A new coach and a young team usually require a growth period before working well together. But Northwestern’s youth does not seem to be an obstacle for first-year coach Emily Fletcher, who has instead taken the winter season as an opportunity to focus on technique and mental game.
After a tumultuous start to the fall season, Fletcher has dedicated the winter to working on the team’s short game in preparation for the competitive spring season.
“When we’ve been indoors working, we’ve really been able to help the girls more with their technique and the mechanics of their golf swing,” Fletcher said.
The primary focus of the team’s training this winter has been on its short game: chipping, pitching and putting.
Fletcher created a chart for the Wildcats to fill out as they practice, where they record their statistics so they can see their improvements over the course of the season.
In preparation for the spring season, the team practices every day for three hours in the Gleacher Center at Patten Gymnasium, where they can focus on their short-game. NU then spends an additional hour and half working on their long game.
Fletcher has also been working on strengthening his players’ mental toughness.
“At this level you’re pretty adequate at getting the ball down the fairway, and it becomes more of a matter of performing under pressure and not letting shots slip away,” she said.
Fletcher has focused on the motivation and mental part of the game in an effort to hone the team’s skills and abilities.
“(Fletcher) is very motivated and really passionate about the team, and that is instilled within us,” senior Jen Hong said. “She has great work ethic, so that makes us want to work even harder for her.”
The team competed in its first tournament of the season in Puerto Rico in early February. The team placed second among the five Big Ten squads represented and finished ninth overall.
In March, the women will travel to Scottsdale, Ariz., where they hope to take home a victory, or at least a top-two finish.
“We’re really hoping for a good showing at Big Tens and ultimately making it to regionals,” Hong said.
