I know what you might be thinking, Golf? Really? Why should I play golf? I asked myself the same questions not too long ago, but that was before I hit my first golf ball. I don’t know about other players, but the sport itself is very addicting to me. The moment you hit a pure shot all you want to do is hit another pure shot, but it’s never that easy. You know what else isn’t easy? Affording to play golf as a minimum wage-earning high school student who is trying to save money for college. So how can you play golf without suffering the monetary consequences while creating unbreakable bonds with fellow golfers? And the answer is by joining Warren’s golf team.

I joined this team my senior year and I wish I had started playing way earlier in high school because it is so much fun. I went into tryouts being a little nervous as I am not very good at golf, but there was no reason for me to be anxious because the girl’s team had no cuts. So no matter your skill level or experience, you are welcome on the team. 

The best thing and worst thing about golf is how hard it is. Yeah, it can rile you up and frustrate you at times, but there is always room for improvement, which is why so many people play it for so long. Golf is a sport that has been around a long time and won’t be going away anytime soon and it’s something you can practice into adulthood and even retirement. It’s a lifelong pastime that many people enjoy, and you can too. My coach, Mr. Georgatsos, agreed with me, saying, “It’s a terrific lifelong sport” and insightfully explained, “As you get older and work in the business world, a lot of deals happen on a golf course”. My experiences with Mr. G have been positive since I met him when I was 14. Now, having him as a coach for golf my senior year just feels right.

Apart from the school team, golf can also be played with friends and family. After learning to play with my stepbrother’s clubs in our backyard, we talked about golf often. Eventually, we made it on the course and it was a lot of fun. At my first match, I learned that the sport itself, even at the competitive level, is very social. This aspect is very different from basketball, the sport I played 9 years prior, because it involved friendly interaction between opponents. Basketball being a contact sport is bound to get some athletes riled up, myself included, but golf allowed me to take a step back and realize that missing a shot or chunking a drive is not the end of the world. The positive attitude I was met with at the start and end of each match became something I mirrored throughout each course and into my everyday life.