And so, it begins, the women's golf team hits the road to compete for the first time in almost a year! These are interesting times, so I thought, traveling is interesting on a normal basis, I can only imagine how our challenges may change. Perhaps I can share some of our experiences as we venture into our season of Spring 2021.
So welcome to the first of our blogs depicting a season like no other!
Most of you that know college golf are aware our season begins in the fall and finalizes in the spring. We are now faced with no fall results since our fall season was canceled. Simply put everything weighs on how we do when we come out of the snow and tee it up on the grass!
We have a phrase we use when speaking of course strategy "play it as a 3 shot hole"! In other words, good players that often like to try and reach par 5s in 2 shots are wise to sometimes pull back and play out the 3 shots to get to the green in order to play it "safe" and avoid undue penalties. That is how we feel traveling, we need to play it safe, avoid to many airports, restaurants, unnecessary crowded areas, keep families at a distance and limit contact with as few people as possible outside of your team.
Our first trip was to Orlando, Florida, a "hotbed" for people from all over the globe. Avoiding airports when you live in State College means you must travel somewhere to get a direct flight to most cities. We piled into our sprinter van and drove 3 hours to Baltimore to hop on a flight straight to Orlando.
Excellent! However, the airline we flew is one of the few that does not make assigned seating. It is a free for all once you board the plane. Nonetheless, boarding the plane first goes to the lucky ones who called the hot-line 24 hours in advance to check in. Another job for our hero travel agent Becky Jones! In line "B" not bad and did help as we were able to sit together as a team and once again mitigate more exposure.
My assistant, Andy, and I are armed with our double masks after we instruct our players, absolutely no eating on the plane! And if you must go to the bathroom, please just try and hold it!
Waiting to board the plane, Andy decides to get something to eat, after having to sign a contract tracing form to get his sushi, I decided to opt for the snacks I brought in my bag. I failed to mention that prior to leaving campus we were all tested three times that week and filled out the appropriate forms to be signed by our team doctor and administrator in order to participate in the tournament.
Not to mention any school from a different conference needing their own versions signed and sent to verify the Penn State Women's Golf team has tested negative.
We finally checked into our hotel at 11 p.m. on Friday night as they quickly alerted us that during our five-day stay there would be no room service so if we need anything be sure to ask at the front desk. Full disclosure one of my favorite things of staying in a hotel is coming back from the course after a long day and having my bed made and crisp new towels hanging in the bathroom. However, we totally understand this decision in the effort of everyone's safety.
After a good night's rest, we arrived at the golf course with a warm breeze and the warmth of the Florida sun, for our practice round. We were back in action and it felt so good. I asked the team to take one big deep breath on the first tee and appreciate where they were and what we were about to do. No matter what happens, we are together as a team, we are healthy and strong, we are competing as a team representing the Blue & White, we are so fortunate to be right here, right now! Let's Go State!
