This week I sat down with Big Green golfers Davis Mullany '11 and Teddy Overton '12 to discuss the team's spring training trip in Arizona, some perceptions about the game of golf after the Tiger Woods fiasco and the team's chances of bringing home the Ivy League crown at the end of the Spring season.
How do you respond to those who claim that golf isn't really a sport?
DM: Golf doesn't involve a physical endurance aspect which most sports do, so I understand those who do not qualify it as a sport. However, I'm normally not friends with them.
TO: Is curling a sport? Yes. Is ice dancing a sport? Debatable. Is golf a sport? I would think so.
Do you ever feel like you have to compensate for playing golf?
DM: No.
TO: No. Tiger is the man and he plays golf.
Has the recent Tiger Woods controversy hurt your on campus reputation at all?
DM: No comment.
TO: It's a sensitive issue. I'm going to have to feel it out.
During Winter, when a lot of you guys were off, how did you keep your game in shape?
DM: I was in New York City this Winter, so I went to Chelsea Piers to hit balls about twice a week to work on my swing and keep my putting skills honed.
TO: I was in Barcelona, it was pretty tough.
You guys just returned from a training trip in Arizona. How was it?
TO: How can it not be awesome? Arizona is God's gift to earth and is the best place in the world, bar none.
DM: Yeah, we got back on Saturday night. It was an amazing trip, we played golf everyday, went skydiving, went to two Phoenix Suns games and an Angels spring training game.
Did you play any notable courses?
DM: Yeah, a ton. We played TPC Champions, TPC Stadium Course (home of the Phoenix Open), the Talon Course at Grayhawk Golf Course and the Geronimo Course at Desert Mountain.
TO: We played courses that have members like Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Tom Lehman, Paul Casey, John Elway, Jeremy Roenick, etc.
How was the weather in the desert? Is it tough coming back to Hanover to play?
DM: Awesome, we had 10 sunny 75 degree days. It's kind of tough, but since I grew up in Massachusetts I'm used to it by now.
TO: Yeah it was awesome. Coming back here it's going to be tough to stay training, but thanks to [College President Jim Yong] Kim's and others' support, we now have an indoor facility in Leverone that we will be using until the course opens in a few weeks.
How are you guys playing? What is the outlook for this season?
DM: Everyone played pretty well over the break. We are looking forward to the Spring season. I think we have a good shot at the Ivy League title this year, and that's exciting.
TO: I think we have the best chance at winning the Ivy League title that the Dartmouth golf team has had for the past decade or so, definitely since I have been on the team.
Drive for show, putt for dough. Who's the biggest hitter on the team and who's the most clutch putter?
DM: [David Putney '10] hits it a mile, and I haven't missed a clutch putt since 'Nam.
TO: Well, I won $15 off Putney in a long drive contest the other day, and I smoke Davis off the tee, but Shun Aonuma '10's soft hands give him real nice touch on the greens.
What is the "catbird seat," and how important is it to get in there?
TO: For those who don't know, the catbird seat is something we got from our coach Rich Parker, and it's a metaphor of the spot a cat is in when it's in the perfect position to pounce on the bird. So you are in the seat when you, the metaphorical cat, are in the perfect spot to metaphorically pounce on the metaphorical bird. It's complicated.
DM: The metaphorical catbird seat is the place to be. During spring break, we were catbird everyday.
And finally, how nice is Teddy's blue couch?
DM: So comfortable slept on it every night.
TO: Well it was nice before Davis hosed it. Thanks man.
