On any given Monday morning at Sacred Heart, you’d be hard-pressed to go without overhearing boys comparing handicaps between classes, debating driving distances in the hallways, and recounting early morning range sessions with friends they enjoyed. What was once a niche varsity sport has quickly become one of the most visible off-campus activities among SHP students, especially among boys. Casual weekend rounds for players of all different levels quickly evolved into a record number of team tryouts for the boys’ golf team at SHP. Golf is experiencing a surge in popularity at the Prep, reshaping how students spend their free time and interact with members of the school community. It has become a major social activity that shapes friendships, conversations, and even student-teacher connections at SHP.
What was once a small, competitive program has quickly transformed into one of the fastest-growing sports on campus. It’s a sport that is “in its renaissance,” at SHP, in the words of Lincoln Gerstner ‘27. Gerstner, along with Bobby Krumins ‘27, has been involved with SHP’s boys’ golf program for years and is ready to take on a new leadership role as a junior.
“People are seeing more and more that it’s entertaining, and they want to participate,” said Krumins. “The easiest way to join in is to play for your school golf team.” It’s evident that SHP students are doing exactly that: the players cited a record number of around twenty-five people who showed up to try out, and showed their excitement at the buzz around the sport that just seems to be continuing to grow.
“This is the first year we have a JV team,” Gerstner said. He thinks the reason so many people–including him–are drawn to the sport is that it doesn’t require years of experience to get involved or improve, allowing people who “don’t play as much” to join a sport and be in an environment where they can grow and meet new people. He himself said he has only played a handful of times since last year’s season, but feels equipped to take on a new leadership role this year. The team is sure to be buzzing with players eager to refine their skills and compete seriously amongst other nearby schools.
But why now? It seems that media and entertainment can be attributed to this growing golf sensation. “YouTube golf has hit the young men,” said Krumins. Golf creators like YouTuber “Full Send Golf” have helped reshape the sport’s image, turning it from something traditionally seen as slow or exclusive into entertainment that feels accessible and social. Through YouTube videos, matches between friends, and casual course vlogs, students see golf less as an elite varsity and professional sport and more as something they can pick up themselves with friends. This makes it clear that, beyond SHP, golf has become relatable and entertaining.
“It can be a very relaxing, mind-healing sport, especially if you play casually without getting worked up about the score,” said Krumins. Gerstner agreed, saying that it’s “better when you take it less seriously,” which isn’t a notion you hear often when it comes to sports. Often, the goal is to win and prevent the competition from succeeding. While golf doesn’t differ from other sports in this sense, it is also a great environment to casually hold a conversation with friends and bond over shared experiences.
To that end, golf is somewhat of a sacred bonding activity among young men, serving as a place where people from all skill levels can come together and enjoy a simple game. The “opportunity to hang out with friends in nature” (Paddy Sheehan ‘28) that golf provides is a reason why the sport is being used as a social outing to bond with others. Sometimes, unexpected friendships can even emerge, as Krumins recounted the various seniors he became closer with as an underclassman playing golf. He has also been able to bond with current underclassmen, including Wilkes Rohlen ‘28, who claims not to be “an incredible golfer, but the experience of golfing with friends reminds [him] that good experiences can come from anything.”
Furthermore, the game has served as an outlet for people like Krumins to learn from role models in the media and share his passion for golf with his community through his KSHS radio Podcast “Caddie Conversations.” Krumins serves as a Tier 3 Radio Leader with Brody Keenan ‘27, and they said they decided to start the podcast “not necessarily because it was super relevant on campus, but more because it was a personal passion and they wanted to share it with others.” Their podcast has become very well-known on campus, reflecting just how widespread interest in golf has become and giving players a space to share stories, advice, and their passions for the sport.
Golf’s impact at SHP extends beyond just student friendships, creating meaningful connections between students and teachers as well. Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Reid Particelli, who previously coached boys’ golf at SHP, believes shared passions help break down traditional classroom barriers. “Any passion or interest on which teachers and students can connect brings us closer and helps us see each other as whole human beings,” he said.
Shared passions, including sports, have the power to connect people from all walks of life. Golf is a game that teaches honesty, patience, and discipline, while allowing for time away from screens and stress. Particelli also emphasized the unique social nature of the game, explaining that golf is “a simple but shockingly difficult pastime that slowly and imperceptibly forges the bonds of friendship through shared struggle.” Unlike many team sports, golf requires players to keep their own score and hold themselves accountable. According to Particelli, this helps foster “honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility,” lessons that extend far beyond the course.
If the current trend continues, golf may become more than just a passing phase at SHP, instead remaining a lifelong pursuit for many students. Others, like Particelli once, might decide to finally pick it up in college after not finding much interest in it in high school. “You don’t find golf, golf finds you when you’re ready,” reflected Particelli. He knows firsthand that many players discover the sport unexpectedly but carry it with them for years afterward.
Jimmy Levey ‘27 described golf as an “exponentially growing sport,” and it’s clear that many students have forged new friendships through the simple act of playing the game together. Unlike some more physically demanding sports that become much harder to play with age, golf offers something students can carry with them long after graduation. However, Particelli also acknowledged the barriers that prevent some kids from participating. “The sport is incredibly expensive,” he said, adding that he hopes to “see golf become more accessible for all kids.” He encourages SHP students who share that outlook to consider volunteering their time and energy to an organization like First Tee, a program dedicated to supporting kids of all ages and backgrounds to have access to the types of meaningful experiences that come with golf.
Golf has proven to strengthen SHP’s community and culture, allowing for people to “get outside for a while, to be with friends, and to get away from screens, schedules, and stress,” which explains why so many students are drawn to it now. As more and more students pick up clubs for the first time, golf is no longer just a sport at SHP. It is becoming a defining part of how students connect, unwind, and build community beyond the classroom.
