests. What impressed me most was the attention and determination both teams showed, and the parents following every shot. Even though they did not play their best, Greenville’s teams won easily.
This column is not about the score, though; it is about the dedication the athletes and parents showed last night. It was over 90 last night, and the athletes didn’t seem to let that affect them. Neither did the parents. Parents, Grandparents, aunts, and Uncles followed them with complete interest. Gaylen and I were there for about an hour and a half watching, taking pictures, and sometimes marveling at the shots these teenagers make! Both Greenville teams do have some talent, and although it wasn’t their best last night, they won. The families did too.
High School Golf does not get the attention it deserves. Being an avid golfer myself, I understand how difficult this game is. It always looks easy…..until you try it! It is the only game with a ball that doesn’t move…..all you have to do is hit it! Seems simple, right? For those of you who do not golf, try it sometime. For something not moving, it is really hard to hit it where you want it, and sometimes hard to hit it at all! Golf courses spend a lot of money trying to make a good facility, and Greenville’s teams are lucky to have Turtle Creek.
Although it is short by most modern standards, there is trouble on each hole to contend with: trees, water, a creek that runs through the course, slopes, tall grass, hard-to-read greens, and some bad spots caused by 8 and a half inches of water the last two weeks. Golf is hard, and these young athletes put in a lot of time working on their game. Walking nine holes last night in 90+ heat, contending with a golf course that plays much harder than it looks,(#4 public course in 2016 rated by GolfPass!) is not an easy undertaking.
They and their families are to be respected. These young athletes are a joy to watch, and a joy to talk to. They are all very kind and talkative, and they represent everything good about today’s youth. They represent Greenville with class and pride, and their ability is an example of what you can do if you WORK AT IT! I see them all the time, showing up at 6:30 a.m. to practice, working on their games under the watch of two coaches, Brian Stickel for the boys and Tracy Haines for the girls, who enjoy their jobs, the game, and the athletes.
I wish more people would come out and watch them all sometime. I think all our schools have golf teams, and I hope they get the recognition they deserve, too. Most of our schools compete in the WOAC (Western Ohio Athletic Conference), Greenville in the MVL (Miami Valley League), and Versailles in the MAC (Midwest Athletic Conference). Go out and watch them all sometime. You might be as amazed and proud of these athletes as I am. Golf needs more attention, more people playing and watching too. Anyone can play this game; it is also one you can play for a lifetime. It humbles you, thrills you, and confounds you…….all in the same shot!
The best part of the game is the camaraderie you have with your teammates, and the friendships you make..…..it lasts forever! Go watch our young golfers play, find a shady spot on a hole, sit and watch them as they come by and support them like we do all of our other teams…..you might find out how awesome golf is……and how frustrating it can be!
That’s the way I see it…..from the sidelines!
