Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week: St. Patrick’s Will Nolte
The sport of golf is known for beautiful courses and its calming environment, yet it’s one of the most difficult sports to master. Although the game tests athletes mentally time after time, one local golfer accepts the challenge daily and tries to get one percent better each and every day. Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, Will Nolte.
“I started playing golf when I was about nine years old. My uncle took me out to the course and really it’s something that’s been on my heart forever really and I’ve loved the game ever since.” Nolte said. “Everything I do now really just reflects on my uncle. Everything I do, all the tournaments I play in, everything is for my uncle and my parents. I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in right now if it weren’t for my mom. She’s very special to me.”
A Junior at St. Patrick Catholic high school, Will Nolte eats, sleeps, and breathes the game of golf, but the journey isn’t always easy on the links. Besides all the difficult technicalities that come with playing golf, you have to not only be physically strong, but mentally as well.
“Football deserves a lot of credit and is one of the hardest sports, but golf is just if you’re not mentally there, it’s just going to kick your butt and you’ve got to stay in the game all the time,” said Nolte. “You can’t slack and you’ve got to stay strong with it. Everyday you get one percent better. No matter what, I’m still going to come out here. Even if i’m playing really bad, that means i have to come out here more actually, so it’s really cool to me to see everybody that I do everyday and how well they treat me and how they all help me get closer to my goal in the end.”
Even if he does get caught in the bunker every once in a while, he has his favorite club to help him work some magic.
“My favorite club has got to be my 60 degree. It’s kind of like a very lofted sand wedge. I feel like I can create the most magic around the greens, and I feel like I can do everything with it really. It gets me out of tough spots and I feel like I’m very clutch with it,” Nolte said.
Very clutch with it and many other clubs to say the least. The golf world has taken Nolte to some very neat places, including the High School National Championship in Pinehurst, American Junior Association Qualifier, a few southeastern Junior Golf Tours and much more.
Nolte is thankful for all the experiences that continue to come his way, and in return enjoys inspiring the next generation of golf.
“I’ve taught a couple summer camps and it’s been really cool seeing the young kids that usually play baseball and other sports come to golf and they don’t know what to expect and whenever they come out here they have a smile on their face and it’s just really nice to see,” said Nolte.
Nolte also appreciates the tight bond he and his teammates have at St. Patrick Catholic high school, who brought home the 3-A State Championship last season.
“It’s really cool. I’ve made a lot of new friends and we still hang out everyday even when we come out after school on the course,” Nolte said. “It’s a really great bond we have and hopefully we can come home with a state championship next year.”
After high school, Notle dreams of playing golf at the collegiate level while also earning a degree in business.
