“My game really started to pick up towards the end of the season because I had been able to practice more and the course was in better shape,” said Nick Wallbank when asked why players scores tend to get better as the season progresses.
The golf season for Coventry High School has always happened during the spring season, however there has been recent discussion about whether golf should be switched to the fall season. Some have argued that it could improve the play and create better playing conditions on the course.
Golf originated in Scotland in 1457 and has been considered a competitive sport for almost one- hundred years. Although many people label golf as “the lazy man’s sport”, playing golf has many benefits towards your health. These health benefits consist of improvements of both the mind and the body.
High School golfers are required to walk rather than use a golf cart while playing a 9 or 18 hole round, and because of this the golfer’s cardiovascular endurance gets better. In fact, walking an 18 hole round of golf is equivalent to a four to five mile walk. One recent study stated that walking a round of golf two to three times a week lowered the amount of bad cholesterol in your body which also lowers the risk of heart disease. While golf is benefiting the physical aspect of your body, at the same time it is also benefiting your mind and your mood. Golf is known to be a very relaxing sport to play and most students need something as relaxing as golf to lower their stress level after having a long day of school.
The golf team was created less than a decade ago and the sport has been able to draw numerous students to play golf as a competitive high school sport. For some on the team, golf is something that they could see playing professionally. For others, they just like to relax and enjoy the time on the course with their friends. Either way, it is quite impressive that every player on the team always strives to generate wins for the team and because of this, the golf team of Coventry High School has slowly proved to be one of the better sports in the school. This shows how crucial it is that Coventry provides golf as a high school sport. Students Nick Wallbank and Nick Mitchell, both members of the golf team, were asked about the the benefits for Coventry High School to provide students the opportunity to both play and learn about golf. Nick Mitchell responded, “The game of golf is very relaxing and a good way to get your mind off of school.”
Adam Knight, the coach of the golf team was also asked similar questions. He responded by saying, “Golf is a game you can play your whole life. It can change as you change, and it can be relaxing. Of course, many golfers will tell you that is it is not relaxing, but your outlook on the game can change as you age. Walking 18 holes usually means you are walking around 4-5 miles, which in itself is beneficial.”
The players on the golf team always want to perform as best as they can when the season begins. The golf season normally begins at the start of the spring time. Because of this, there is not much time for the players to practice and the conditions on the golf course tend to be in pre-season shape, meaning that the ground is usually very wet because of the melted snowfall. “My game really started to pick up towards the end of the season because I had been able to practice more and the course was in better shape,” said Nick Wallbank when asked why players scores tend to get better as the season progresses.
Another factor that affects the golf season in the spring is the constant rain. The rain prevents the players from being able to practice and also sometimes results in the cancellation of matches. In the fall however, it does not rain as much which will result in little to no cancellations of matches and more time to practice. Coach Knight also brings up the disadvantages of playing golf in the fall. “The drawbacks include course availability and falling leaves. Golf leagues are still in major swing in mid to late August, when the season would begin. Secondly, falling leaves could make it difficult to find golf balls (even though the same could be said in the Spring as you emerge from Winter. Lastly, the state tournament would be played in October, which invites cold temperatures, rain, and possibly snow.”
Whether golf should be played in the fall or the spring is very opinionated question, “Golf as a fall sport offers a lot of fun advantages. Firstly, the courses are in great shape from consistent maintenance during the summer golf season. Also, a summer of golf before the season would most likely result in players being in better shape and being more comfortable with their swing, This is much different than coming into the golf season after a cold winter with not much opportunity to practice,” Coach Knight says.
The players will be able to have much more practice before the season and the conditions of the course will be much better. However, some players on the golf team play another sport that happens in the spring which will force them to have to decide which sport is more important. Nevertheless, there are some players who are involved in a spring sport but would like to play golf. By moving golf to the fall season, it could both add and lose players. The conversation over of whether golf should be played in the fall brings up a major discussion to what time of year would be the best for golf to be played as a competitive High School sport.
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