Hitting the Links with Nicole Hollingsworth
3/23/2011 4:07:00 PM | Women's Golf
It's been almost two weeks since we've been back from Arizona, and I've had enough time to digest our trip and get ready for the next one to Southern Illinois. I knew going into our 17-day adventure it would either be the best decision I ever made as a head coach for our spring trip, or it could be a bad decision to be away that long. I am excited to report that it was the best decision. We improved a lot from our hard work and competing in two tournaments plus a head-to-head match against Western Michigan. This trip will really help us for the remainder of our spring season.
Our trip was a four-part series with the first leg going to Sedona and the land of the red rock. The day before we left for our trip I received an email saying that Sedona was expecting a snow storm and that they might have to move up the tourney and we would not receive a practice round. This was not good for us in particular because we had never been there before and practice rounds are so important to our success. When we got on the plane we had not heard anything. On our way to Sedona the email came that we would be moving up the tourney a day and no practice round. We played well and finished fifth, so under the circumstances I was happy.
When I started coaching 14 years ago, I decided that when we travel to these places that we have to take in the sites because we may never get a chance to visit again. Golf is the reason we travel to these great destinations, but I believe that actually seeing the tourist spots is just as important sometimes. Sedona was an unbelievable place. The red rocks are gorgeous. The first thing is just the beauty of the place in itself. I rented a house for us so we could really experience the beautiful views, and I am so glad I did. The second place we visited was the Holy Cross church that is built into the red rock. It is a special place with a great view.
The snow did come with four inches. We all woke up so excited to see the snow. I wasn't too scared because we do deal with a little bit of snow here in Toledo but the problem is they don't deal with it like we do. We adventured down from 4,300 feet to Phoenix, and it was such a neat experience. Snow on the red rocks that turned them to white and then driving down into lower elevation where it was warm, sunny, and no snow was an experience that you had to see to understand what I mean. I hope we get the opportunity to go to Sedona again because now after visiting it is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the United States that I have ever seen.
Our second part of our trip was moving in to the rental condo for three days and playing a head-to-head match play versus Western Michigan. We don't get very many chances to play match play and it was truly an exciting day with us winning 3-2. Four of the five matches came down to the last two holes, and I couldn't have been more proud of how we were able to win. I really saw a determination that they were not going to lose without fighting.
Our third part of the trip was moving in with our private hosts for the Rio Verde Invitational. This is our favorite tourney of the year. The golf courses are nice and the tournament is run very well. But it is our families that we stay with that make all the difference in the world. Kathy and Tom, Suzi and Ben, Phyllis and George, Jan and Kelly, Barb, and Luann are by far the best host families and fans in Rio Verde. They are out there all the time with us from the practice round day to the last hole of the tourney. They started a tradition that they yell out "Holy Toledo" whenever we make a birdie. It is something that has continued. I absolutely love our time in Arizona. I could go on and on about what each one of our host families did for us but this year. I have to say a special thank you to Kathy because without her I just could not do what needed to be done. My back went out and I couldn't do anything but she volunteered to go to Sam's Club with me and help me shop for 11 people for seven days. This is not an easy task at all. Three hours later the van was loaded and we were on our way back to Rio Verde. I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help. We finished tied for eighth place at Rio Verde and for the most part I saw some positive things but we still needed to improve quite a bit.
Our final leg of the trip was a week filled with practice with our whole team there. We were going to train as hard as we could for the next six days. I am so lucky that I have built a relationship with Tonto Verde Golf Course. They allow us to come out and play and practice all day with nine players for a nominal cost. It is such a wonderful place with awesome people. We got better. I have always told my team that I can handle bad play (hard to do, but I do) but I will not have my team outworked by other people so that is what we decided to do and that was to work hard. Our scores got better as well as all aspects of our golf game.
I was so happy that I met a very special man in Forrest Hamilton who played basketball for Missouri State in the 50's. Every morning we would go to the back of the range to do two hours of pitching and there he was practicing. What started out as a general hello to a golfer turned out to become an acquaintance that I truly enjoyed seeing each day. I could tell he was a special person when I first met him but I really didn't know until the third or fourth day just how special he was. He had told me he played basketball in college, and he had told his wife that he wished he could tell my team a few things he had learned along the way. I said come on over and talk to them. He didn't talk very long but what he did say really moved me as well as my team. He basically told our team to never look back once you get older and have regrets because in this life you do not get any mulligans. Having the opportunity of a lifetime and giving it your all was the theme of his talk. I already miss our daily talks.
What I like even better is to meet someone like this that is so humble. He said he played college basketball. He didn't state he was on back-to-back NAIA championship squads of 1952 and 1953, a two-time NAIA All-American, alternate for the 1952 Olympic team, was on the 1953 Chuck Taylor All-American squad and he also played professional basketball. I think why we really hit it off was because he understood how important it was to work hard in life, and he could tell that our team worked hard. He had only seen what I did with my team for 30 minutes a day, but he helped me see that we are definitely doing the right things at TOLEDO and working hard is all you can ask of someone.
Arizona was great. We played, we practiced, we bonded as a team and we got better. I am happy that I decided to go for the 17 days. It was long but it was worth it and I am looking forward to next year's trio to Arizona already.
Until next time,
Coach Hollingsworth
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