At Jefferson golf course in Beacon Hill Monday thru Thursday you can find at least ten young, good and relaxed golfers enjoying a sport that they love. Led by Coach Peller Phillips, the GHS boys’ golf team looks to have a solid season on the links. The team returns six seniors. Because of leadership, Captain Kyle Blum and Coach Phillips have set solid individual and team goals for the 2005 season.

“My goal is to make it to state,” said Blum.

Last year the team lost some close matches and this year beating city rivals and a couple of Eastside schools are top priority.

“Hopefully we can get a person to state this year and be number one out of the Seattle schools” said Phillips. “If we can beat the Ballards, Franklins and Bothell, it will be a good year.”

Golf is a competitive sport. Ironically, however, the members like it because of its relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s more of a laid-back sport, and I just love playing it,” said Blum.

All the players on the team like the way Coach Phillips manages the team.

“He is competitive and he cares about it, and that helps the team stay focused,” said Blum.

Even though golf is such an individual sport, Coach Phillips is still a major influence on the success of the team. He has to pick the ten players who he feels will provide the best scores on match day, which can vary because of what kind of course they are at or how certain individuals are playing at that particular time.

“I don’t have to work with the players’ swing because the kids who play in the matches know what they are doing,” said Phillips. “I mostly manage the athletes on the course.”

Since anyone can join the team regardless of experience, Phillips coaches only new players one-on-one.

“Normally, I will help out new players by letting them know the rules and how to perform proper golf etiquette,” said Phillips. “And then I will help with their game when needed.”

Golf is often not considered a sport, but don’t tell that to the GHS team or Coach Phillips. Often people make ignorant assumptions about this difficult sport, irking many golfers.

“People think golf is a recreational sport and that it is easy,” said Phillips, “People don’t think that it is a hard sport, but it is. It is a game of strictly skill. Golf is less physical, but it requires more mental ability. That’s why I always tell people to try to play and let them see for themselves how difficult this sport is.”

It seems that many young kids aren’t playing golf either. This year there are only a few new freshmen, which could possibly make an impact in future years. However, there are always enough players with an interest in the game for Garfield to field a competitive team. Look for the senior stars to shine in the 2005 golf season for the Garfield Bulldogs.