Tee Time

Ammon opted to not join the junior high track team this year. He likes running long distance, but he doesn't like running around the track over and over again. So, instead, he chose to play golf this spring. There isn't a jr. high golf team, but he and one other 8th grade classmate Creed practiced after school every day this spring with the high school team. Because he competes in golf tournaments around eastern Idaho every summer, we thought it would be good practice for him, so we were supportive of his decision to be involved in a sport he likes rather than just doing a sport because all of his friends are doing it (like track), even if that meant that he couldn't compete with the high school team. There was one home tournament, however, in Salmon in mid-April that the coach did allow Ammon and Creed to join in playing, for which we were so grateful. They played with the high school J.V. team to compete against another school.  

Josh took us (me, his dad Ed & his mom Kathy) around the course on a golf cart to watch him compete. It was the first time I'd seen the Salmon Valley Golf Course this year. Josh does such an awesome job maintaining it! I love seeing the work he produces! It was an 18-hole tournament (which lasts for hours), so we limited our time to watching Ammon on just 3 of the holes. Golf is a peaceful sport to watch, and I enjoyed seeing him play against others. He is such a good golfer and he really enjoys it, but he struggles with the mental part of competition. He didn't do his best that day, which really frustrated him, but I'm glad that he's getting more practice with competing--this will help him with his summer tournaments and also when he's part of the future high school golf team next year. 

Chipping the ball up onto the 8th green.

Waiting for his competitors to putt their balls into the 8th hole.

Teeing off on hole #9.

Hitting the ball on the long 9th fairway.

Putting the ball into the 9th green.

Teeing off on hole #1. 

Two weeks ago, the high school golf team competed at state and WON!! It was the first time that Salmon has brought home a State Championship title in the game of golf. Several of the players will be returning next year, and it's exciting that Ammon will be part of a championship team his freshman year!