October 29, 2021 | SPORTS | By Ben Hayes-Lemmon | Photo courtesy of the author
As Block 2 came to an end, one of Colorado College’s newest club teams prepared to face off in their second and final tournament of the fall. CC’s very own club golf team squared off in the second autumn NCCGA tournament this past weekend. A chilly overcast morning at Common Grounds golf course met the golfers as they teed off on Saturday morning.
The club golf team’s founder and captain, Alex Weinman ’23, led the team to a sixth place finish behind the club teams of schools such as CU Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and Colorado State University. Weinman had an impressive performance, cutting his score from 90 strokes on day one of the tournament to 84 strokes on day two.
A massive key to the success of our golfers this week was in their short game; Eight of the times Weinman found himself on the green, he finished in a single putt.
This weekend allowed CC golfers the chance to compete against other schools, meet other golfers, and play a new course in Aurora, Colo. The unique connection between golfers as they meet, compete, and talk during competition is one unlike any other connection in the athletic world.
“Golf is a catalyst for human connection in a way that is more genuine than a lot of other social interactions. I honestly don’t think there is anything better than going out for two hours, having absolutely nothing else on your mind, and just messing around with a few of your best friends in the world,” Weinman said. “It is almost meditative.”
Max Giles ’25, who has been playing golf since he was a kid, echoed this sentiment.
“I love golf because it is a great way to get outside, and more importantly, it is something that I know I’ll be able to play for life,” Giles said.
The CC Golf Team is a club designed for anyone who enjoys the sport of golf, and for anyone who is looking for a community of like-minded golfers. While the club practices often and works hard to continue developing their skill-sets, the true goal is to have fun playing a sport that they love while proudly representing CC.
Weinman, who has been playing golf for the past four years, was incredibly passionate about starting the club because he knows the mental break that it brings him. With all of the stress associated with the Block Plan, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s important: primarily mental health and wellness. For many of the golfers on the team, golf can be an outlet to release tension.
“CC is such a fast-paced school that I think it is really easy to always be thinking about the next assignment or meeting and let that consume your daily life,” Weinman said. “It doesn’t have to be golf, of course, but it should be something.”
The team is currently small, but they are looking to grow. Many students around campus are interested in the club, and the club is encouraging anyone who is interested in getting better at golf to join the team. As a member of the team, myself, I can wholeheartedly say that it is a great option for those of you still looking to play some golf while at college.
“As long as you are out there to have fun and just enjoy the time with your friends, you are doing golf the right way,” Weinman said. “The game has become much more casual in recent years and I am a huge fan of that. I love sweatshirts and bad players on the course because it means more people are enjoying the game that I have really fallen in love with over the last few years.”