Jackson County golfer Noah Longmire has not been playing the sport long, but it is something he has not stopped thinking about.
What began as a casual hobby for Longmire turned into a genuine passion, and now, the Blue Devils golfer said he is working on taking his game to the next level, accelerating his love for golf this season thanks to passion and his peers.
“We have a couple people we know that are older than us that are really good,” Longmire said. “We really enjoyed watching it and playing it so we really felt that if we started playing it now, we could get a lot better at the sport, and we really enjoy it.”
When he first picked up a club, Longmire would go to the Cookeville area nearly every other weekend, trying to sharpen his skills and soak in as much as he could from experienced players. Longmire said as he developed his game, so did his desire to improve. Longmire said a big part of the challenge he faced was handling the nerves that came with the sport.
“I was nervous and I think that shook me up a little bit at first,” Longmire said. “But as I got on, it got better and [as long as I] keep making some putts and making sure I don’t go out of bonds [at all.]”
Those nerves were not just in Longmire’s head. Sometimes, Longmire would have hundreds of fans watching him. Longmire said the size of the crowd depends on the tournament, but the pressure can still build quickly. Longmire said despite those nerves, they have not impacted his love for the game.
“I really like it because I feel like I have a chance to improve a whole lot and shoot good numbers which could give me a scholarship to play for a college team.” Longmire said.
Longmire said he has not decided where he wants to play at the next level, as long as he gets the opportunity.
For now, Longmire said he is focused on improving his game every day. Longmire now hits the courses every other day, working on putting, range shots, and the little details that add up over time. Longmire said he intends to practice all throughout the spring and summer months.
