Forget the lazy, beer-gutted golfers of yesteryear. The crowd around the tee-box these days has chiseled abs, striking features and athleticism up the wazoo. We all know about the golf phenomenon that has sparked a huge increase in golf participation over the past several years, mainly resulting from the emergence of Tiger Woods onto the scene. He has changed the face of golf from an image of chubby guys like Fuzzy Zoeller and Craig Stadler with few other athletic capabilities to that of a strapping man in the prime of his life. Although this altered image of golfers is new to the public, its evolution has been apparent for decades. From the days of Bobby Jones and Sam Snead when golfers smoked cigarettes while addressing the ball, to Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player of the ’60s and ’70s, to the newest breed of god-like sculptures like David Duval and the infamous Tiger, golf has revamped its image to portray what society views as a respectable—and therefore lucrative—sport. If you see our new golf teams, you will see how these changes are giving the “athletic” sports a run for their money in the contest to truly draw a crowd.

One of the great specimens on the Macalester men’s team is co-captain Kramer Lawson ’05 who might be just as valuable as a wide receiver on the heralded Macalester football team as he is to the golf team. His leadership abilities carry him and the much-improved Macalester golf team through the 580-yard dog-leg par fives. Agreeing with Assistant Coach Shane Stork’s opinion, ”We’re just a quarter wrench turn away from really doing some good stuff,” Lawson’s enthusiasm for the current season is more than apparent.

After finishing last or near last in recent years, the team’s showing at Northfield last Saturday—fifth among 10 teams—displayed that new physical prowess. Lawson led the team with a two-day total of 158, followed closely behind by Eric Kelsey ’07 with a total of 159. Kylie Thomson ’07 led the women’s team, which also looks ahead to success in the future, considering all of its current players are first-years.

Take a look this weekend at how they have changed their style on Saturday at Prestick Golf Club in Woodbury and at Tanner’s Brook Golf Club in Forest Lake on Sunday. They’ll be the ones looking good in the orange and blue.