Taylor Hobin's Golf Trip Diary

Sept. 10, 2005

USF Junior golfer Taylor Hobin reports from the Dons' first trip of the season to the Falcon Invite hosted by the Air Force Academy.

Day 1 - Sept. 8

Our team met at Dr. Nelson's new office and received our clothes and equipment. Both were first class and an upgrade to what we had in the past. The team has a whole new feel and energetic personality with our three freshmen traveling. We headed off to the airport with the new teammates, coach, and assistant coach. We all quickly learned a lot about one another, like how much Jesse, the new Canadian freshmen, could eat and how much Domingo could talk. The group took off toward Colorado.

Day 2 - Sept. 9

Everyone woke up at nine o'clock mountain time and ate a quick breakfast. The most noticeable differences on the way out to the course was the positive attitude and the constant conversations and excitement about golf. On the course it is great to have our assistant coach Dougo (Ben Douglas) out there smiling and telling us how good every shot was. Dr. Nelson gave us critical tips on the game and encouragement. Everyone played well and learned how tricky and slick the greens could be. Before bed we had one more meeting to outline our team goals of focusing on our own games, bearing down in the second eighteen, and most of all having fun.

Day 3 - Sept. 10

We woke up at the crack of dawn and headed out to the Air Force Academy for our first thirty-six hole day of the year. We teed off at eight-thirty and quickly saw how tough the course was. The greens were lighting fast and super undulating. The freshmen all performed well for their first college tournament, but we all left far too many strokes out on a very score able golf course. During the day we could listen to the Air Force Academy's football team playing San Diego State, and there was a flyby by F-16's which was amazing to watch. We finished ten and a half hours after we started at seven o'clock. Our scores were all closely packed with Kurt, Jesse, and Moses at 151. Domingo and Taylor were at 154 and 155 respectively. On a positive note the Commander, Dr. Nelson, gave all the players constructive advice for our games that fit what happened out on the course. He constructively and positively met the day we had experienced. After a quick team meeting we all passed out and nursed our sore bodies( thanks to Lindsey's workout before we left)

Day 4 - Sept. 11

The alarm clock was an unwelcome sound for all of us, but we all got up and got packed up quickly. Before we knew it, we were back out on the course, this time with new pin sheets that Dougo did the math on for us. The day before a few of the freshmen had some addition difficulties. That was smartly remedied. The Sunday pins were tucked on some mountainsides and were as tough as they can be. The freshmen all got a look at how difficult college golf was and what it would take to compete on college golf courses. Even though we all struggled scoring, many positive learning experiences occurred and it was a good way to start the year. It became apparent to the freshmen how much you have to think your way around these courses, and the two juniors remembered very quickly. Our final scores were; Moses;230, Taylor;231, Kurt; 232, Domingo; 234, Jesse;236