Golf. Boring, frustrating, and absolutely pointless can be used to describe the sport. Most people might think getting a little ball in a 4.25 inch round hole in the ground is child’s play. In reality golf requires precision, mental toughness, patients, and an enormous amount of determination. The pressures that come with the sport are incredible.

“Practice makes perfect” is a saying many athletes have heard before. No athlete, man or woman, can be great at a sport without practice. Not even Happy Gilmore was good at golf without practice.

“I warm up for thirty minutes, then putt the tee,” said freshman Rj Hart. Since golf requires so much preparation and practice, the fighting men and women of the Viator golf team are always trying to get as many reps in as possible out on the green and once a week in the weight room. According to the Saint Viator golf handbook, each men’s golfer must practice sixty putts a night for sixty days on their own. This task definitely requires a lot of determination and consistency.

Show up an hour early then go to the driving range for 20 minutes then chip and putt for another 40 minutes then go up to the opening tee and hit tee shots on the first hole. This routine is how the fighting men of viator golf team prepares for a golf tournament. This routine combined with outstanding coaching, other preparations, and many other aspects has helped both women’s and men’s golf teams accomplish many feats throughout the program’s history. These accomplishments include regional championships in 2006-2009 and 2013-2015. As well as state titles in 2007-2009, sectional titles in 2006-2009, and ESCC championship titles in 2012-2015. On the women’s side they have also contributed to the golf program. Saint Viator has sent a very promising young women’s golfer Dana Gattone to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In 2001 women’s golf won a conference championship.

Both men’s and women’s golf teams prepare the way they need. Both teams require many characteristics mentally and physically to do what they do best. In the process both teams have accomplished many amazing things to contribute to Saint Viator’s rich history. There are still many things to come from the golf program. Preparation is just the beginning. Next time you hear golf don’t describe it as boring or frustrating, but as exciting and fun to watch. Saint Viator golfers put a lot of effort and preparation to prove their talent out on the green.