Victoria Zakashansky shares her love of golf

Junior Victoria Zakashansky may be one of only two girls on the ARHS golf team, but she said that motivates her to be the best at her game.

According to Zakashansky, 17 people play for the team, including seniors Ben Scott, Graham Arguin, and Owen Howard. Scott, whom she described as a standout athlete, shares captain duties with Howard. “They help the team when it comes to reminders and keeping people informed,” Zakashansky said.

The golf team has several coaches—Coach Carl, Coach McDonald, Coach Bonnie Cado, and Coach Andy Jones, a volunteer. Their coaching philosophy is simple: they want their players to “just have fun.”

Practices usually involve playing full rounds on the course, putting on the green, or occasionally working at the driving range. Although Zakashansky has already finished her matches for the season, her main personal goal has been to “make par for at least one hole.”

The team is facing a tough year. Last season, ARHS finished 5–8, but this fall, they have lost all of their matches, being 0–13. Still, Zakashansky said she found bright spots. She competed in two matches and scored a 62 and a 101, both of which she was proud of.

“One thing people don’t truly understand is how hard golf is,” Zakashansky said. “It’s easy to say all you do is whack a ball, but that’s not the reality.”

She recalled an especially important match last year, when winning meant the team would advance to the semifinals. “Everyone was so happy. We all jumped up and down celebrating,” she said.

The ARHS team practices at Amherst Golf Club from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For Zakashansky, golf offers both challenge and joy. “It’s something that can really positively push me, but I also just enjoy the simplicity of getting to play,” she said.

While the team doesn’t bond much outside of practice, Zakashansky said she values the friendships formed during the season. Of the 17 players, only 3 are girls—Zakashansky, Sophia Sarage, and Christine Yan. Despite the imbalance, she said she has always felt included. “The only difference is that sometimes the boys play in more matches than the girls, but it’s not because of gender,” Zakashansky said.

“The coaches are very fair and try to split things up as equally as possible,” she added.

Looking ahead, Zakashansky said she plans to keep improving—not just with the high school team, but also on her own. With dedication and practice, she hopes to continue building her skills and enjoying the game.