Well-Rounded Owings Mills Golfer Turns Negative Into a Positive

As anyone who’s teed up a golf ball knows, playing the sport can often times be a frustrating and mentally taxing experience.

Just ask Bret Kofsky.

A senior on the Owings Mills golf team, Kofsky has missed qualifying for the state golf tournament each of last three seasons—by just one stroke. 

However, in his final year of high school golf, the Eagles’ team captain wasn’t about to let himself go out on a sour note. In this month’s Baltimore County Championship, he put aside the frustration and the disappointment, relaxed and found his groove, taking home third place—the best county finish in his prep career.

After stumbling in the district tournament—which decides the state finalists—just days earlier, Kofsky took pride in the fact that he rebounded so well.

“I just couldn’t believe that I had missed it another year,” Kofsky said. “I really just wanted to come in the top three for counties and I did. I was happy with it. It was great because finally all my hard work paid off.”

His strong round in counties capped off a sterling regular season in which Kofsky emerged victorious in all of his regular season matches. He also helped to improve the Eagles squad as a whole, working with and providing advice for the other, less experienced, Owings Mills golfers.

For first year head coach Ralph Murray, having almost an assistant coach by his side turned out to be a huge plus.

“I really got an appreciation for him and his talent. He is just a really nice kid,” Murray said. “He tries to help and mentor the other golfers, tries to figure out what they’re doing wrong and so forth. He’s very supportive and tries to impart his knowledge to some of the other kids.

“He knows more about golf than I do. There’s no question about it—and at a very young age.”

Kofsky, who prides himself on his long drives and his overall ball striking ability, is also a fervent analyst of his game, regardless if he’s on the range or on the actual course.

And, perhaps he scrutinizes his shots so meticulously that he’s liable to put unwarranted pressure on himself. (He speculates that’s what ultimately got to him in the district tournament).

However, Kofsky can rest easy knowing he brings so much more to the table than golf.

While he says he once foresaw himself playing the sport in college, he’s managed to keep that passion while branching out into other high school activities.

In addition to his role as editor of the Owings Mills student newspaper, the Eagles’ Eye, Kofsky is also an active participant in SGA, SAAD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), the Animal Rights Club and the Steering Committee, which works to raise class funds.

“My first year I really wanted to play golf in college,” Kofsky said. “Now, it’s just, I love golf and I play whenever I get a chance, but I’m not relying on it at all to get in to [college].”

Currently, Kofsky has his sights set on attending Maryland, Ohio State or Towson.

Said Murray: “He’s a smart young man. In order to balance all that stuff it takes a special person, and he’s been able to do that.”

Kofsky handles all the different commitments, as well as several challenging classes, by spreading out his work over the course of the day—and sometimes late into the night—to eliminate the heavy stress of having to do everything at once.

And, while he’s certainly got a whole lot on his plate, he’s embraced the workload that embodies a well-rounded high school student.

Incoming freshman: want some advice?

“No matter what time of high school you’re in, just always try your hardest,” Kofsky said. “And, don’t think that any part of high school isn’t as important as another part.”