WOODBURY — Golf starts practice before most fall sports; this summer, the team began Aug. 14, 10 days before most other fall teams at Nonnewaug. The Chiefs had their first match of the season three days before the start of the school year.
Nonnewaug coach Ryan Campanario says that golf has certain rules to account for when frost starts to form on the grass.
“Golf has frost delays, and in golf you can’t play [when there’s frost because] if you take a divot in the grass, it won’t grow back,” Campanario said.
Therefore, golf starts early in the fall sports season so teams don’t run into the frost delays later in the season.
The season has also had a hiccup with all the rain we have had this late summer and early fall.
“Courses have been closed due to standing water and not being able to play because of it,” Campanario said. “It has definitely been tough to play.”
Conditions still haven’t been the best this year for golf because of all this rain, so it’s been tough for golf to have practices and matches. Campanario stated that “over three matches have been canceled and a couple of practices.”
The team still has won a few matches despite not being able to practice and not get that playing time. Recent victories include two wins over Gilbert on Oct. 2 and a victory over Northwestern on Sept. 21.
“The weather has affected playing time and has postponed a couple matches, but the team has stayed strong and won a couple matches,” said senior Mac Starziski.
The Berkshire League championships are set for Oct. 17 with the state tournament to follow if the Chiefs qualify. Junior Nick Mancini has high hopes.
“We will probably make it to the states,” Mancini said.
