Junior Sam Mouser: I’m Sam.

Junior Ryder Williams: And I’m Ryder.

Mouser: And this is Athletes of West.

Williams: Today, we had the chance to talk to varsity golfer Connor Boles about his golfing history and where it got him today.

Williams: How did you first get into golf?

Junior Connor Boles: I pretty much have been playing my whole life. My dad was a golf pro. He worked at golf courses. I really got into golf through my dad, and he got me into the game.

Mouser: Is there any professional golfers on [the Professional Golfers Association] (PGA) Tour or at The Masters that you look up to?

Boles: Yeah, for sure. I can remember watching Jordan Spieth in, I believe it was 2016 — could have been 2015 — just watching The Masters and being like, ‘who is that guy?’ He kind of came out of nowhere, and I remember that was pretty cool, watching this random dude come out and beat everyone that year, so I found that to be pretty inspirational.

Williams: What part of golf intrigued you?

Boles: I also play hockey, and the golf aspect — it’s totally different from hockey. It’s not as fast-paced; it’s a lot slower. You have a lot more time to think, and so I think just that slower aspect and being able to think is what I enjoy most about playing golf.

Williams: When was the first time you felt passionate about golf? When did you feel like it was your time to just keep playing the sport?

Boles: I started playing tournaments in the summer, just kind of fun tournaments, and I really enjoyed being in that somewhat competitive setting — just trying to play as best as I could with that little bit of added pressure. I think that definitely motivated me to play golf.

Mouser: Can you describe a moment when golf really helped you through something difficult?

Boles: I would say, you know, golf — I wouldn’t say necessarily there is really a specific time that golf really helped me, but it’s definitely a — when you know you’re going to play golf, and you know you might not be having the best day, once you get to the course and you just kind of get out there, everything just fades, and you can only think about how you’re playing and the golf course. It definitely takes you away from life a little bit. I think it helps, almost like a meditation at times.

Williams: Overall, you would think that golf gives you a mental break?

Boles: I would say so. Anytime I know I’m playing golf that day, it’s usually a good day, no matter what.

Williams: I know you play hockey as well. In what ways has golf shaped you as a person?

Boles: I would say golf is definitely a sport about being competitive, trying your best, but there is also an etiquette involved. I think golf is different in that way compared to a lot of different sports. There’s definitely a respect for the game you should have, putting your best self forth on the course and having a good attitude. I think golf has that etiquette, that’s great.

Mouser: Have you ever been through a tough stretch in golf, like you’re down in the dumps? And how did you push through it?

Boles: For sure. Golf is a really weird game. I think it’s one of the harder sports to stay consistently good at. If you’re not consistently practicing, it’s pretty easy to fall into a slump. Pretty much every year, there is something I kind of fall into, and you have to work through it — whether it be your putter, your chipping or your driver. There is always something you’re trying to work through, so I think having a consistent practice schedule definitely helps with staying out of a slump.

Williams: So, how does golf — you’re saying that you handle failure through constantly practicing to find your mistakes?

Boles: Pretty much, the work you put in outside of actually, when you’re trying to play golf, it translates to how you will play. The more hours you put in, the more work you put in; it definitely translates, especially with chipping and putting. When you can get the feel of the golf ball when you’re around the greens, and it can be the difference between making it up and down for par or not and making a double bogey. So that’s definitely a big difference.

Williams: So run me through a quick practice schedule for you when you’re successful.

Boles: When I go to practice, so either I would go and play golf, and it’s not in a competitive setting — that would be a form of practice. You know, maybe you play a couple of balls on the course, make sure you’re just practicing all your shots around the course. Another form of practice when I’m at the range would be to hit a small bucket of balls — nothing too crazy, because you don’t want to overwork yourself. You really just put more effort into each ball that you hit, rather than just hitting a bunch of golf balls at a time kind of carelessly. And then on the putting green and when you’re chipping, just really making sure that you’re focused and putting every ounce of effort that you can into each shot, because that really is what makes you better — focus, for sure.

Mouser: Then how many days a week would you say you practice?

Boles: With hockey being — it takes up a lot of time in my winter.  I would say during the offseason, if I can try and play once or twice a month, go to the range a little bit here and there, during the offseason, that’s what I try to do. And during the season, trying to go to the range three to four times a week, maybe. Just having a golf club in my hands every day will make me better. So whether that’s playing golf or going to the range or even just putting on my carpet at my house, just anything to keep a club in my hand and keep that feeling of a golf club really helps.

Mouser: What would you say to somebody thinking about picking up golf?

Boles: I would say a lot of people dislike golf because it is extremely hard to you know, pick it up and be somewhat decent at it. It definitely took me a while, so I think definitely just sticking with it and trying to stick to a practice schedule definitely helps — just being consistent. Consistency is what will get you through it and make you a better player.

Mouser: Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Athletes of West.

Williams: And be sure to check out Connor Boles on the Parkway West varsity golf team.

Music credit: Jetsonmade – Racket (Full Beat)