Spotlight on the Golf Team: New Flexibility for ND Athletics
Last week, Notre Dame’s golf team celebrated their annual senior night with a match against Mercy Burlingame. The event was complete with cupcakes, pasta, and, of course, sparkly personalized mugs for the seniors. It marked the end of a season that was somewhat novel to ND sports: this year, students have enjoyed more independence, both through the increased responsibility of captains and a new flexibility in player’s schedules.
This season, Clare Meighan ‘22 has stepped up to serve as team captain alongside Brooklyn Morales ‘23. She plays a crucial role in the team’s growth through “fixing people’s swings and helping them get better throughout the season.” In addition to coaching, Meighan ‘22 supports her team in terms of communication. Captains occupy a key position linking the preferences of the team with decisions made by the coaches. Meighan ‘22 observes that her increased role has contributed to “more of a bridge between coach and player.”
With more responsibility for the captains, however, comes more pressure. Meighan ‘22 approaches her position with the assurance that she has her team’s support. She reminds herself that “I was voted captain for a reason, and that I need to step into that role for the rest of my team.” This statement has guided her through practices, matches, and any lapses in communication. When the golf team encountered a few challenges in coordinating with the administration, “we were able to have a dialogue,” she says. Her initiative helped the team surmount these obstacles, and open a conversation “about ways we can improve our team and athletics at Notre Dame.”
Kate Hanson ‘22, an athlete on the golf practice team, appreciates the additional independence that comes with this brand-new program. What distinguishes it from varsity is a focus on practice over competition, and increased flexibility in participation. It has been “really helpful,” she says, because “I get to practice, I get to get better, but it’s not super stressful.” For seniors already juggling school work and college applications, extracurriculars can easily become an additional source of anxiety. With the inclusion of a practice team, golf players are able to make the call on what commitment is right for them. Hanson ‘22 supports the expansion of this team layout: “I think there should be options like that, for less commitment and less stress,” she says.
Athletics are a different experience for everyone. Some students join for the competition, some for the workout, and some for the social outlet. ND’s golf team allows students to participate in whichever capacity suits them best. No matter the players’ time commitment, the team was “able to mesh together really well,” says Meighan ‘22. Hanson ‘22 agrees. Across all teams, players have built a valuable community.
