Optimism Is Soaring For AACC’s Golf Teams

Golf has had a dramatic rise in popularity among young athletes, and according to Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) men’s golf coach Dave O’Donnell, the volume of new golfers is a silver lining to the COVID pandemic.

“These are COVID kids,” O’Donnell said. “My players that I have this year were in middle school during the pandemic. They were looking to get out of the house, and golf was a game that was safe and could be played with their friends and parents.”

O’Donnell has a record number of golfers on his men’s team this year with 11 student-athletes. The first-year women’s program has six golfers participating.

Both teams have been practicing since February, and during the cold and inclement weather, the programs have used the golf simulators at X-Golf in Pasadena to hone their skills in a climate-controlled facility. During good weather, the athletes use Severna Park Golf Center, and their home golf course is The Golf Club at South River.

The men’s team has had two matches with Division III four-year colleges so far and has finished third during a match at Washington College and seventh in a match at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.

“This is the best team that I’ve had,” said O’Donnell, who has been the head coach since 2022. “They have phenomenal potential, and they are driven to get better every day.”

O’Donnell has three golfers from the Severna Park and Arnold area that he is counting on to make AACC competitive this year, with the goal of the team qualifying for the junior college national tournament in May.

Returning from last year’s squad is Severna Park’s Tim Brophy, who has a handicap index of 0.5, which is equivalent to a “scratch golfer,” meaning he shoots close to par for an 18-hole match.

“Tim is my best golfer and is incredibly consistent,” O’Donnell said. “Tim is very good at all three phases of the game: driving, chipping and putting. The experience he gained from last year will really help him this year.”

Another returning golfer from last year, Broadneck graduate Darren Hoffman, has improved by working on the mental side of the game and focusing on every shot.

“Darren has a tremendous upside,” O’Donnell said. “Darren has all the tools to have a great season, and he shot a 73 (one over par) at the junior college district tournament in Tennessee last year.”

Freshman golfer Will Maddox has traveled a unique road to get to AACC. Maddox played in the National Junior Hockey League with stints for the El Paso Rhinos and Hampton Road Whalers as a goalie. Players in these leagues gain experience and exposure from colleges as they hope to gain scholarships.

“I just got burnt out playing hockey, and I’ve played golf since I was 5, and I like playing golf so much more,” Maddox said. “In 2023, I really started to take golf much more seriously.”

Maddox’s strengths are his long-driving and putting skills. He averages about 300 yards per drive.

“Will hits the ball a mile,” O’Donnell said. “His confidence is soaring now and he’s a great story with changing sports and will only get better with experience.”

AACC will have matches with several junior colleges in Maryland, Hagerstown, Carroll and Southern Maryland, before heading to the national junior college southeast district championship in late April in Bristol, Tennessee. If the team or individuals do well in the districts, they can qualify for the national junior college tournament in May in Plymouth, Indiana.

“Coach O’Donnell has been very excited about this group for a while,” said AACC Athletic Director Duane Herr. “The goals are high, but we expect to compete well at districts and have the opportunity to participate as a team at nationals.”

Herr is also excited about the new women’s golf team, which had a great turnout for a first-year program.

“With this being our first year for the women’s program, we’re really working to establish a strong foundation for the future,” Herr said.

Two of the golfers are student-athletes from other fall and winter sports who joined the team to add a competitive environment to the team.

“Our student-athletes have all shown great progress in improving their game,” said AACC women’s golf coach Mike Rice. “They are excited to compete in our three matches as well as in the district championships.”