TCU golfers looking for some respect
By Danny Gillham
Skiff Staff

When you walk around campus, it’s easy to spot many of the TCU athletes. Whether it’s football, basketball or even baseball, it seems as if most Horned Frog athletes stand out because of the amount of publicity they receive.

That is, unless they’re the golf team.

TCU has one of the most nationally recognized programs in the country, yet the Frogs seem to get little or no attention from the campus overall.
Besides people who are friends and classmates of golfers, they seem to blend in quite well, going unnoticed.

It’s not like the sport isn’t having success. In fact, they are having tremendous success. In two national polls, the men currently are ranked No. 8 (Golfweek) and No. 9 (Precept Coaches Poll), and the women are ranked No. 27 on Golfweek.

Also, the Frogs have golfers who are individually ranked.

There are two men ranked nationally in the top 50 (Golfweek), senior Andy Doeden (No. 30) and junior Adam Rubinson (No. 37). On the women’s side, sophomore Brooke Tull is No. 40.

Women’s head coach Angie Ravioli-Larkin said that despite the lack of attention here, the teams are well recognized nationally.

“I think they get so much exposure nationally that it really doesn’t affect them that the regular student body doesn’t know,” said Ravioli-Larkin.

“I’d think it would be great if they supported men’s and women’s golf, but we don’t have a home event for them to do that, so it’s just a small piece of the pie.”

What hurts TCU golfers more than anything is that fact that all of their events and tournaments are held in areas far from the university. Other than a men’s event held in Dallas earlier in the season, the majority of the golf tournaments are held three or more hours away by car.

Rubinson said he thinks more people around the campus are starting to recognize the success of the team.

“More people are coming up to me on campus and giving congratulations. So I think that it’s coming around,” Rubinson said.

Tull said that despite the recognition they get across the country, it still would be nice to have some more attention back in Fort Worth.

“It’s frustrating,” Tull said, “We know we are ranked high as some of the teams here. It’s just a sport that doesn’t bring in money like others, for people come watch.”

Sometimes misconception of the sport itself may lead to a disinterest, Rubinson said. Many consider golf less demanding than football, soccer or tennis.

This is hardly the case.

Rubinson said that not only is golf a physically demanding sport, it’s mentally challenging as well.

“It’s so hard to explain in words,” Rubinson said. “You have to carry a 40 pound bag around a course for 36 holes, because we usually play twice in a day. That’s around ten miles. Not only are you tired from that, and from being beat up by the sun. You’re constantly making decisions on the course. Your mind never does get to rest.”

Tull said that the golfers work their minds just as much as their bodies.
Despite the distance in tournaments, it’s still easy to follow the progress of the Frogs. Schedules and updates can be found on (www.gofrogs.com), as well as golf Web site (www.golfweek.com).

Rubinson also said that the competitiveness is just as high as in other sports, and golf is exciting to follow.

“It’s so competitive,” Rubinson said. “I played with a guy the other day who shot a 62 on a course set up for the pro tour to play on, and the lowest any pro had shot was a 64. So the competition is really good, and its really rewarding to play at such a high level.”

So when your walking around the campus, maybe you’ll notice a Frog golfer and give them some support.

Danny Gillham
d.r.gillham@student.tcu.edu

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002