The Covenant golf team’s spring season has started! The team rosters 11 fellow Scot’s, with almost an even split between upperclassmen and underclassmen. The team is coached by Eddie Jackson, who is returning for his second year as head coach.
The team is preparing for a season with four major tournaments and finishing the conference play. Two of these tournaments are scheduled during their spring break trip in Myrtle Beach and Tampa. The golf team spent time fundraising for this event by many different means including Superbowl brackets.
When asked about the hopes for the golf team, Tristan Mayhand, a returning sophomore, mentioned that they were hoping to see the team improve from the fall season and enjoy their time on the course together. When asked about their favorite part of the golf program, Mayhand said that the best parts of the program were practicing on two of the nicest courses in the country and playing with a group of Christ-like believers who are committed to fellowship and faith.
Graduating senior Kenny Duffin added to these comments saying the goal of the team is to win another tournament like their previous spring season (2023) as well as echo the sentiments of improvement and having a fun time as a team.
When asked about the spring break trip, Duffin said he thought it would “be a great time with the guys.” On their itinerary is playing on a few courses while they travel in between tournaments, visiting the beach, and going on a boat ride.
When the topic of fundraising came up, a new experience for the golf team, Duffin said, “I told the guys to start off with just reaching out to family and friends and telling them what we are trying to do. After that, some of the guys got creative with other ways to fundraise such as a giveaway, and selling golf clubs. At the end of it all, we were able to raise a sufficient amount of funds that will not only cover the trip, but also some future expenses for the team.”
The last comments Duffin made were about his experience with Covenant Golf as he reflected on his favorite thing about Covenant's golf team as a senior, as well as what he hoped the golf team culture never loses.
“Throughout my 4 years here on the team, by far my favorite part is the tournament trips. From the start of waking up early for van rides all the way to getting back to campus late, I’ve been able to make some memories over the years that I’ll never forget,” Duffin said. “And to tie in with the trips, the brotherhood on the team in general is something I will always be thankful for,” Duffin said. “As I’m leaving, if I have to pick one thing for the team culture to never lose, it’s the closeness of the team. Seeing the brotherhood on the team grow over the years has been something special and I hope the guys continue that growth as I leave. There is truly nothing better than getting to travel around the country and play golf with some of your closest friends. I’m truly thankful to have been a Scot for four years!” Duffin concluded.
The team has started practicing for their season at Lookout Mountain Club, which was recently updated receiving the award for Best Renovation of 2023 by Golf Digest. Mclemore is also a top 100 course, which they practice at often as well.
Their first tournament is on March 4th-5th, and they finish season play April 8th, and the conference begins during finals week. We are looking forward to seeing what the golf team accomplishes this season!