Friday, February 13, 2009
There is no “I” in team, but there is an “I” in iron and golfers carry at least five of them around in their bags.
Is that why golf is such an individual sport? Most likely no, but it makes me question why, at the college level, golf is a team sport. You don’t see Tiger Woods out on the course on Sundays, bending down next to Phil Mickelson, telling him the green breaks left to right.
Professional level golf is all about the individual, but in college it’s about the team.
Where does the team dynamic come from, though? College golfers still compete as individuals during tournaments.
Men’s golf coach Kit Grove said that a lot of the team members spend their downtime together and that they all live fairly close to one another. Grove also said the team chemistry is at the best level he’s seen since he’s been at Kansas.
Senior Walt Koelbel said team practices help to build the team mentality because the golfers will be out on the course for four or five hours just talking and trying to help each other improve.
“If I see someone doing something that’s maybe not technically right with their chip, I try to help them out,” Koelbel said.
In that respect, maybe the golf team is better off. Grove said his practices were unlike most sports teams’ practices and that could be a good thing. When teammates have the time to stop and help each other improve the fundamentals of their game, it can only benefit the group’s results. In football, there are designated coaches for each position to tell players what to do, but on the golf team players can take that role on whenever needed to help their teammates.
Koelbel mirrored Grove’s statement about the team bond and said the team does hang out on the weekend and watch golf. Now they even have a former teammate to cheer on in former Jayhawk Gary Woodland.
Grove said the tournaments also help the guys who travel grow together. He said that they have a lot of downtime, unlike other athletic teams, and that helps the team bond.
Still, no matter how great the team chemistry is, the success depends on individual performance.
“If you play well, everything takes care of itself,” Grove said.
Maybe I’m making much ado about nothing on the issue of team chemistry. You play to win the game? Either way, the golf team makes itself better every day in practice. With a month off before their next tournament, the competition between teammates out at practice should boost the performance of the players when the make their way down to LaFayette, La., for the Louisiana Classics.
— — Edited by Chris Hickerson
Junior leads golf team with high hopes
The future of KU men’s golf rests on the new team’s shoulders.
Tournament lends outdoor play to weather-restricted team
The men’s golf team competes in the Cajun Classic today and Tuesday.
Sports Brief: October 26, 2007
Here's what's happening in sports for October 26, 2007
Former Jayhawk golfer to turn pro
A relatively newcomer to the sport, Woodland decided to pursue golf after ...
Jayhawk golfers turn in solid performances
Team places third in Nebraska meet as sophomore Nate Barbee places fourth ...
Former Jayhawk golfer ready for pros
Former golf standout Gary Woodland credits KU coaching staff for his sucesses.
Patience rewards at Pasatiempo
The men's golf team has the treat and possible misfortune of playing ...
KU golfer adds a little laughter to ...
Sophomore Golfer David Catt looks to contribute to the KU golf team ...
Seniors await last regular-season tourney
The five Big 12 teams at Texas A&M’s Aggie Invitational will give ...
Senior golfer finishes in top 10
The golf team took 7th place at the Big 12 Tournament.
Team places second at Kansas Invitational
The second place finish ends the team’s three-year streak as tourney champs. ...
Jayhawks have home course advantage
The team has won three of the last four Kansas Invitationals, hope ...
Men’s golf team places 10th in Cajun ...
Kansas, which scored 862 in the Louisiana tournament, competes March 21-23 in ...
Golf team hopes to rally
Recent poor play has coach Grove looking for improvement.
Men’s golf team places last in early ...
Though the team finished last The Presitge at PGA West in Palm ...
Men’s golf team travels to Hutchinson this ...
Jayhawks will shoot for No. 10 seed
Golfers finish 15th overall in North Carolina
Walt Koelbel tied for 19th place at the River Landing Intercollegiate tournament.
Golf team hopes to fix mistakes at ...
Golfers have potential, but they need to channel their talent, coach Groves ...
Men's gold has tough time at Windon ...
Loss is the worst outing this year for the team.
Men’s golf takes third in Manhattan
Walk-on Bell impresses takes fifth individually in his first collegiate meet.
Golf tournament builds scholarships
The School of Education’s golf tournament at the Alvamar Golf Course will ...
Walk-on golfer exceeds expectations
In his first year, Brad Hopfinger has finished in the top 30 ...
Golf takes fourth in Diet Pepsi Shocker ...
Despite a slow start this spring, Hackenberg helps lead Kansas to a ...
Men’s golf to start season at Louisiana ...
The team will travel to Lafayette, La., for the Louisiana Classics on ...
Shooting for something bigger
Senior Emily Powers leads this year’s golf team as Kansas tries to ...
Men’s golf takes sixth place in Big ...
Freshman Brad Hopfinger tied for seventh place, which was his best finish ...
Team starts season with new coach, young ...
Senior Joey Mundy, four freshmen and a transfer hope to gain experience ...
Sports briefs
A brief look at some of Jayhawk sports notes from the weekend.
Barbee leads Jayhawks to third place finish
Sophomore golfer places sixth to lead golf team for second straight meet ...
Jayhawk finishes first individually
Nate Barbee won the individual title while the team took second overall.
Golfers struggle with challenging course at Big ...
Kansas finished tenth at Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Men's Golf
Kansas struggles on the golf course, places ...
The Jayhawks were left with only four players after Dan Waite had ...
Men’s golf place 12th in tournament
The Jayhawks had a three-round score of 868 - 23 strokes behind ...
Men’s golf heads to North Carolina
The tournament is the last competition for Kansas before the Big 12 ...
The men’s golf team starts off slow ...
The men’s golf team began the season in Hawaii
Golf team breaks last-place streak
The Kansas men’s golf team rallied late to place eighth in the ...
Golf team heads into championship territory
It’s been nine years since the team has won a Big 12 ...
Jayhawks tied for eighth place in Houston
The men’s golf team aims for a top-five finish at the Rice ...
Sport Briefs: October 15, 2007
Cross country men, women compete in NCAA Pre-Nationals.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
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Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
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