Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chesterton High School’s spring sports were unable to have a season, including boys golf.  Despite this, Coaches Patrick Ward and John Snyder and this year’s team are busy practicing and conditioning for the new season.  

Luckily, golf is a non-contact sport that allows players to social distance while competing against other players and still keeping the pace of play.  A normal golf match will require players to golf either 9 or 18 holes.  The team will have to wear a mask before and after they play, however, while playing, they will be able to have masks off as long as they are at least six feet apart from the players.  

This year, the team has 19 boys, which is a larger team than normal.  But in a year where the coronavirus has caused teams from the NBA and all the way down to middle schools, to have pauses in their seasons, Chesterton coach Patrick Ward is thankful for these high numbers.

“At any point I know I could lose 4-5 people, so depth this year will be key.  Luckily I have that,” said Coach Ward.  

Even with restrictions due to COVID-19, the team has high expectations and is ready for what is to come.  

“As far as expectations and hopes, we are a really inexperienced team when it comes to the high school season, but we have some amazing talent.  I plan on being close to the 300-310 (75 average for the four golfers) range as a team by the end of the season, but to start off with I imagine we will be closer to the 340 range (85 average for the 4).  As always the expectation is that we win the DAC and qualify for state, however Valpo, Lake Central, and Crown Point will be good this year too, so we will have a little bit of a challenge.  And our regional is always difficult to get out of,” says Ward. 

The team will have its first match of the season on Wednesday, April 14 at Sand Creek Country Club.