Golf ‘off to good start’; team gains ‘experience’

by Bonnie Cheung

The MHS Golf Team is off to a good start this season with a league record of 6-3. In comparison to last year, the team is more mature as they have gained more experience, according to Coach Nathan Dixon.

Dixon’s goal for the team this year is to have the team’s top two golf players win the league, so they can go to the league tournament. However, it is more important to have as much fun as possible, Dixon said.

The team’s biggest strength is that they are hardworking, according to Dixon. They practice a lot, Dixon said.

“Our biggest weakness is definitely confidence,” Dixon said. “I know the players are better than they think they are.”

Dixon would like more people would try out for the golf team, he said. He tried to get the word out and promoted the sport this year.

Senior Joey Jirasevijinda has been on the team since his freshman year. He hopes the team wins the league championship this year. His dad encouraged him to join golf because it requires great discipline, Jerasevijinda said.

“We have a pretty great team this year, so we should be able to do that,” Jirasevijinda said.

Players are required to attend practice every day from Monday to Thursday for three hours. There is also optional practice from Friday to Sunday, according to Dixon.
“It gets a little stressful at times, but it’s still doable,” Junior Jason Kuo said. He has been on the team for three years.

Kuo says that the team has definitely improved from last year. In order for them to make league championships, the team should practice more and make smart decisions, according to Kuo.

Dixon looks for certain qualities in players when they are trying out. “Besides knowing how to play the game, they have to be hardworking, reliable, and trustworthy,” Dixon said.

Currently there are no girls on the golf team, but Dixon hopes girls will try out for the team. He aspires to get enough girls in upcoming years to make a girls team.
Dixon chooses to coach golf because he gets to play free golf. The sport also teaches students a lot about life, according to Dixon.

“Golf is a lot like life,” Dixon said. “ When things go wrong, its going to snowball, but you’ve got to stay positive in order to keep playing the game.”