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Bare greens leave teams blue

Hernando County schools have had a hard time fielding full rosters, especially on the girls side.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published October 1, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - When Kathleen Long showed up for the first day of practice, she couldn't have liked what she saw. The longtime Springstead coach had just two girls show up at Oak Hills Golf Club with the intention of playing.

A few weeks later, thanks to a promotional blitz of announcements and lunchtime signups, the Eagles had a full team. But the fact of the matter remains: For some reason, golf has hit a lull in Hernando County, particularly on the girls' side.

Springstead had to scramble to fill a team. So did Hernando. And Central began the season without a full team. "I don't know why it is," Hernando girls coach Kevin Bittinger said.

Successful golfers are rare, perhaps more than any other type of athlete. The combination of skill, athleticism and mental fortitude required to succeed is unparalleled. In other words, a team like that magical Hernando girls squad of 1997 that won the Class 4A title only comes around once a century.

Still, says former individual state champion Kelly Lagedrost, there has to be some explanation for such a precipitous dropoff in turnout.

"When I was there we had plenty of girls," she says. "We always had a full team. Golf in general is getting bigger and bigger every day with women and men. With Tiger (Woods) and Michelle Wie. It's growing, so I don't know why it isn't in Hernando County."

Despite the fact Hernando County is within driving distance of several prestigious courses, including World Woods, it isn't in the same category as some other areas of the state.

"It's a rare girl at Springstead who even has access to a steady background in golf at our school," Long says. "Most of these girls have been encouraged by their own fathers to come out and play. They are doing it because I really believe they see themselves as Springstead Eagles. But they have not been brought up living on golf courses. Schools down in Clearwater and Countryside have girls who have been playing golf since they were 6 years old."

Bittinger says most of the best athletes at his school opt for more traditional sports like volleyball.

Economics could be a factor, says Long, pointing out golf equipment can cost several hundred dollars.

But most coaches acknowledge that every sport ebbs and flows from year to year. This year just happens to be a down year for girls golf.

[Last modified September 30, 2006, 21:42:47]