The 2009 season began yesterday with a trip down to Carlsbad. We met up with our boys from Taylormade and had a great day of practice. Tim, Eddie, and the rest of the Kingdom staff were phenomenal in helping dial in our guys with all of there equipment needs. We got a sneak peek at many of the hot products coming out in the next couple months. Of note to me (a self described equipment junkie) were the new R9 tp irons, the new Penta golf ball, and some other new secret clubs...which we were sworn to secrecy on.
More importantly, this was our first day of practice and really the first time our guys had spent a day together. I can't tell you how excited Derek and I are with this group of guys. This could be the youngest team I have ever been a part of, yet they seem to have the chemistry that we look for in successful teams. Our group of upperclassmen along with the four new freshman seem to blend together in a very unique way. For me as a new coach, it was refreshing to see the guys come away from the day with energy and a positive approach heading into the new season.
The trip had many highlights...from Dinner at the Driscoll's the night before (fresh caught mahi-mahi and tuna along with some killer tri tip), to watching all of our guys in a round robin tennis tourney, a great day of hard work at the Kingdom, to helping Mario celebrate his 19th Birthday in style...I even talked a freshman out of playing his "blades/cool clubs". I usually save that conversation for month 2, but I just couldn't resist. Having Mr. Huet's help on that subject is always nice.
Day 2 was a slow one for the guys. Filled with meetings from 8 am to 2 pm, they hung tough and got through it. Day 3 will include our first major team meeting and for many of us, our first UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl! Should be a blast, can't wait to see what Pedro thinks of American football.
That's all for now-Go Bruins!
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