Norman join golf team

From Staff Reports The Mace & Crown

September 10, 2007

Norfolk, VA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- On eleventh birthday, Seth Norman searched around Sport's Authority, searching for a potential present. Despite the rough sports he has played, something different caught his eye-a set of golf clubs. Eight years later, the young man became the well known golfer that he is today.

Norman is a freshman transfer student from Georgia Southern and will be on the golf team in the fall of 2007.

Norman is already making a name for himself in the area. He and his teammates have been interviewed by The Virginian-Pilot, The Beacon, and Wavy TV 10.

Norman's decision to leave was in part based on the college environment. "Georgia Southern was to country for me. It was in the middle of nowhere," Norman said.

There were other factors that effected Norman's decision to come to ODU.

"At Georgia Southern, we would have to get up at six in the morning to practice every week day," Norman said. "ODU isn't as strict, but it's strict enough."

In Norman's opinion, the golf team sounded promising when it came to skill level.

"I heard about the freshman team [and] thought they'd be good," Norman said. "They have a lot of potential."

Norman graduated from Cox High School in Virginia Beach. He won different awards throughout his high school career, including the Portsmouth Armature and the Virginia Beach Amateur. Norman won the Peyton Memorial twice.

"I've had a good junior golf career so far," Norman said. "I had the best scoring average at Cox, which was a 68."

Norman admitted to being into more aggressive sports in the past, but changed his mind after becoming more involved with golf.

"[Golf] grew on me," Norman said. "I got hooked on it."

His uncle and grandfather were professional golfers in Virginia, so the concept of golf was not completely new to him. Still, Norman continues realizing how hard golf can be.

"Golf is extremely hard," Norman said. "I've played soccer and hockey, [but] golf is by far the hardest. It takes a lot of concentration."

Despite his strengths with golf, Norman confesses to having weaknesses.

"My strength is my short iron game. Putting is the hardest part," Norman said. "The ground is never flat. You never get the same two shots. You [have to] be precise."

With most athletics, practice makes perfect and Norman gets plenty of it.

"I'll practice by putting or by going to the driving range," Norman said. "During school I put in time at practice. Over the summer, I'm practicing sun up until sun down, but I still have a life."

The countless tournaments that Norman has been a part of make golfing worth the time he puts into it.

"I have no idea how many [tournaments] I've been in-maybe between seventy and hundred," Norman said. "Tournaments are fun. The matches are long, they can be anywhere from four to six hours."

Norman is currently majoring in sports management would like to become a professional golfer.

"I think pro-golfers should make more money," Norman said. "There's so much competition in golf. The professional's that aren't on T.V. don't make as much money as the one's that are."

Throughout Norman's life on the green, he had to thank his parents for all of their dedication.

"Golf's expensive, I'd have to thank my dad for putting time and money into it," Norman said. "My mom and dad gave me support."

Norman will put his skills to this test this fall when golf season starts up again.