Sturgeon Bay Leads the Way Providing Girls Golf
- Share
- Tweet
- Pin
- Share
Sturgeon Bay High School fielded the only girls golf team in Door County this fall, and the youthful players showed potential for improvement while also learning a game they can play for a lifetime.
Sturgeon Bay boys golf coach and former girls coach Erik Tauschek said he’d like to see local schools cooperate to field an all-Door County high school team to be able to compete when schools don’t have enough players to score in both varsity and junior varsity matches. Teams can have six players and take the top four scores, but schools that don’t have enough players allow girls to practice and play on the boys team in spring.
Occasionally schools have girls with the power and talent to post scores for the boys teams, but they then are limited to competing from the same tees against the boys in the spring sectional and state tournament series. Sturgeon Bay’s program began as a club team in 2018, lobbying the school board and raising funds for uniforms. In 2019, the Clippers competed in the fall in the Bay Conference and advanced all the way to the state tournament. Girls from other Door County schools did not have an opportunity to compete against girls golfers in the fall.
Sarah Bridenhagen, one of the Sturgeon Bay High School girls who helped convince the school board to start a golf program, is now a senior on the Wisconsin Lutheran College women’s golf team.
While Bridenhagen has continued to play competitively at the next level, Sturgeon Bay High School Athletic Director Todd Meikle said all the players are learning life lessons.
“It’s a lot of fun for the kids. If you play, you know what I mean. Golf is a sport you can play the rest of your life … as long as you can walk and swing a club,” Meikle said, noting the same goes for distance running and swimming.
But those activities don’t necessarily teach the same lessons as golf.
“It’s huge that these kids have these opportunities,” Meikle said. “You have to have integrity, you have to have discipline and you have to have etiquette. That’s what golf teaches.”
The development of good manners that golf teaches, Meikle said, would benefit students everywhere.
This year, coach Ben Herland helped rebuild a Clippers program that saw numbers improve a bit for two years after a year hiatus in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Sturgeon Bay hosted one meet at Cherry Hills, and for the most part, the team competed at the junior varsity level.
Sturgeon Bay had seven girls on the team this fall, with two girls returning and five who were brand new to golf. Meikle said as they keep working at the game, they should be able to post scores and compete well at the varsity level next fall.
“If the girls aren’t good enough, they get to decide if they want to play JV or they want to play varsity,” he said. “We’re trying to get them to the place where they feel comfortable and confident playing at that varsity level.”
Ahh, Golf and Fall Colors
Northeast Wisconsin golf courses start seeing tee times decline after Columbus Day, but that doesn’t mean the golf season is over by any means.
It’s not over until golfers decide it is.
Greens generally improve after late-September and early-October aeration and top-dressing, and by the weekend of the 14th and 15th, they should be healed and less sandy. In Door County, due to mild temperatures in the forecast and temperature moderation from the bay and Lake Michigan, golfers won’t necessarily see peak leaf colors until that weekend or even the third weekend of October.
For those looking to enjoy leaf color during a casual round, most area courses provide a few spectacular vistas, such as the clifftop 18th hole and the parklike front nine at Alpine, the view from the first hole and clubhouse at Peninsula, the par-3 12th carved into the woods at Cherry Hills, and most any spot at Idlewild, Maxwelton Braes, 27 Pines and Stone Hedge Golf and Pub.
One decision golfers might want to make before teeing off is what ball to play. For much of the summer, yellow golf balls can be the most visible. That’s not necessarily the case if a yellow ball rolls into yellow leaves in the rough or fairway.
White balls or bright chartreuse balls might be more visible to some players. Some golfers say they see red better, and there are plenty of other colors from which to choose.
In addition, manufacturers say balls with a matte finish rather than shiny finish, can be easier to see and find. Manufacturers also say golf balls with a matte finish have the same performance as the same line of balls with a shiny finish, though this golfer wonders if there might be a little drag and resistance in foggy or damp conditions.
A couple of tips for those who want to keep golfing in late fall: First, call the course to see if it’s open. A few also post signs on a door and allow players to put money in a slot and play. Others might be open to members only. Some post a firm closing date, but occasionally extend the season if surprisingly warm weather is forecast in early November.
Also, dress for the weather, which means slightly warmer clothing if riding in carts. Fall’s a great time to walk, and not riding can make the activity more pleasant.
Finally, keep your hands warm to maintain a good grip. That doesn’t necessarily mean buying heavy and thick winter golf gloves. The main goal is having some layer covering the fingers, and either rain gloves (lightweight and suede leather), or buying both right and left summertime golf gloves can help. Or, buy oversized mittens and take them off for each swing.
