The girls golf program at Junction City High School is relatively new – and young.
Tim Hickert, Head Coach of the girls golf program at JCHS said that his sophomore heavy team of seven will focus on learning the game and fundamentals this season.
“This year we have 7 girls out, no seniors, and one junior – so it’s a spphomore laden team…but the 7 that are out, they’re wonderful kids and we are trying to improve,” said Hickert.
Hickert added that for many of the girls, playing a full game of 9 holes will be a challenge.
“Things that we’re not going to focus on are results in terms of where we placed, or where we finish in tournaments, we are more trying to improve whatever our individual average is, whatever our individual capabilities were…and just keep improving through the season,” said Hickert.
More than anything, Hickert hopes to teach his athletes invaluable life lessons.
“Even more than teaching the sport, I think [I believe in] teaching life skills…[I think of myself as] a life coach, more than a golf coach or tennis coach or math teacher – it’s trying to get kids to do the right thing and that’s what I like about golf…you call penalties on yourself, you don’t have a referee, so it’s important to remember to just do the best you can,” said Hickert.
The challenges that adolescents face in golf aren’t necessarily unique to them either – they can also affect the most seasoned athletes.
“Golf is a weird sport where even the professionals can have scores ranging an interval of 20 strokes or so, and the high school kids are no different; one of the things I’ve learned in my many years of coaching is trying to get in the kid’s heads and get the to relax because they think that if they shoot one good score, it’s going to be that way all the time…that’s just not the way it is,” said Hickert.
This is only the second year for girls golf at JCHS and Hickert said that more than anything he wants the girls to learn and take away positive memories.
“You’re going to have your good days, you’re going to have your bad days and what you try to do is maximinze the good ones, and minimize the bad ones,” said Hickert.