ASK OLE MISS: Drinkard Answers Your Questions

ASK OLE MISS provides Rebel fans interactive opportunities with some of the key figures in Ole Miss athletics. The latest installment features head women's golf coach Michele Drinkard. Questions were sent in by fans through OleMissSports.com over the past week, and Drinkard has addressed many of those in the following Q&A.

Q: What are the most important things you look for in a recruit?

We look for student-athletes that are passionate about the game, striving to be the best they can be and want to become a member of our Ole Miss family. We look for players that are going to be difference makers as we climb the ladder of success. We have incredible team chemistry. The girls push each other every day competitively but also genuinely enjoy each other. We have a lot of fun, so we also look for players that are going to continue to build on our traditions and team chemistry as well.

Q: What is your biggest obstacle for success at Ole Miss?

We have great leadership from our Athletic Director Pete Boone and Senior Associate Athletic Director Lynnette Johnson that have given us the support and vision to be successful at Ole Miss. We have great facilities with our Whitten Golf House that houses our offices and team locker rooms. Our Ole Miss Golf Course is just five minutes off campus and has just recently finished a terrific renovation. We also have added a short game facility with a bent grass green and a Champions Bermuda green that now gives us the ability to practice every conceivable situation we might face in future tournaments.

Q: What does it take to compete on a high level in the toughest conference in the nation?

To be competitive in the SEC a team's scoring average will range from 293-298, so if you want to break that down further it would mean an average of 73 to75. I really believe "Preparation wins Championships". So if you want to compete with the best then you have to leave no stone unturned in your preparation. We have the opportunity to play in the top tier tournaments and compete against the best not only in our conference but across the nation. It only makes you better, and as a result, we are climbing the ladder.

Q: What were your goals when you took over the program, and is it where you thought it would be?

My first goal was to learn about my team and listen to each player's goals and what they felt was stopping them from achieving their goals. Then I designed individual plans so that I could become a member of their team to help each one be successful and in turn the team be successful. I am very proud of what the team has accomplished to date and get a big smile when I think about what the future holds.

Q: What is it like having a player like Dori Carter on the team?

Dori is an incredible player and one of the best ball strikers that I have had the pleasure to be around, but with that said she is an even better person. She is so gracious and humble, but she is also very passionate about the game and being the best player she can be. She has helped her teammates step up their game as well with her positive energy that surrounds her. Dori has a great future ahead of her this spring and post-college into the professional ranks.

Q: Will there be any tournaments scheduled for the Ole Miss golf course now that it has been upgraded?

We are excited to host the Rebel Intercollegiate April 3-5 on our newly renovated Ole Miss Golf Course. The field will be made up of 15 teams along with some individual players as well. We are also hosting our first "College-Am" April 2nd in conjunction with the tournament, which will give our participants the opportunity to play with a current Rebel golfer either from the women's team or the men's team. (put in a link to tournament page)

Q: What do you like best about being the coach at Ole Miss?

I love being involved in and around the college atmosphere. Every day I feel like I have the biggest smile because I absolutely love what I do. Ole Miss has a great tradition, the campus is the prettiest campus that I have ever seen, and I am just very blessed to have been given this opportunity to coach at Ole Miss.

Q: What causes the shanks?

A shank is a shot that ricochets off the face and the hostel. Most times it is a balance and a swing plane issue, and most times it is because the path of the club head is coming across impact. Interesting enough, players will think they were swinging on an inside path to the ball so therefore that is why it went to the right. To fix it they will swing more to the left so that it won't go right, and by doing this they will keep hitting more "right outs". A good drill is to set another ball just on the other side of the ball you are hitting and just visualize how you are going to hit the inside ball and miss the outside ball. By focusing your attention on that inside ball you will let your swing find the ball much easier.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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