Golf Strong Stories

Andrea Wong | UC Davis Women’s Golf and Professional

“Strength and conditioning was key to my success as a college athlete. I was always a pretty small kid growing up so started working out from a young age, but I took my training to another level when I got into college. I’m a golfer and though finesse is a big part of the game, power and strength is playing a bigger role these days! 

My collegiate training helped me become a longer hitter which is really advantageous. In addition, we often play 36 holes in college so conditioning and being mentally tough from start to finish steps you apart! I found success, winning a few events, my junior and senior year in college and attribute that not only to my work ethic but focus in the gym.

Today as I pursue playing professionally, strength and conditioning along with mobility and functional movement continue to be a top priority and I believe that it’s the key to a long career!”

Matthew Hansen | UC Davis Men’s Golf And Professional

“Being a former high level Division I college athlete, strength and conditioning was a major factor in my success. 

Craig guided myself and my teammates through sport specific exercises that not only increased our strength but also prevented injury.  I gained a lot as an athlete with only 1 hour with Craig 3 times a week.

Craig used his knowledge to provide me with specific exercises that targeted flaws and weaknesses in my body. Through these exercises the parts that were weak became strong. The few years under Craig were some of the most motivated I have felt inside a gym.”

Michael Brockington | UC Davis Men’s Golf

“As a college athlete, one of the things you come to realize is how important proper nutrition and strength training is. It tends to separate the athletes that are good versus the ones that are exceptional. Intercollegiate sports can be a grind with traveling and competing. It's a huge advantage to not have to worry about personal fitness when you know you've already done the work. What's more, is that you find good habits tend to bleed over into every other aspect of your life; whether it's managing time as a student, or gaining adequate recovery time. If you prepare properly and focus on form and goals, the only direction you can go is forward.

Golf is a bit of a different sport when it comes to physical demands. Though strength is becoming more important, it is more conducive to have functional mobility. We were out there carrying our bags and playing 36 holes, sometimes 11 hours during the day, mostly playing through lunch. But it was hardly ever an issue for us because I believe that we truly were the best conditioned Men's Golf team in college.

We had seen half a dozen trainers in my time at Davis, but it felt like Coach Craig really wanted to have a tailor-made program for the Golf team. In a time where golf workouts were mostly just stripped down Football workouts, the golf team needed to focus on sport specific movements. We utilized resistance training along with functional stretching to make sure we were ready to compete for every day. We even utilized some TPI (Titleist Performace Institute) movements, something we had never done before in years prior, and we got better because of it.”