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It only takes four players to field a high school golf team, but for three county schools, that's more girls than they can find this fall.
Gulf, Hudson and Wesley Chapel won't be fielding girls teams, citing a disappointing lack of interest in a sport that can lead to college scholarships.
"I don't know what it is, but I can't get girls here to play golf," said would-be Gulf coach Jerry Young, who hopes to have two freshmen play in the conference and district championships to gain experience for next season.
His top returning player, Jessica Rouch, decided she didn't want to play this season, two other players moved out of state and another two opted for cheerleading.
Hudson didn't have a girls team last year, but the most surprising no-show is Wesley Chapel, which has a two-time conference Player of the Year in junior Hana Young. Young, who starred at Saddlebrook before transferring to the Wildcats, may be relegated to playing in the postseason, if at all.
"If the school doesn't have a team, what can she do?" asked her father, Jason Young, who was unsure if his daughter would compete individually.
Coach Gerald Savoy said he had three or four girls returning, but the few who came out told him they "wanted to pursue other things."
At all three schools, the lack of a team means coaches won't get their supplement, which was $1,268 in Pasco County last year.
"They're missing out on a chance to play at a beautiful course," said Hudson coach Doreen Grote, who had five girls request forms for physicals this fall, but only two turned in the paperwork.
With a third of the Sunshine Athletic Conference not playing, the rest of the county is left with only a fraction of a normal schedule, as few as five matches in some cases. Mitchell's first two, against Gulf and Hudson, were forfeited, meaning the reigning conference champions had to wait two weeks before they played a match.