The boys’ varsity golf team is one of the most overlooked, undervalued, and underappreciated athletic programs at Granite Bay High School, even though it has consistently been one of the strongest programs.

  Being a member of the varsity golf team requires a lot of skill, commitment and time management ability due to the amount of time that it consumes.

  “Match day we usually get there with like 45 minutes to spare before the tee time and we all warm up as a team … five to ten minutes before the first tee time the two coaches line up everyone one through eight and we introduce ourselves (to the opposing team) as the coaches go over the rules and handout scorecards. Then we are off with the first tee time,” said Easton Holland a junior at GBHS and a member of the boys’ varsity golf team.

  The one thing that many people are unaware of is that only a select numbers of scores of players that compete count for the teams total score.

  Six out of a total of eight players  compete, and only the top five scores are counted. The last and highest scores are dropped and have no effect on the score.

  During match play, players normally compete in groups of four, two players from each team. This is where chemistry between players plays a big role and Coach Tim Healy understands this.

  “You are playing with one other guy from your own team so he (Coach Healy) wants there to be good chemistry and for you to like the guy that you are playing with,” said Holland, “I play with the only other junior on the team so it’s a good fit.”

  Playing with different people from various teams is also a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

  Not all matches are structured in the same fashion. The majority of matches begin with everyone teeing off from the first hole, but some matches also begin with a shotgun start – every foursome starts at the same time but on a different hole.

  While the GBHS varsity boys’ golf team mostly plays against local teams, there are a number of teams from the Bay Area and Southern California that fly or drive to compete.

  “My favorite part of being on the team is the trips we take,” senior Jordan Bliss said, a member of the boys’ varsity golf team.

  The team has traveled to places such as Palm Springs, Bay Area and Carmel to compete in tournaments.

  “I remember when I was a freshman and I would go on some of the varsity trips. It was a super fun environment with everyone joking around,” said Holland.

  These tournaments are structured slightly different than matches.    

  “In tournaments they make sure that you are not playing with anyone from your team,” said Holland.

  Tournaments usually kick off earlier in the dayaround nine or ten in the morning.

  Being a part of the varsity golf team also means missing large amounts of school.

  This is where strong time management skills are very beneficial in keeping up with classes and responsibilities.

  “For me, personally I do better when I have a lot of things on my plate and I tend to use my time more wisely,” said Holland, “I tend to do my work faster, more efficiently and not waste time when I have a smaller window to do it…”

  At the end of last year the team suffered a drastic loss as five varsity senior players graduated. While it seems that this would have lasting effects on the team, both Coach Healy and several varsity players say that they will be stronger than ever this year.

  “I think that the guys that are stepping up this year wanted too. I’ve got three strong seniors right now that are eager to keep the tradition of being on one of the best programs in the region alive,” said Healy.

  Healy has high expectations for the team this season.

  “If the guys focus on stuff that they can control and really start aggressively going after the areas where you can actually approve your scores, which is your short game, they will be the best team in the area,” said Healy.

  Overall, Coach Healy’s main goal would be that “each and every one of the kids actually becomes a better player and plays to their full potential.”

  After being so successful in the past, the GBHS varsity boys’ team plans to continue the tradition of being one of the best teams in the region and both head coach Tim Healy and the varsity players themselves believe that they will have nothing short of a stellar season this year.