Getting ready for a ‘special’ 2013 season

Trent Alexander lifts weights during the workout.

The UNA golf team is currently preparing for the upcoming season, which starts Feb. 25 at the Men’s Pirate Invitational at Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, Ga.

The team starts its four-day-a-week workouts at 8 a.m. in the Flowers Hall weight room.

The workout includes a series of exercises aimed at working on rotational strength, stabilizing muscle and making the body long and lean.

“Everybody thinks we just go to the golf course, and that’s not the case,” said Stuart Clark, head golf coach.

Clark runs the workout, which incorporates yoga, weight training and exercises that involve rotation of the body and strengthening the core.

“We’ve got one of the top programs in the country — we’re currently ranked No. 4, so they work hard,” he said.

UNA senior golf player Blaise Wilson, who now does the workout without breaking much of a sweat, said the workout routine wasn’t easy at first.

“The first two or three weeks, there were guys that threw up from the workout,” he said.

Clark said that when the team competes, the days are 12 to 14 hours long, with miles worth of walking from one hole to the next, so the players need to be in good condition by the time the season starts.

“Condition-wise, we’re probably ready,” said Ricky Stimets, UNA senior. “But we haven’t been able to play much (due to the weather).”

Clark said that because of recent rain the team hasn’t been able to get out on the golf course as much as he would like.

A typical day for a UNA golf player starts with working out, showering, going to class, then ends with being at the golf course until sundown and squeezing in some homework after that, Wilson said.

Though the team hasn’t been able to see much of the golf course yet, Clark said he has a good feeling about this season.

“I think this semester’s going to be something special; I can just feel it,” he said.

Clark attributed that feeling in part to having great senior leadership in Wilson, Stiment, Nick Sparks and Graham Byrom.

The team’s goals this season are simple. First, they said they would like to win conference. Second, they hope to win regionals. And lastly, they aim to win at the national level.

The team’s motto echoes the overall mentality of Clark and his players. It is seen on the back of their t-shirts and reads “Sacrifice Regrets – ‘You Choose.’”

Stiment said the golf players owe much to Clark, who does a good job of pushing them to succeed on and off the course.

“If (Clark) wasn’t here pushing us, I don’t think anyone would show up, because you need someone to push you,” Stiment said.