The Utica Girls Golf team had the opportunity to travel to Wheeling, West Virginia, to stay and play at the Oglebay Resort.
Eleven team members made the trip, accompanied by alumna Olivia Dickson. Coaches in attendance included Pam Vickers, Carol Christopher, recent additions Josh and Stacey Lambert, and Doug Vickers.
The course was by no means a walk in the park, featuring steep hills, fast greens, and numerous hazards—including sand traps, ponds, and tall grass.
On the day the team arrived, they walked and scrambled nine holes, pushcarts and golf bags in tow. A full eighteen was originally planned, but no one had anticipated how physically demanding the course would be on foot. The round was shortened to allow time for team-bonding exercises.
The second day was packed with golf. In the morning, this time using golf carts instead of pushcarts, the team once again scrambled the eighteen holes. After lunch on the course, they received a lesson from a professional golfer. With new skills and improved technique, the team wrapped up the day on a nine-hole par-three course.
Though play ended each evening, team bonding continued into the night, with the group gathering for meetings and activities such as Jenga, Uno, decorating golf balls, and swimming.
While every attendee improved their golf game, the most important takeaway was the camaraderie built during their time at Oglebay. The trip was far from a relaxing stroll through the course—but through its challenges, it fostered a deep sense of support and connection among team members.
“We know the closer we are to one another and the more we support and lift each other up, the more successful each golfer will be,” said Coach Pam Vickers. “Our time together at Oglebay set the tone for all of us to be the kind of coaches, players, team, and program we want to have representing our community.”
