The First Tee with Ryan

Although golf is considered an individual sport, it becomes more team oriented in college golf. Building a good team atmosphere can really benefit a college golf team. Team culture influences scoring more than you would think. It is something that my coaches have always engraved into my mindset. There are plenty of different things that I do that can help me be a better teammate.

One of the easiest things for me to do as a teammate is to remain positive. Hyping up the other guys on the team seems to be a huge confidence booster for most of them. Working out early in the morning can get repetitive at times. Some guys often come in with low energy. I try my best to always come in with a smile and energy to hopefully wear off on the rest of the team. One of my favorite sayings is “high tides lift all boats”. By being that positive teammate, it makes it easier for everyone else to do the same.

Another aspect of being a good teammate is to compete with them. Although I always want to beat my teammates, I am not wishing bad on them. A lot of friendly trash talk comes out in practice from all sides, but it helps build a strong competitive mindset. Furthermore, it creates pressure in practice. When it comes to tournaments, I use that competitive energy to motivate myself with them. We are now competing against other teams. From all the hours we spend practicing friendly competition, it helps create good tournament time results.

A final part of being a good teammate is leading by example. It is crucial to make sure you are taking care of all the little things. Get schoolwork done on time. Being punctual to everything. Being transparent not only with coaches but also with teammates. All of these things can show some of the younger guys how to be the best they can be.

Golf might be an individual game, but college golf is a team experience. If you focus only on yourself, you’ll miss out on what makes it special. If you invest in your teammates by competing with them, supporting them, etc., you will become a better golfer yourself. Not only that, you will become a part of something bigger than yourself.

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