November 2003
If you gathered a hundred past and present Gaels in a room, talk would inevitably turn to football or basketball or baseball. For each of those has developed a Gael tradition and following over many years.
Establishing or maintaining a tradition is a challenge. But the benefits in terms of recruiting, marketing, and fundraising are well worth the effort.
Just ask Scott Hardy, third year head coach of the Gael golf team and a talented player in his own right. Hardy, who first got acquainted with the Christian Brothers as a student-athlete at Concord's De La Salle High School, has people taking notice of his squad's fast start with back-to-back top five showings at Moscow, ID and Reno this Fall.
During the first of their two seasons (golf is played both in the fall and spring), the Gaels have sparkled as individuals and as a team. The proliferation of rounds 75 and under at Reno demonstrated just how far Hardy's squad has come during his three year tenure.
Golf has been on the Gael landscape for a long time. Peter Markovich '33 and August S. Dreier '36 are the only golfers in of the College's Athletic Hall of Fame. The West Coast Conference has sponsored men's golf championships since 1969. In 1984, Saint Mary's, John Pirotte, emerged as the conference tourney's low medallist. Eric Meichtry duplicated that feat in '93.
But for many years, our golf team -- like the majority of college programs -- has operated in the shadows. Playing its home matches off campus is not a stimulus for attracting large crowds. Media coverage is limited at best. And the grants-in-aid allocation for golf is less than the maximum allowed.
But Hardy is not one to dwell on the negative. As an alumnus, he is keenly aware of all that Saint Mary's has to offer. And Scott has been highly successful in conveying the College's assets to recruits seeking an outstanding education and a highly competitive golf program.
Gael golfers know there is no easy or instant recipe for success. Current team members John Chirila (WCC Player of the Month for September), Joe Lanza, Liam Kendregan and Brent Jensen have worked hard year-round.
The enthusiastic head coach isn't trying to build a Florida, Georgia Tech or Houston-type of program. Yet he has definitely transformed a struggling program into a very competitive one.
Go Gaels!
Carl R. Clapp
Director of Athletics
