With girls’ golf currently in season, the girls’ golf team contemplated what went right and what went wrong in their recent games. Requiring deep focus for every strike and hours of daily practice, golf is not as easy as perceived. Girls Varsity Golf reflected upon the qualities and habits that allowed them to live balanced lives.
Varsity member Alyssa Uyeda (11), discussed how the team addresses failures in a way where they never feel held back: “Having the mindset of a goldfish is important so you don’t dwell on one bad shot.” Fellow Varsity member, Ashley Marcello (11) then highlighted her gratitude towards parents’ avid support by providing light snacks and simply by attending events. She elaborated on her motivation to test her limits.“I want to see how far I can go before I quit,” Marcello emphasized. As both Uyeda and Marcello concurred, testing one’s limits in sports and letting go of unsuccessful games are essential in sports requiring deep focus and tenacity.
Along with the right mindset, individual practice is also crucial. Varsity member Faith Hiroshima (11) commented on the individual aspect to golf: “Golf is a very individual sport, so there’s not many strategies as a team.” According to Hiroshima, working on your weaknesses by devoting one’s time to a single field out of the “range, chipping area, and putting area” is key.
For Uyeda, she prepares for a game by reminding herself to focus on the present. “A lot of people obsess about their scores but it’s not all about numbers, it’s all about what actually happens,” Uyeda stated. Marcello continued to reinforce the idea that overconfidence hurts in the long run, reasoning that you might feel “good when you go out on the course but if you don’t practice, you’re not going to improve.”
Practice and having the right mindset is essential, but Uyeda admitted that it’s hard to maintain such things in light of balancing schoolwork and fun as student athletes. “It’s very stressful with school, extracurriculars, and preparing for college, so getting in your laughs is definitely one of the hardest parts,” Uyeda lamented. But despite having such a rigorous schedule, the team has fun seeing each other come to the field. Seeing close friends and playing sports with them lightens the intensity of the moment. “When I get on the golf course and I see Ashley, a smile naturally comes on my face. She always brings joy to my world, especially during the tough times,” Uyeda beamed.
As busy and burdened athletes are perceived to be, Varsity Golf at West High addressed the reality behind these stereotypes. Instead of cutthroat competition, the girls focus more on what is often forgotten: A healthy mindset, focusing on weaknesses, living in the moment, and practice.
