Coach Richard Malatesta going over the game results with senior captain Nicholas Ansaldi. Photo taken by Man Nguyen.
The new season has begun for the golf team at Malden High. Along with many new obstacles that the team has yet to overcome, one of the challenges they face is the want for more members, both new and returning.
This year’s team consists of mainly new players, along with only a few returning members, of which include captain Nicholas Ansaldi. Coach Richard Malatesta explained how without Ansaldi’s leadership, “this year golf might not even have a team.”
“He went around recruiting new members and made them into the team we have as of the moment.” When that problem was resolved, a new one arose. Due to the lack of experience, a lot of players struggled at first. Games and matches did not end very well, with only a few win’s individually. The situation was very much problematic for both the coach and the captain. However, over the span of a month, “the team has made a lot of progress,” Malatesta reflects, in spite of the difficulties in the beginning.
Malatesta mentioned his goal for the team, which is to acquire love for the sport and to help them become committed to golf. “Winning and losing comes and goes along the way,” stated Malatesta, “but it is the love that stays forever.”
Afterwards, Ansaldi also spoke of how golf is a game for all ages young and old. “One can keep playing golf forever, it is a game of a lifetime” he explained.
When it comes to the relationship built within the members on the team, Malatesta said “it was something he enjoys” and that “it is a fun team to coach.” Ansaldi mentioned their great bond as golfers, and how “this year’s group is very fun.” Members also commented on how they love the “energy and humor” of their peers on the team
The team’s greatest achievement as of now according to the coach, was “to learn about the tradition of golf and the value that the game stands for.” Captain Ansaldi stated how “if only we were fortunate enough to have much more practice time, things could have gone a lot better.”
“Golf is about honor and respect” stated Malatesta. He was content that the players were able to learn so well, not only about the game’s strategies, but its principles as well.
“They absorb the information so well and put it into practice out there,” Malatesta said. They have the ability to play competitively on the field, and individually as they incorporate their confidence in everything.
These new players can now putt and pitch properly, and some have even shown a promising future for golf. “It was phenomenal the progress they made so far,” Malatesta commented.
“[They show] a tremendous [amount of] effort.” Despite having little experience with golf before, they make it up with “enthusiasm, tenacity, the willingness to learn, to put time in and to cooperate with one another.”
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