Brentwood Golf Tees Off

24 April 2015Andrew W, Whittal ‘17, article and photos

Mr.Garvey stands on the tee box, his 3 clubs of choice lying on the grass as he puts in a few practice swings under the watchful eyes of his inexperienced golf party. He swings, the shining silver of his club’s face contacting the ball with a loud ring, sending the shining white sphere of compacted rubber soaring straight down the fairway. Some of the following shots from the trailing rookies also end up on the fairway – unfortunately resting on the turf of the other hole. The golfers, however, remain undeterred and persevere, the only option under the wise and watchful eyes of Mr. Garvey. This endeavor represents a regular Thursday for the new players in the Brentwood sport of golf , coached by Mr. Robinson and Mr. Garvey. Participants in the sport range from experienced golfers, also known as “scratch players”, to beginners that are trying their hand at the sport for the first time. On Tuesdays, the “scratch players” tee off in groups of 3-4, playing through the Cowichan Golf Course to sharpen their skills and prepare for upcoming tournaments. Whilst the scratch golfers fly through the course, the beginners hit the practice range, with guidance from Mr. Robinson that can turn around almost any swing. Thursdays however, give the beginning players a chance to play the course, sometimes accompanied by Mr. Garvey, who gives a helping hand, telling the players to “Try new things. That way you won’t be making all the same mistakes – you’ll be making new ones!” The attitude for golf at Brentwood, although it is for some competitive, remains fun and forgiving, with around half of the players considered beginners. This mix allows the more experienced players to take a leadership role in helping the developing players to improve their game, ranging from tips on how to hold the club, to positioning their feet properly. A plethora of tired players board the bus home each day, many elated to have elevated their game, through hard work on the practicing range, or putting that practice to use when playing the course. Although Brentwood’s golf program places a strong emphasis on improvement, part of the program is dedicated to competing. The competitive team is growing stronger by the day, with names such as Tom W, Ellis ‘15 & Julie W, Alex ‘15, being joined by a recent import hailing from Germany; Sam P, Whittall ‘17, who continues to raise the standard of performance of the team. The Brentwood competitive golf team hopes to compete in more than a few tournaments this term, when the sun finally makes its way through the clouds for the summer season. Even though some of the players in Brentwood Golf are unable to count the number of strokes they shot over par on two hands, the talent that is present continues to impress both the coaches and spectators. The program will continue to improve both our game and our bond as a team as the season progresses, thanks to the help from both coaches. Andrew W, Whittal ‘17

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