NAIT's Golf team faces a huge challenge ahead, as the ACAC Championship is approaching. The team is determined to show its best and make a strong impression, but there is also significant pressure on their shoulders, knowing that each stroke is crucial for both individual and team performance. Stress can play a decisive role in competition and the mentality of golfers; the team is aware of this and is taking the problematic steps by taking them one at a time, acting more unified, managing the highs and lows, and doing everything possible to reach the goal of returning to the CCAA championships.
The confidence that the team has been growing is also a huge factor that can play things in their favour, as the previous tournaments that the team has competed in have taught them that they have a ton of talent to exploit and that they are excellent no matter the challenge. However, they also learnt that every athlete has to always keep a clear and calm mind; when they get too aggressive and excited, mistakes tend to happen, and it leads to affecting the performance, which might seem as something easier said than done, but a unified and supporting team is a fantastic foundation to make it possible.
As it was stated previously, NAIT's Golf team is competing as individuals and also as a team. The reason behind this is the number of golfers that the team has. On the men's side, there are enough athletes to form a team, although on the women's side, the number of athletes is reduced. This is why female athletes are competing to be part of what is known as the ACAC team. The goal the team is aiming for is to get as many as possible into the ACAC team, which can be complicated, seeing all the institutions that they are competing with, but they also have confidence in their work and their skills. Head coach Tyler Leicht shares his point of view on the team's performances: "Our Ladies are playing exceptionally well! Three out of four are in their first year of varsity golf, and we are improving with each event."
Getting one of the first six places in the competition will secure a spot for the golfers in the national team, which the head coach believes they can achieve.
The championship might be a tough challenge, but the golf team is training and practicing to give their best, acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses, working every day to grow in both. They know that progress is not instant and needs commitment to show a result. This is why the main practices in the team focus on working under pressure and in high-pressure situations in miniature games, also doing some full-swing checks, making sure the team is in its best condition.
The reality is that NAIT's Golf team has put so much effort and dedication into getting to the Nationals that the fruits of their labour will not go unnoticed and will be recognized in the end. They tee off on round one on Sunday, September 21st.