The girls golf team is kicking off the new season with two new golf coaches, Mr. Drake Cook, math teacher, and Mr. Zachary Brazil, P.E teacher.
Brazil and Cook both started playing golf at a young age with family or a school team and continued playing throughout their lives.
With Cook’s previous experience coaching golf, he believes the team should focus on technique and building up the team this season. He said,”I feel that the goal for this girl’s golf season is to get a lot of the newer players some experience and teach them the fundamentals of golf and how to play.”
With a team of over 15 girls, Brazil is excited for this season. He said, “I would love to have a team that is competitive against the other teams in the league, but really just teaching them the ins and outs of the game and why golf is such a great sport.”
Both Cook and Brazil stated that they love golf because of how it is challenging and takes hard work to improve.
Mia Duran, (12), three year veteran, stated, “I believe we will have a season of great improvement with the new golf coaches as our leaders.”
A few of the golfers believe that the coaches will have a positive impact on the team and help them to be more competitive against more seasoned teams.
Alexandra Vega, (12), first year golfer, stated that time is needed for new coaches to get into understanding how to implement techniques. She said, “Throughout the season the coaches will improve as the season progresses with new and different strategies.”
The first tournament of the season was September 8 in Merced and was a good experience for the five girls who went. Although they ended in last place, they learned many valuable skills. The first league match was September 11 against Golden Valley.
Not only are both coaches teachers, but they both have experience being coaches. Cook was assistant coach for the men’s golf team a few years back and Brazil has coached baseball for six years.
The next golf meet is scheduled for September 16 against Atwater High School at Pheasant Run Golf Course.
