Golf weathers fall, spring seasons

The key to college golf is playing in the elements.

Head coach Wendell Smith said that Ottawa University's golf team lives up to that standard.

"They've played in about every weather condition imaginable," he said.

Chad Cunningham, a junior sports and recreation administration major on the men's team, said that the weather this fall season generally has been pretty bad, mostly cold.

"We had a few tournaments with rain, only a few had decent weather," he said.

Nicole Ronnebaum junior elementary education, on the women's team, believes the weather can help the group as a team. Nicole has been playing golf since high school.

"It keeps me in shape," she said. "I like to meet a lot of the different people from different schools."

Cunningham likes golf because it drives him to constantly improve.

"It's a game you can never accomplish," he said. "You can always get better."

Coach Smith said that the time commitment involved in a golf tournament is significantly more than a football game. For this reason, students are likely to miss classes.

"There's a very limited number of hours you can play," he said.

Coach Smith said that because students are likely to miss more classes than other sports, it is very important for students to put extra effort into staying on top of their schoolwork.

"Academics have to come first," he said.

Smith said that professors are willing to go out of their way to help golfers.

Unlike many sports, college golf generally does not have referees, Smith said. Golfers have to go out knowing the rules and holding themselves to a standard of honesty.

"It teaches character and integrity," he said.

Golf at OU has both fall and spring seasons, with spring being the main season.

Cunningham said the men's team will grow by two in the spring, from golfers who also play football in the fall.