And just like that, another golf season is in the books. We were thrilled to host the end-of-season celebration for Whit’s golf team again this year. Three years down, one to go. -cries her eyes out-
The evening itself was exactly what a team banquet should be. Relaxed, unstructured and full of laughter. The kids and parents spent the evening playing cornhole, ping pong and basketball, catching up and enjoying one last opportunity to be together before summer scattered everyone in different directions.
I pulled out allll of my Wildcats decor and went “wild” fluffing the porch, cabana and courtyard. Mother and Daddy-O were here and of course dove right in to help.
The boys voted for barbecue, so Coach handled all the food, sides and drinks. We simply provided the venue.
She originally offered to pick up a cookie cake, but I countered with an offer to make one myself. These giant decorated cookie cakes have become something of a tradition around here ever since I started making them for our New Year’s Eve celebrations, and they’ve been such a hit that I was happy to volunteer.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know one of my party must-haves is a photo backdrop in the courtyard. I loved watching teammates, parents and friends gather throughout the evening to capture their moment. Having a designated spot for photos really encourages people to jump in and take them when they might otherwise feel a little awkward about asking. Some of my favorite pictures from the night came from those spontaneous moments in front of the backdrop.
One of the dads on the team is affiliated with PGA TOUR Superstore and helped put together an incredibly generous raffle for the players. It ended up being one of the highlights of the evening. There were five larger prizes, and each golfer received five raffle tickets to distribute among the items they hoped to win. Some played the odds and spread their tickets around while others went all in on a single prize. In addition to the raffle items, there was a table full of golf accessories and treats. Each player was able to select two items, with picks made in order of seniority. Seniors received an extra selection, and as this year’s Top Golfer, Whit earned an extra pick as well. It was such a thoughtful addition to the evening and a fun way to celebrate the players after a great season.
After everyone had a chance to eat and mingle, Coach gathered the players together for senior gifts and awards. One by one, he shared a few words about each golfer and reflected on their season.
Looking back, it really was a special year. Going into the season, I’ll admit we were a little nervous. We had an entirely new coaching staff, and we absolutely adored the previous coaches. They had built such a positive culture around the program and meant so much to the players that change naturally brought a little uncertainty. Thankfully, the new coaches found their rhythm quickly. One brought incredible organization and structure while the other connected naturally with the kids. Together they created a season that felt both competitive and fun.
The program also saw tremendous growth this year. Tryouts had one of the largest turnouts the team has seen in years, and the roster ended up being filled with a fantastic group of young men… plus our one beloved girl. More importantly, they genuinely enjoyed being together.
Golf can be such an individual sport, which makes good team chemistry especially meaningful. This group cheered for each other, supported each other and truly seemed to enjoy spending time together both on and off the course.
As for Whit, it has been so rewarding to watch his confidence and consistency continue to grow over these past three years. He had another exceptional season and was honored once again as Top Golfer while also earning another bar for his varsity letter. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that most sport-y conversations go right over my head. But I do know that Whit currently has a 2 handicap, and every time I hear that mentioned people seem genuinely impressed. So I’m going to trust the experts and agree that it’s pretty fantastic.
And now somehow, we’re staring senior season in the face. This mama is NOT READY!
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