The GMC Men's Golf team will kick off its spring season with their first tournament of the year this coming Sunday thru Tuesday, February 26th thru the 28th at the Robert Trent Jones Course, Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Alabama. This year's version of the Bulldogs is quite different than from a year ago with an entirely new coaching staff, 7 new players (including 3 internationals), the Mason Golf Performance lab (Indoor Facility) and access to the Lake Oconee golf courses for scheduled practice. The Fall 2016 season saw the Bulldogs climb up the Golfstat Rankings to #14 in NJCAA Division II (GMC Men's Golf is a NJCAA Division III program) as well as having their Freshmen class be ranked with Golfstat at #8 in NJCAA Division II programs as a NJCAA Division III school. Not only is the team getting some recognition for its efforts in the Fall season but Freshmen, Floris Veth (Netherlands) is currently ranked with Golfstat in the NJCAA at #13 in all Divisions (I, II, III) and #1 in Division II and III with a 71.65 scoring average.
The spring season is full of competitive tournaments for the Bulldogs as they will first travel to Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, AL, then to Goose Pond Colony Resort, AL in mid-March, they will be host to the Fairfield Inn and Suites Intercollegiate at Harbor Club in Greensboro, GA and finally compete at the Brickyard Golf Club in Macon, GA for the GCAA Golf Championships on April 16th-18th for a chance to earn a bid to the NJCAA National Championships in June in Chautauqua, New York.
The members for the 2017 GMC Men's Golf team are: Floris Veth, FR (Netherlands), Ashton Denton, FR (Valdosta, GA), Adam Price, FR (Ireland), Niklas Frimodig FR (Sweden), Tanner Casey, FR (Covington, GA), Sean Bunting, FR (Marietta, GA) and Chad Fopiano, FR (Fayetteville, GA).
Q and A with GMC's Head Golf Coach, Josh Miller
This is your first year with the GMC Bulldog golf team, what have you enjoyed the most about the process of leading this young team?
"I've enjoyed seeing the guys understand that it's a process. To be a successful golf team, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work. You can't just show up and expect to play your best golf, especially against tough competition like we saw in the Fall. This team works their tails off at practice and we are starting to see the results of that".
This was basically a brand new group of players from last year….what has been the biggest challenge to this point?
"Inexperience. Both on their side and mine. They are first-year players and I'm a first-year coach. We've learned together and gained a lot of meaningful experience. It has been a bumpy road at times, but I think we are a better team because of it. I know I'm a better coach because of it."
Were you pleased with the fall season and what did you take away from it that will help you this spring?
"We played a very tough schedule in the Fall and I was proud of the way our guys competed. To be ranked 14th in the nation with a group of Freshmen says a lot about the talent we have here, but I know this team is expecting bigger things this Spring."
When you bring a new group in….roles and leadership are all up for grabs…has there been any one or two players that have stepped forward as leaders for the program? If so, how are they leading…in what manner?
"Any coach would be blessed to have a person like Floris Veth on their team. Floris Veth leads by example. He doesn't always have a lot to say, but when he does, it's usually very meaningful. Coach Shipes and I have watched a lot of golf this Fall and we've yet to come across anyone as impressive of a golfer and as a person as Floris. Adam Price is also becoming an important role player for this team. He's one of the more outspoken guys on the team and he's never afraid to share his opinion and challenges the guys to bring the best to the course each day."
What did your 'offseason' entail right before the holidays and since you all have been back?
"We were in the gym at 6:30AM twice a week getting stronger. Once we returned, we went straight to work. We've been going with a much more structured practice schedule this Spring and the guys are working on specific aspects of their games through objective-based drills. Each day, everyone knows exactly where to be and what to do. I've also begun to individualize practice for the guys according to what we see needs the most work."
Are you comfortable with our schedule? Any one tourney in mind that you or the team is looking forward to in particular?
"I would put our schedule up next to just about any other school at the Junior College level as far as the quality of the golf courses we are playing. When you play a Robert Trent Jones course, a great course at Lake Oconee (Harbor Club), and a fun course for the conference championship at the Brickyard in Macon, I don't think you can ask for much more than that."
What are some goals and expectations that you all have set as a program for the spring season?
"From day one, we set a goal to qualify for the national championship, win the conference championship, and win the national championship."
What do you enjoy the most about coaching these young men?
"Seeing them succeed. These guys have earned it and I'm really proud of them. They have put the work in and now it's time to go out and show it."
You can keep up with the Golf team and how they progress through the season by: "Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/GMCJCGolf and follow us on Twitter: @GMCJCGolf"