With the weather shooting a little over par, snow-wise, the FHS golf team begins the season handicapped. More than three feet of snow covers the fairways of Buffalo Hills are putting the golf team indoors until the course becomes playable.
"I've never seen it like this," said Pat Meeker, who has been a groundskeeper at Buffalo Hills for the past 14 years. The snow "is at least twice as deep as anything I've seen."
Although many FHS golfers are hitting balls at the Rick Donahue Golf Academy in Evergreen, Buffalo Hills won't be ready until mid-April, said Flathead's golf coach, Jim Hann.
Hann said the team will practice in Polson and indoors until they can play outstide. Hann hopes this strategy will prepare the team for Flathead's first meet April 19 in Missoula.
"The first tournament we're not going to do that well," said junior Ben Parsons. "I don't think we will have much of a chance in the beginning of the season."
If the golf team does get going, however, Hann believes the Braves have a good chance at the state tournament, held in Kalispell this year.
"We have a deep team," said Hann. "It will be a matter of finding one or two players that excel. We should be a top three team this year, if we get an opportunity to practice and play."
The boys top five varsity spots will be up for grabs between sophomore's Michael Gregory and Justin Dorr, juniors Jess Roper, Nate Olson, Ryan Santa, Travis Schule and Parsons, and senior Tyler Kunnary.
"This year there is going to be a battle for every position," said Parsons. "There are a lot of good people going out."
Kunnary return from last year's third-place team, which had four seniors on varsity. Many look to him for consistency and leadership.
"I think Tyler Kunnary will be probably be the one that stays the most consistent," said Dorr, who played in a few varsity meets as a freshman last spring.
"Tyler Kunnary is our most experienced player," said Hann. "He's been playing for us for the last three years."
The Bravettes, on the other hand, need more golfers just to fill the varsity team. Last year, the Bravettes had four golfers, compared to the usual varsity team which sends five to state, and finished third. This year only two remain, sophomore Jasmine Gardner and senior Hillary Hanson.
"On the girls team we lost a couple of kids," said Hann. "We are going to be inexperienced. There are openings for girls to play and play early this season."
Senior Hillary Hanson placed sixth individually at state last year and says she and Gardner will be playing for individual honors this year.
"It's going to be hard because we're not going to have a full team this year," said Hanson. "Unless we get two more people, we won't qualify for team points at state."
Despite a lack of numbers, the team is hoping the weather will cooperate so they can get try their hand at the course.
"We're already anxious," said Kunnary. "We can't wait to get back out there."