Staples Girls’ Golf Team Virtual Golf Season Is For Real

A record number of 25 girls on the Staples High School Golf Team are finding their virtual season is for real. It is fun, as well as helping them in many ways during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Golf is known to be one of the most mentally demanding sports, and this current situation is just another mental challenge we have to experience and persevere through,” shared senior Captain Brianna Dwyer in the team’s Facebook group.

Practice starts at 4PM daily on Facebook, rather than 2:45PM at Longshore. Mondays and Wednesdays are golf-specific LIVE workouts designed and led by Head Coach Patty Kondub, who is also a multi-certified fitness trainer and instructor.

“It gives me a break from the school work and makes it easier to exercise. I think it is a great way to keep the team together, and remain positive through this tough time,” posted senior Captain Deniz Elden.

Tuesday’s practices focus on skills, such as putting and chipping. The girls watch instructional YouTube videos, as well as coaches’ demonstration videos. Each player has a few days to post her own video for the skills competition and then receives personal feedback from the coaches. Prizes such as fun ball markers are also awarded during practice, be it for skills or other competitions, first one to practice or posting an assignment first; however, prizes are to be collected at a later date.

"After reviewing their skills videos, we can say this team is loaded with talent that we’d love to see on the golf course,” collectively comments Kondub and Assistant Coaches Liz Fry and Maureen Fontana. Returning are five seniors, three juniors and eight sophomores. The group of eight incoming freshmen and one new sophomore is very promising.

New players not pictured in the 2019 photos are sophomore Rachel Greenberg, freshmen Madelyn Berk, Keeva Boyle, Sydney Chinitz, Isabella Hekmat, Olivia Katz, Reilly McGeehan, Lila Sunshine and Ellery Vishno.

While incomparable to outdoors as a group at Longshore, “I am hoping to still play with my teammates at some point and am trying to stay positive by keeping the situation in perspective,” expressed senior Captain Claudia Fernandez.

Thursday’s practice is dubbed “Coaches’ Corner.” It runs the gamut of golf’s mental aspects, guest presenters and coaches leading the team through meditation, nutrition, rules and more.

Sophomore Viola Geismann shared this perspective: “Getting to stay connected with the team and virtually doing something we all love is such a great treat and privilege. It gives me back a sense of normality and helps me stay motivated to keep playing and practicing.”

The coaching staff is trying keep the season “whole” as much as possible. There even was a birthday party for a player at the end of a workout with decorations, cake and a team sing-a-long to “Happy Birthday” from iTunes. Traditions such as team photo, golf logo wear, Senior Day, end-of-season banquet & slideshow are all on the schedule that can’t promise golf matches or team ice cream parties at Saugatuck Sweets.

It’s critical to add athletics to the high school experience for the girls who want it. “Every practice starts and ends with a pep talk. Virtual golf can be physically and emotionally beneficial, and most importantly fun. At the same time, we are not pressuring the girls and realize everyone has good and bad moments. National Geographic published on April 24 an article re “Zoom Fatigue”, so we have to keep that in mind, too” says Kondub.

“It’s like every golf shot. It’s not perfect every time, but you keep coming back, having fun and feeling good!”