This week, the Brickyard is hosting the Women’s Mid-American Conference golf championships.

Weather once again looks like it might be a factor. It is windy and warm, but the forecast is calling for falling temperatures and a chance of rain.

My alma mater is here, Ball State, and today my old coach for the men’s team, Earl Yestingsmeir, came by, and I chatted with him for a while. He was men’s golf coach at BSU for 35 years. Besides being the golf coach, he also was the Sports Information Director at the school.

Something I have noticed since hosting a few college events here is that the players sure do get a lot more equipment and perks than what I remember from college! I think Coach would agree with me on this.

I remember we would get a golf bag, which was supposed to last us four years, a few shirts and maybe a pair of pants and some golf balls for each tournament. But that was basically it. The rest was up to us if we wanted to shell the money out for a new driver, irons, putter or wedge.

Again, I’m not certain, but it looks like college players get a few more perks than back in the early 80s (dated myself, didn’t I?).

Back when I went to Ball State, Coach came up with an idea to take the golf team to Scotland. He started out by getting the trip approved, and if I remember correctly, the trip was over fall break so that the players did not miss any school because we weren’t playing any tournaments over there. So once the trip was approved, Coach took the idea of the trip to the alumni to get some financial help. Then we were off to Scotland.

We got to play seven different courses during the trip. We started out by playing Gullane #1 (sits right next to Muirfield), North Berwick Golf Links, Glenbervie CC (inland course just like a country club here in America), Gleneagles (both courses), Carnoustie and lastly St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf.

It would take a very long time to tell all the great stories from that trip. But as college students, having a coach who cared enough about his players to allow them a chance to play at golf’s birthplace cannot be put in words. I was fortunate enough to be on that first trip and would like to say thank you, Coach, for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Jeff Schroeder

PGA Head Professional

Brickyard Crossing