Now halfway through the season, the Berlin golf team is starting to see the results of the work they put in during the offseason. Strong early performances, including several solid scores from junior Hudson Masters, have helped the team gain momentum as players continue to build on the preparation they did before the season began.
Coach Todd DeRuyter may not run a formal off-season program, but that doesn’t mean his players are idly sitting around. Many of them spend time at the course throughout the summer, and DeRuyter stays informed of their practice.
“Berlin golf does not have a formal summer program, but many of the kids play here often. Some even work here and I see them weekly,” DeRuyter said.
Once the season starts, early practices can be a challenge, especially thanks to Wisconsin’s unpredictable spring weather. DeRuyter makes it work, mixing in rules and goal-setting when they can’t get outside. His message to the team this year has been pretty simple.
“Our emphasis is doing something every day to get better. Being committed to improvement, and doing something every day to get there is vital,” DeRuyter said.
Junior Hudson Masters has taken that mindset to heart. He stayed busy in the off-season hitting balls on a simulator in his garage, but he says practicing with the team brings something different to the table.
“As a team we usually play little matches just to reenact the pressure of actual matches,” Masters said.
That kind of competitive practice seems to be a theme for the whole team. Senior Carsen Whitney also talks about how the guys push each other during practice with side games and bets. When it comes to dealing with a rough hole during a meet, Whitney doesn’t get in his head and rather thinks of a helpful quote.
“If I have a bad shot in a meet I like to think about this quote I once heard that says ‘the best shot in golf is the next one’,” Whitney said.
Berlin returned most of its roster from last year, losing only one senior, so the foundation is steady. New players will have to work their way into the mix, but the returners are already setting the tone.
“Once the season has started, I go to practice every day and take extra time to go golf on weekends and longer after practice,” Whitney said.
Berlin’s next meet is Friday, May 1, at Elkhart Lake.
