CENTERBURG — Even though Centerburg’s Nick Meyers will not be participating in the Ohio state high school golf tournament, he’s had a season to remember.
“He will be named the Player of the Year in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference,” Trojans’ golf coach Nathan Altizer said Wednesday, just before Meyers teed off at the Turnberry Golf Course in Pickertington to begin Division III district play.
Only the top two golfers in each division qualified to compete for the state crown, as long as their team had not qualified. Meyers turned in a round of 80 to place eighth at the district.
“Nick is tournament-ready and a good teammate; he is definitely a leader for the team,” Altizer said.
Meyers said the social aspect of the game is one of the things he enjoys the most.
Centerburg’s Nick Meyers strokes a put toward the cup. Submitted photo.
“Getting to spend time with people and other friends on the golf course (is my favorite),” Meyers said.
On his way to reaching the district tournament, Meyers fired a 73 at Oakhaven Golf Course in last week’s sectional tournament.
Not only did that allow him to walk away as medalist with the low score, just one over par, and it was also only three shots off the course record of 70.
Meyers knows firsthand that it takes far more than just showing up with a set of clubs. He’s honed his game for years.
“That means a lot of hard work,” he said. “I have been practicing every day for the last seven years. I have worked my butt off to do what I do.”
Meyers believes that playing his game is like a three-legged stool, physical, spiritual, and mental.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Meyers said. “I say a little prayer to Jesus because I am a big believer and that helps me do what I do.”
The golfer said there is nothing fancy about his communication with a higher power.
“It is just a little prayer, just ask for peace and accept whatever happens.”
As for the physical aspect?
“A lot of it is muscle memory, it just takes over in some areas. It’s all about routine and feeling comfortable,” Meyers said. “Overall, I have (the physical aspects of th game) down pretty well, but it is the mental mistakes that can cause problems, making the wrong decision on the golf course.”
At this point, Nick does not think he will attend college, but he is keeping his options open.
“I think it would be fun, but I am just not ready yet,” he said.
Coaching perspective
Altizer understands that coaching golf is different from most other sports.
“I can’t see every shot hit by everybody. In football and basketball, for instance, the play is right there in front of you, not spread out over acres (Turnberry is 166 acres),” the coach said.
“Some of the courses laid out with the fairways running side-by-side, you can look over and see how your guys are doing.”
The coach pointed out that most of the “coaching” is done prior to the matches.
“After that it is mainly course management.”
