The Wonders of Golf
Roosevelt Golf Program Provides Stress Relief
By The Aging Adolescent
Members of Roosevelt's Golf Club work out at East Potomac Golf Course (l-r Lamar Bradley, Marcelles Young, Marcus Gladney, David Smith, Roger Wood, Tommy Swinton).
The sun began setting against an auburn sky. A cool spring breeze rustles through the trees singing a song of calm and serenity. The awesome silence was interrupted by a flock of geese swooping down and landing on a golden pond in a synchronized formation that brought to mind a choreographed dance in a Broadway show. A deer, with its' offspring in tow, peered harmlessly from behind a bush to see what was going on before it stealthily continued searching for food. The closely manicured green grass was soft and flowing, adding to the picturesque scene that entices people of all ages and sizes and from all walks of life to come in search of the perfect swing, the perfect drive, the perfect score.
The golf program at Theodore Roosevelt High School has introduced students to a new world. A world where the hustle and bustle of the real world is suspended in time, if only for a brief moment; a world where the constant noise of hate, violence, crime, poverty, racism, and economic chaos is replaced by the rules of proper etiquette, dress, fair play, and honesty; a world where the sounds of hip hop, rap, reggae, and acid rock are replaced by the sounds of nature and the sounds of silence; a world where accountants, bankers, presidents, and politicians can mix with students, teachers, and the average hard working citizens with one goal in mind...putting a little ball in a hole in the ground. A world where you can constantly fail and have fun doing it!
"I joined the golf club because I wanted to do something challenging and different," stated Marcelles Young, a junior at Roosevelt. "I like learning new things and I love to be challenged. I also like the quiet environment. When I went out on the course I found it nice and peaceful. There was not a lot of noise like at a football game or like when I ran track. Sometimes I need it to be quiet and peaceful.
"It is a soothing sport," exclaimed Whitney Simms, a star point guard the girl's basketball team and short stop on the girl's softball team. "When you are out on the course you can really clear you mind and it relieves your stress." Simms, who has been playing golf since she was 13 years old, has found golf to be as challenging as the other sports that she has mastered. Her five foot frame may fool many people but she can hit the golf ball a country mile. "Golf is a fun sport and you have to really focus on getting that tiny ball in a tiny hole in a certain amount of strokes. I like being able to hit the ball far and I love the sound it makes when the ball goes in the hole!"
The golf program is in its' second year and has gotten plenty of support from all areas. The Roosevelt Alumni Association paid for the practice sweats and the uniforms. Members of the Roosevelt staff, including the principal, help students work on the fundamentals, pay for green fees, help transport members to golf courses and participate in a faculty-golf team tournament. Many staff members come out and practice with the team. "I tried golf for health reasons," Roosevelt's athletic director, Mr. Daryl Tilghman stated. "I wanted to do something to get some exercise. I think it is fairly easy to learn, but difficult to master. That is when the obsession sets in because you start to try to get better and hit the perfect shot. The competition, the people you meet, the friendships you make, the networking that goes on is all a part of golf and is good for the kids."
The golf team practices at area golf courses including Rock Creek Golf course, Paint Branch Golf course (MD), Langston Golf course and every Tuesday the team travels to East Potomac Golf course. The team received equipment and training from an organization s called the "Kids Hooked on Golf program, spearheaded by former ABC news anchor Paul Berry. Through the Paul Barry program the team was equipped with bags, clubs, balls, mats and free access to the golf course. At the end of the five-week training session the program sponsors a golf tournament where players from the participating schools play a 9-hole match. Participating schools included Roosevelt, Dunbar, McKinley, Anacostia, Wilson, Bell and Eastern.
With all of the advantages that golf has to offer, the central themes seems to be the calming effect that it has on anyone who dares to venture into this world. "My first impression when I went out to Paint Branch Golf course was that I could stay out here all day," senior Tommy Swinton exclaimed with a twinkle in his eye. "Golf is a fun filled stress reliever. If you have problems in your family, you can come out here and it will take your mind off of things!" "I like the environment," freshman Roger Woods said. "The green grass, the water, the trees, it makes me feel like I can do anything!"
By Maurice Butler |
April 21, 2008; 10:14 PM ET
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