NWC steady on the links
For a team without a home, the Northwest Christian boys golfers have made quite a name for themselves in the last several seasons.
The success of the basketball program at NWC has been well-chronicled over the years, but relatively unacclaimed have been the golf nomads who have won two state championships and finished second twice since 2000. Both the boys and girls teams won titles in 2005 and 2006.
The boys are coached this season by Jeff Gullikson, golf course superintendent at the Spokane Country Club. He inherited the job from former coach Joe Whelham only a few weeks before the season began.
“I’d never envisioned myself in this position,” Gullikson said, “but I like teaching golf and I love being around kids, so I’m having a great time.”
The Crusader boys have five returning varsity players, including junior John Graham, a two-time state 2B runner-up, and sophomore Jared Descoteaux, who finished third last season at state. Juniors Travis McConahy and Derek Delamatter and sophomore Garret Gradin are NWC’s other lettermen, while freshmen Brandon Drake and Jeff Gullikson round out the top seven.
Without a “home” course to call their own, the Crusaders practice in Deer Park and play their matches in Harrington, Wilbur and Ritzville, Wash. So they’re used to life on the road.
The boys team has 14 members this spring, a mix of talented, experienced players and several novice golfers who haven’t played before. Gullikson’s challenge is to help the new players develop basic swing fundamentals at the same time he’s working with the more advanced golfers on shotmaking and the mental approach to the game.
“We’re all over the place early in the season,” he said. “When the ground was still frozen, we hit into nets in the gym. We stay together as a group as long as we can, although the beginners may play only a few holes at a time on the course and are limited to 10 shots a hole.
“I think the success of the program has brought more kids out. We’re having fun and we don’t cut, and that appeals to kids. And we have a collection of really talented players coming through the school right now.”
Gullikson pointed out some of the challenges smaller schools face – two of his golfers also are involved in other spring sports, and money is tight.
To that financial end, he has called upon longtime mentor and two-time Pacific Northwest Golf Association champion Bill Meyer to present a workshop next month on the mental side of golf. Information is available from NWC athletic director Jim Orr at 238-4005.