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High school level golf powerhouse, any of them out there

J

jnug

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This may be a question for the folks with young kids involved in golf as an extra curricular activity. Please anybody that wants to feel free to respond.

I had been watching this week's Frontline show which is mainly about the topic of head injury not as it relates to pro football players but as it relates to high school players. It seems that we have now discovered some issues of brain damage and cognitive issues even when no concussion has occurred but as a result of repeated collisions even at a much lower level.

Anyway as a part of the program they feature these high school football powerhouses that are basically a football program with a high school attached as opposed to the other way round. The size of some of these kids is incredible. When you consider the fact that they are in terrific football condition (not be confused with marathon runner condition for example) is it any wonder that the regular every day level of collision can cause some problems?

In addition they talked about the fact that there is no current limit to the amount of weekly practice time for a high school football team whereas there is a limit enforced by the NCAA for college. They went on to say that in fact these high school powerhouse teams practice many more hours than a college team. I played and started high school ball a zillion years ago. I think if I could even get on a team at my size today they would plant me in about the first 5 minutes of the first quarter. It was the practice time as much as anything that was a surprised to me.

I was just wondering if there is anything like the equivalent in high school for golf. By that I mean high school's that focus specifically on golf such that it is really a golf academy with a high school attached to it as opposed to a high school with a golf team or club. I know there are tennis academies where academics are combined with tennis training. If anything I guess I would expect maybe something like that for golf as opposed to what is available for high school footballers.

I don't mean to suggest anything negative in asking the question either. I am just interested in knowing. I thought I should say that because to be honest having played football in high school I have to admit I was a little disturbed by what I saw. Football is a completely different game though and the physical aspects of it really does pose a question for these youngsters I think. They of course would give anything to play and specifically would give anything to play for one of these powerhouse teams.
 
There is a 2A school near me that is pretty stacked. Salisbury High School. They have 8-10 golfers who can shoot par or better and they placed 2nd in the state tournament last year. Their number one golfer last year won the individual tournament and he isn't even their number one player this year, a freshman took his spot, so they aren't lacking any talent on their team.
 
Most of the time high schools don't develop their golfers into all-stars. It's the practise and dedication outside of school that these players use to get good. It just so happens that some high schools have a wide catchment area and can grab all the best talent. I can't see schools taking a 10 handicap and morphing him into a scratch golfer over a season.

While the intense teams do practice a lot it is just basically a team bonding session to keep their skills fresh. Our golf teams consist of 4 players and when we go in tournaments the format is the total of 3 scores with the 4th one dropped. This large high school had so much skill we Tied for 3rd with a +10 total, this team blew everyone out of the water and shot a 3 man total of -6. The 4th score being dropped was a 75.
 
That is a completely canadian point of view Dent. In the US, its a completely different animal.
Dent said:
Most of the time high schools don't develop their golfers into all-stars. It's the practise and dedication outside of school that these players use to get good. It just so happens that some high schools have a wide catchment area and can grab all the best talent. I can't see schools taking a 10 handicap and morphing him into a scratch golfer over a season.

While the intense teams do practice a lot it is just basically a team bonding session to keep their skills fresh. Our golf teams consist of 4 players and when we go in tournaments the format is the total of 3 scores with the 4th one dropped. This large high school had so much skill we Tied for 3rd with a +10 total, this team blew everyone out of the water and shot a 3 man total of -6. The 4th score being dropped was a 75.
Click to expand...
 
I think Haney is teaching at a Golf/Academic School somewhere in N. Car or S. Carolina area.
 
I looked at some of the "Golf Academies" for fun and wow, that is some serious $$$. We have a school here where a few years ago the entire baseball team switched to golf and has dominated HS golf ever since. It has more to do with the efforts of the local course than the school though.

Great thing about golf is that you don't need a strong HS program as a Junior. There is as much, if not more, golf outside of school than in.

I do get jealous when I see the programs in Southern CA where the weather is good and there is a big population. My son has been playing since he was 3, he is now seven and is still all alone in his age bracket.

He played as a 6 year old on the middle school team last year which riled up some parents whose kids didn't make the team. School Board is deciding what to do for this year.
 
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