Two words that attract the attention of almost any college student?
Free stuff.
Collegiate athletes are no different, but when it comes to the expensive sport of golf, free only goes so far, especially for the Bobcats.
“Russell doesn’t carry some of the products we need, so we have to buy them from whoever we get them from,” said Ohio Director of Golf and men’s coach Bob Cooley. “At the good schools, they get all the free stuff, like Oklahoma State, cause they’re a top 10 team in the country every year.”
On both the men’s and women’s teams, golfers are responsible for the purchase of all irons, woods and putters. While some might see this as a disadvantage from a financial standpoint, those on the team feel the freedom allows them to choose clubs that are best suited for their playing styles.
“I am a huge fan of TaylorMade clubs,” junior Megan Weaver said. “I’m the only one on the team that plays graphite (shafts). Everyone else plays steel. It’s all about what you feel comfortable and confident with when you’re playing out there.”
NCAA and United States Golf Association compliance is especially easy for collegiate teams that have to purchase their own clubs because almost all lines sold in sporting good stores follow USGA regulations. The golfers then get to choose the clubs that best fit their styles.
“I definitely think them having a choice in what they play with as far as their equipment, I think makes a huge difference,” women’s golf coach Kelly Ovington said. “We’ll do a custom fitting for them. You don’t just buy a set of clubs off the shelf: you get them fit for your body and your swing specifics.”
While collegiate golfers have to pay for most of their equipment, almost every top golf equipment brand offers a discount to all collegiate programs, big or small. The discounts offered depend on the company.
On the PGA Tour, golfers have to abide by new groove regulations, but collegiate and amateur golfers currently are not required to follow these rules until 2014.
According to the USGA, the initial focus of the groove regulations are for “competitions involving highly skilled professional golfers and will have little impact on the play of most golfers.” These rules are designed to restore the challenge of playing shots to the green from the rough by reducing backspin on those shots.
In order to cater to the new regulations, golf equipment manufacturers are in the process of changing their entire line of clubs. Some producers don’t even offer irons and woods with the old grooved faces.
The specifics of what club manufacturers offer differ by company. With so many brands offering so many different lines, every golfer is able to find clubs best suitted for him or her.
“I probably hit about five or six different irons when I was shopping around,” junior Meryl Weaver said. “I think it is important with irons to have the right shaft, because if it is too stiff, you are going to hit a big slice. Or if it’s too flimsy, it’s going to be inconsistent.”
For Ohio’s golf teams and golfers across the country, all swings differ from person-to-person, making club choice especially important. Even twins have different swings and use different clubs.
“My swing is more on-plane and traditional than Meryl’s,” Megan Weaver said. “She used to lay off the club and go pretty flat and then drop her elbow down to her side and then go through.”
While technology has played a major role in the improvement of golfers across the world, sometimes it’s up to the golfers themselves to make the adjustments for quality play.
“I’m actually thinking about getting new woods because in my old age, I’m swinging a little lighter,” Megan Weaver said jokingly. “But it’s a lot of adjusting just because your swing is honestly a little bit different every single day.
“No matter how many balls you hit, everyone has bad days, and even the pros can’t hit it consistently all the time.”
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