Prep golfers missing too much school

This is one of my first columns published in the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. Published on April 12, 2010.

Everyone has regrets about high school.

But one I hear often is not taking advantage of the prep golf scam.

Think about it: If you can make the team, there are many rounds of daily free golf to be had in the spring during the offseasons of football and basketball.

What could be better, I've heard many wise wistful men ask.

Boy, would they really regret not teeing it up in this area.

Combing through the spring schedules, I noticed an extra perk for our young golfers.
They very nearly become part-time students.





High school golfers in the Ozarks are racking up the excused absences this month to play in tournaments across the area.

And it's not just a tournament here, a district meet there and a day off for state for elite players, as I figured was the norm nationwide.

Many of our area schools have teams missing nearly double digit school days in April to hit the links.

And unless you're training to become a dentist or Phil Mickelson someday, that's not exactly helping our students get prepared for the real world as the school year winds down.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association allows coaches to miss a maximum of six school days for a season, spokesman Jason West said. However, there are no such limits for students.

Local teams are just following suit, in some cases sending alternate coaches to avoid penalty.

The Catholic High School golf team is scheduled for seven tournaments this month.
Coupled with spring break and another school-wide day off April 21, students who play could be in class for 12 of the 22 weekdays this month.

In a two-week period starting April 19, Fighting Irish golfers could be in school four days, compared to nine for their peers.

Nixa High School golfers also have seven tournaments in April during the school days. Nixa's golfers could be in school 14 of April's 30 days -- and spring break was in March.

Coaches credit teachers with being flexible with schoolwork and the student athletes for making assignments up and staying on top of their academics.

The coaches, generally teachers who miss school days as well, probably don't see a problem with the scheduling, and I don't blame them.

Some of the most educated people in the world will tell you there's no such thing as too much golf, and I tend to agree.

But there's a time for books and grades; quite another for hooks and fades.
Maybe it's time the classroom gets a straight shot.

It seems the only fair way to go.