The girls’ golf team has learned that nothing matters more than commitment and organization. With that, the girls plan to swing for the green and reestablish their reputation in the fairway.

Last season, the girls’ golf team gave up its five-year streak as the AAA queens from 2003 to 2007. According to junior golfer Chae Kim, the team as a whole did not have an adequate amount of commitment and came out as runner-up in the AAA. This year, however, the team is ready to swing their way to the top.

Arriving at Golden Gate Park on Sept. 9, the girls were prepared to trounce Burton, but the other team put them off. In fact, the Cardinals did not even get the chance to tee-off with the Pumas. Burton forfeited the match, escaping the wrath of the Cardinals' nine irons. The competitive Cardinals are hungry for victory, and they can not satisfy their hunger.

This is not the first time that a school has avoided facing the Cardinals. “Some teams forfeited games last year too,” junior golfer Leslie Kang said. “We hope that it won’t happen too much this year.”

Nevertheless, the Cardinals benefited from the default win over the Pumas, as they had extended practice before their first season game.  With coach Mitchell Wagner’s assistance, the girls focused on their individual needs and improved on their weaknesses.

Wagner’s approach has shown results, according to junior golfer Jolina Lau. “Everyone left on the team is experienced and committed to improve,” Lau said.

This season there was a radical change in the AAA girls’ golf rules, as the officials are giving all the teams contact with their coaches during the game that were prohibited before, even though the act is common in other sports like football and basketball. Coaches are now allowed during games to tell their players which club to use, how to aim their shots and how to swing at the ball. Many of the players find the new rules unusual, as they reduce the players’ independence and lessen the individual competitiveness, according to Kang. “The teams are playing golf in a way that has never been played before,” she said. “It’s like they aren’t even playing golf.”

For another change in the season, the team had to switch its practice site from Lake Merced’s Harding Park to Golden Gate Park because of the President’s Cup golf tournament in October. Harding Park is walking distance from the campus, unlike the distant Golden Gate Park.

Although it is inconvenient to travel to Golden Gate Park, the girls get the advantage practicing at the site where they play their matches. Harding Park is also a more exclusive course, so reserving it for practices was a hassle, according to Kang.

In the last couple of years, the team has decreased from 15 to 10 golfers, which benefits the amount of personal coaching. This years’ smaller team with ten committed players allows the team to improve much more efficiently, according to Kim. “’The coach can focus on coaching and helping us improve individually,” Kim said.

Take the scenic route at 3:30 p.m. this Monday through Golden Gate Park to the golf course and watch the Cardinals dust the Wallenberg Bulldogs.