University of North Carolina Athletics
A Q&A With Golfer Casey Grice
May 21, 2012 | Women's Golf
May 21, 2012
Catching Up With Casey Grice by Parker Preston
Starting with the recruiting process, sophomore golfer Casey Grice found it easy to choose The University of North Carolina. Coming from College Station, Texas, Grice fell in love with Carolina and knew this was where she wanted to continue her golf career. Sitting down with Grice we learned why she picked Carolina, how she became involved in the sport of golf and what the golf team means to her and how it has impacted her life here in Chapel Hill.
THB: What made you choose Carolina?
CG: I started the recruiting process pretty early, and from the first time I visited to the last time I visited as a student, I felt like it was the best combination of academics, athletics and student life, and you really feel like you're a family and that's what I wanted.
THB: What is your favorite part about golf?
CG: I really like the short game because you can use your imagination and be creative. With putting it's just the same thing over and over again and shots are very similar; whereas with chipping you can do high, short, long, low whatever you want.
THB: You've had a fantastic year, with eight top-20 finishes and were recently selected to the All-ACC team. What does being named to that squad mean to you?
CG: Thank you, it means a lot. It means that your hard work has paid off and that you have been recognized for everything you've accomplished. It was great that three of us were all named All- ACC (teammates Catherine O'Donnell and Katherine Perry were also selected to the squad). It's just great to see how hard all of us have been working and that we are prepared for Nationals and we can go and put up a top finish this year.
THB: You went to Nationals last year, did you learn anything at last year's championship that might help you this year?
CG: Definitely, the first year is the hardest. You get the experience, nerves are a little bit better the second year, and you know what to expect. To have one year of experience helps - now I know how everything works. We have been playing with these girls all year so we know what we have to do, how we have to play and how we need to prepare.
THB: What's a lesson you've learned through your college career?
CG: I think personally it's been time management. Being a student-athlete, you have to manage your homework, manage the time you spend practicing and manage your everything. It goes deeper into learning what works best for you.
THB: What do you like to do when you're not playing golf?
CG: I like to color and draw, I just made some get well soon cards for the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital (to take to NCAA's). I like to design and draw letters in different fonts.
THB: Is that what you want to do after your collegiate career or do you have other ideas?
CG: I think playing professional golf is still in the future. We will see how the next few years go and I feel like I still have a little bit of time to decide. But I do really love graphic design. We'll see, you never know what could happen.
THB: What is your most memorable round of your collegiate career?
CG: I think final round of ACC's, my freshman year (2011) because we (team) won it and you could see it on everyone's faces. We had three holes left and all we had to do was pretty much par out. It was especially fun after round - just being with the team cheering and screaming - and pouring ice cold water on coach (Mann).
THB: What made you pick golf?
CG: I was 12 years olf, so I wasn't one of the real young ones when I started. I played soccer until I was about 12 and that was because my older brother played soccer. Then my Granddad got him interested in golf. I had to travel to all the tournaments and my Mom said `there are two other girls in the entry, why don't you just go play, its better than watching and you can walk around, hit your own shots.' And I had pretty good hand-eye coordination just from playing sports as a kid so I just stuck with it. I played a lot of sports in middle school, and at our high school we have golf year round similar to college golf. So I had to make the decision going into high school if I wanted to play other sports or just play golf. That was kind of my decision point and that's how it happened.
THB: What do you plan on doing this summer?
CG: This summer I'll be playing in a few tournaments. Right after the NCAA Championships, I have a qualifier for another tournament and I'm working at the St. Jude Classic. I'll play in a few tournaments here and there and I'm going back home to Texas.
THB: Do you ever just want a break from golf?
CG: Golf is a harder sport to play from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and there are times where you are just like `I am mentally tired' - especially after we have played in a lot of tournaments. But I've never gotten to where I just want to quit; never have I had that feeling, I just love the game and I usually use the summer as a time to not be as busy. I still play in tournaments and practice, but it's a little more down time and I don't have to be as strict on myself. You kind of use that time to recoup for next year. But other than a few weeks here and there, I've never dropped back.
Players Mentioned
