The Kent School Varsity Golf Team, led by Science Teacher Mr. Jeremy Sokolnicki, is a coed team that “should [compete] at the highest level possible.” That said, there is always an opportunity for movement, which allows sub-varsity players to be promoted to varsity through “hard work and demonstrated merit.”
The team practices six times a week at the Bulls Bridge Golf Club, only a 10-minute drive from campus. There, Kent athletes can enjoy PGA-certified training professionals and excellent facilities, which gives the team a competitive advantage.
The team’s recent wins are remarkable. In all competitions against our neighboring school, South Kent School, Kent prevails, whether it’s a home or away game. Kent also performed well in golf tournaments against other Connecticut schools; in a tournament against Choate Rosemary Hall and Trinity Pawling on April 30, we took first place with an excellent score of 193-208-223. Gordon Shi ’27 represented Kent with a first place individual finish with a score of 37 strokes.
The golf practice session combines “short-game work on the practice green” and “long-game development on the practice range.” Recently, Kent renovated the team’s indoor practice area. Most notably, the team acquired the TrackMan system, which allows them to practice year-round. Additionally, the TrackMan system monitors player data, enabling coaches to provide personalized suggestions. The team also has an outdoor practice range on campus with a tee line, nine top-of-the-line hitting platforms, and two large practice bunkers.
Liya Fu ’27, a member of the Kent Golf Varsity Team, highlights the team’s camaraderie: “We’re all very supportive of each other. We help each other improve and stay positive no matter what.” She describes the team environment as welcoming and uplifting, where everyone feels like friends rather than just teammates.
The team’s hardworking nature is also coded in its DNA. They leave campus for practice at 3:15 p.m. and often stay until 6:00 p.m., with even longer sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays to maximize skill development. Some teammates even use their holidays to practice golf. With firm support from the school, coaches, and golf club staff, along with the hard work of every teammate, the Kent Golf Team will continue to excel, driven by a shared belief that they will be better tomorrow than they are today.
