Breaking 90

By: Holden Wheeler

There’s no denying that golf is a hard sport, while it may look easy watching others, it’s a whole new game once you’re in the tee box standing over the ball. Yet there is a younger generation storming golf courses and practice ranges, accepting the challenges that the game presents.

Jackie Thai, a former high school golfer is enjoying watching the new generation on the course.

“It’s always good to grow the game.”

However, he is still offering simple advice for new players, what they should focus on, and just overall how they can improve.

“The club that they need to focus on is the 9 iron, that’s a really nice club to build your foundation and baseline, and you can just move on from there, however the 9 iron is probably the best to build your tempo up.”

Thai isn’t the only person who has been noticing the game of golf shifting, Brian Simas has too, a resident of Turlock Country Club. Simas’ backyard is literally a golf course, so he has a vantage point just from his porch. He sees everyone who comes through the par 4 behind his house, young, old, and in between. As an amateur golfer himself Simas also had some words of encouragement for aspiring scratch golfers.

“Oh yeah… always remember, you’re not a professional and you don’t do this for a living. Because if you were to use your actual golf game to gauge if you want to continue playing the sport or not, it can probably go sideways really quickly.”

Whether or not you’re not keeping score if you’re out golfing, breaking 90 is a target score for most new golfers. Jaleel Mustafa is no different and has set that as his personal score goal. He’s been golfing for about 4 months, and is already noticing differences in his game.

“Biggest difference I’ve noticed so far is my consistency, I don’t top balls as much I hit them pure, and now I hit the ball a lot farther probably 20-30 yards farther than normal.”

As he grows more consistent in the game, a score lower than 90 becomes much more achievable, but he knows it’s still a long ways away.

“Realistically probably like 6 months, but I can’t wait, it’s gonna feel great.”