Most of the school knows Peter Shepard (12) as one of the star athletes on the Lenoir City Basketball team. He spends hours training to be the best he can be on the court. However, basketball is not the only sport Shepard has been working on. Recently, he’s started playing golf.
“My friends started playing it… like Davis and Ben, and then Ben got me into it and I started playing. I started liking it so that’s kind of what got me into it and it’s fun and peaceful,” Shepard said.
Shepard was motivated to join the high school golf team after enjoying playing the sport with his friends, Davis Boals (12) and Ben Rodriguez (12). Another influence in his life is his grandfather, who has played golf all his life and has encouraged Shepard to jump into the sport. Golf is different from sports that Shepard has played in the past, but he loves the challenge of trying something new.
“I like having those good days and bad days because if you have bad days, there’s always room to get better. If there’s good days, it always feels good to play good golf,” Shepard said.
Shepard said golf differs from other sports he plays because golf is not only a physical game but also a mental game.
“Golf is super hard. It’s all about critique and muscle memory. I’d say it’s one of the hardest sports there is. I encourage other people to play golf because it really challenges your mind, challenges you to get better, and it really challenges your mental toughness,” Shepard said.
Trying a new sport during your last year of high school has to be challenging, but Shepard took advantage of the opportunity. He is grateful for the benefits that playing golf brings. Any sport is a good physical activity, but Shepard chose a sport that is beneficial physically and mentally. He encourages others to play because it can be a difficult game, but the challenge is rewarding.
“[I want] to get better, get out there and play with my friends when I’m 18 and even when I’m 102,” Shepard said.
The lifelong sport of golf is beneficial on many levels. Peter Shepard is taking this opportunity to become better at the sport and make it something he can play throughout his life.
