June 27, 2005
We caught up with Nicole Hayashi, a rising senior on the Women's Golf Team. Hayashi is a 2004 BIG EAST Academic All-Star and was a competitor in the 2005 BIG EAST Golf Championship. Hayashi talked about her first snow experience, how the team trains her busy plans for the summer.
Interview by Patty Hunter, Sports Information Student Assistant
PH: When did you start playing golf?
NH: I would say when I started to seriously play was when I got a job at my golf course when I was 16. I got a lot of lessons, then I just started playing a ton and then I got better, I guess.
PH: Did your golf talent bring you to Georgetown?
NH: Yes, pretty much and the academics as well and the coach, I would say. [Coach Beckel] definitely made the decision for me. She is a really good coach and from there I decided to come here. I knew I would be in good hands if I came here.
PH: You are originally from California - was that a hard transition to come East?
NH: I would say so; this was the first time that I had ever gone back East or even flew anywhere. (Laughs) It was a big transition. I wasn't used to the whether because I came in mid-year. So, it was snowing when I first got here and I had never seen real snow before. So, it was pretty crazy.
PH: How has your experience at GU been?
NH: It's been great. I am very happy I made this choice. I love it here. I definitely would not have achieved as much going to another institution; I guess academically, socially and in golf as well.
PH: Seeing that your team doesn't carry a large roster, how is the team chemistry?
NH: I would say we're pretty close, I mean more then other teams we will hang out together, outside of golf. I would say some of my best friends are on the team.
PH: Do you hang out with the men's team?
NH: Not as often as last year, but we do.
PH: How do you think the program has developed since you arrived in the winter of 2003?
NH: It has made major changes I would say. I guess in terms of how we practice is a lot more focused toward preparing for tournaments versus just regular practices that you would have in high school. We develop a lot, we have skill drills. My coach really tries to develop each person individually. Golf is an individual sport so it's hard to have everyone do the same thing and improve the same way. She is very good at pinpointing what each person's strengths and weaknesses are and then we'll figure it out from there. You grow as a golfer between freshman year and when you graduate, because you develop so much more just because she is there to help you.
PH: Where does the team practice?
NH: We play at a bunch of different courses around here; we don't have a home course but we play at Columbia and Bethesda. Our tournament is at Raspberry Falls every year. I think it's whoever lets us play.
PH: How do you train for golf?
NH: There are couple different aspects of it, so we train I guess in three ways. The first would be physical golfing; hitting long shots, short shots, etc. Then we have a physical side of it which is a lot more intense than you would think. (Laughs) We will work out with the trainers here and we will do a lot of cardio and then we will lift a lot, I would say two or three times a week. Then, mentally we will prepare, by reading different golf mental books or some people will come in and talk, which I think is good for us because I would say golf if 90% mental.
PH: I understand you competed in the 2005 BIG EAST Championship. How was your experience during that tournament?
NH: It was something I will remember forever. It was snowing. It was supposed to be a 54 hole tournament, but we only played 18. The second round was cancelled and then they cancelled the first round of the first day, so we only ended up playing one round. The second day there was probably 6 inches of snow on the ground and the first day it was snowing and hailing while we were playing. I thought I had seen it all, I thought I had seen every condition, but that has been the worst thing I had seen.
PH: Was it hard playing in those conditions?
NH: Yeah, I saw it more as a marathon; just try to finish versus playing... You just have to get out there and try not to let it affect you mentally. I would say a lot of people got down on themselves just because it was snowing and their shots didn't go the way they wanted it to.
PH: What is the perfect score that you strive for?
NH: I strive to shoot par. I am not reaching out too far, I don't want to get ahead of myself. I don't want to get to disappointed.
PH: What is your favorite course to play on?
NH: I actually like New Seabury in Massachusetts - we played the Harvard Invitational there. It was raining ridiculously, but somehow it just fit my game really well.
PH: Can you clarify what The Eastern and Western tournaments are?
NH: Yeah, they are the toughest tournaments to play for college golfers or really good amateur golfers. They are just called the Eastern and the Western.
PH: Speaking of your last year, what do you hope to accomplish in your senior year.
NH: My goals are to win a couple tournaments and then finish at the BIG EAST probably first or second. That is my goal; I think I can do it.
PH: What are you studying?
NH: I am studying Finance and Operation and Information management, so I am double majoring. I am actually really involved with the Operation and Information Management group. We are pretty new; I think the first graduates were 2003. I make the web sites for them and I am pretty involved with that.
