Even as a child, Carson Hopper, ’08, knew he loved the game of golf. As soon as he could swing a club, his father and grandfather took him to courses where Hopper hit balls off the practice tee.

Then last year, what once began as a mere idea by Scott Callisch, head of P.E. department, resulted in the golf team’s return to the campus sports.

“I think it was a great move to bring back the golf team,” head golf coach Jeff Hopper said. “There are a number of young players who could end up feeding the program for quite a few years.”

Carson says that the casual pace of golf intrigues him more than other sports.

“Since it is easy going and relaxing you can just go out there and have fun,” Carson said. “It is also nice to be on a winning team at this school.”

Jeff says Carson’s golf savvy comes from seeing the sport on TV and hearing Jeff constantly talk about and explain it. Carson’s putting ability helps him overcome other short comings.

“I have coached several sports through out the years,” Jeff said, “but golf is what I have played in high school and college; so it is great to be around young players. Plus, the fact that Carson is on the team is another important factor. He kindly puts up with me.”

As a coach, Jeff appreciates Carson’s motivational skills and tries to get his teammates to play their best.

“Carson has been maybe our steadiest player,” Jeff said. “I think he is still waiting for his best rounds of the season, but he’s learned how to eliminate the really bad rounds.”

As the golf team continues their undefeated streak, each player also aspire to improve their game.

“Carson is playing pretty good this year he has improved a lot form last year,” Clark Jacobson, ’10, said. “He also brings a competitive drive to the team.”

In Carson’s free time, he plays videos games, especially World of Warcraft.

“I am going to University of Advancing Technology [UAT] in Arizona to study game design,” Carson said. “So as odd as it may seem, playing games actually furthers my future. I wan to become a video game designer because I love videos games and to me, it is my dream job.”

Carson has accepted the coach’s son persona, as he and Jeff talk golf after each match. If Jeff was not his dad, Carson feels he would still want him to be his coach.

“I like that my dad is the coach because I think he is a good coach,” Carson said. “Golf is his life and his job, so he knows what he is talking about.”

Instead of feeling added pressure from his father, Carson views Jeff as another bystander.

“I do not think my dad expects more from me because I am his son,” Carson said. “Obviously I cannot miss practice because of a ‘dentist appointment’, but he is not harder on me either,” Carson said. ” Golf is kind of a weird sport in that you cannot really punish a guy because everyone makes bad shots, and what are you going to do, make them run?”

FC is 8-0-0 overall and 3-0 in the Southwest Sierra League. The Eagles will next play Fowler at Airways Golf Course, April 8, 2:30 p.m.

For more information on golf, contact Jeff Hopper at 217-5165 or visit Golf sport shorts, 2008.