By: Savannah Halle
Vivian Ninham, a sophomore student who is double-majoring in Business Administration and Spanish, is a person who not only flourishes in the classroom, but also on the golf course. She has been bringing pride to St. Norbert College for the last two years with her incredible scores and shots in one of her many fields of expertise by being a part of the women’s golf team. Before coming to SNC, she played golf at her high school for four years. When touring SNC, besides wanting to continue her passion, she was drawn in by the kindness of the coaches and the team alike, and knew this was the perfect place to continue her golf career. Vivien also mentioned that during her first meeting with the team, she knew that these people would be able to help her hone her ability and continue to grow and succeed. It’s safe to say her initial thoughts have proven true: her team has become her home away from home, and Viven has impressively played her way to the top of the leaderboards many times throughout her two seasons thus far, including being awarded an All-NACC two years in a row and finishing on the podium this year at the NACC Conference in early October.
Vivien and the team practice at Thornberry Creek in Oneida, WI, during their season for a required minimum of an hour and a half once a day. They can spend their time on the range or in short game areas, only occasionally getting on the course to play. Their coaches help them improve their swings, putting and short game, and also run through many drills for consistency. While practices can be a little more individualized, Vivien states how their meet days hold more camaraderie, and also tend to be a little more lengthy. Typically, on meet days, they are at their course location for six to seven hours. That doesn’t include travel time, but they normally get there about an hour early to warm up their skills and to get a feel of the green so they can feel prepared to give it their best. Though the hours can be long, Vivien vocalizes that her team makes it all worth it. They’re her family. Because of them, Vivien notes, she enjoys the long bus rides and longer days on the course because there’s more time spent, and more memories for later. Whether it’s playing cards, late nights of laughter, quizzing each other on academics in the car, or convincing the coaches to go and get ice cream in the van, there isn’t a moment she takes for granted. And, though it’s a season of her school year that she most clearly adores, it certainly doesn’t come without difficulties. Vivien notes that it can become difficult to balance school work with golf and the other activities she’s involved with. However, she also mentions that being in the Honors Program has helped her through this. It has taught her time management and organization, and also has brought her friends through the program, who have become a large system of support for her in these moments where everything can feel so large.
Though her season is done, and she’s grateful for the break, Viven is also already incredibly excited to start their season back up in the spring! She’s curious to see what the future has in store, and what new, lasting memories she’ll make, and maybe even what records she’ll tie, and even break, next.
