“Wait, we have a golf team?” This phrase has been uttered an immense amount of times at BHS. Despite this, they have grown rapidly.
As the years have passed and coaches have changed, the golf program has experienced a shift. This shift has affected the players' attitudes, the outcome of tournaments and the student body’s outlook on the program.
“The first thing is there are about 35 kids this year, and last year we ended with around 15-18,” golf coach Jared Hooten said. “The next is that I’m not injured this year like I was around this time last year, so we’ve been able to go to a course twice a week, which has made us better.
Having more players causes more competition, which has made everyone better.
“After school practices have improved my abilities a lot. It allows me to use different clubs I wouldn't normally try in tournaments,” Junior, Kera Conley said. “The weight room helps us stay conditioned for tourneys and strengthen our bodies in order to hit further.”
Golf is more repetitive than any other sport, therefore the more reps and opportunities you get to play and practice, the better your game will be. Plus, more time in the weight room creates better athletes who are more flexible and stronger, which translates directly to the course.
“This year, the team has put in the effort and has strived to improve as a whole,” Madison Pearson said.
Making the team more accessible as well as incorporating different aspects of practice. Then also starting to go to the weight room again because core strength is a huge part of golf and that piece was not being developed in the past has now created a better team overall.
“Coach Hooten has invited many people to come to play a part of the team. He is inclusive and willing to take feedback,” Pearson said.
Hooten doesn’t fit the stereotypical coach. While he does teach, he focuses on building relationships within the team.
“He has helped us learn how to use teamwork which lets us work together and help each other,” Junior, Brynn Weitzel said.
Hooten is patient and attentive. At practice, he goes step-by-step with the team to ensure the team reaches its full potential.
“I’m just trying to push the idea that golf is a lifelong sport, whereas for many other sports at some point you have to hang the cleats up,” Hooten said.
From the moment Hooten took over the team, he had the plan to create a team that was friendly and accessible to the entire student body. He was trying to show that golf is a sport everyone can enjoy.