June 29—Prior to her first season as a member of the Norwich Free Academy girls’ golf team, freshman Caroline Goderre sent a list of goals to coach Bill Howard.
It was a sign of her maturity and focus.
“It’s rare that you see in a freshman somebody who knows what she wants; she wants to be great,” Howard said. “She wants to be the best. … She knows what she wants and she works at it.
“I’d say she’s probably as focused right now at this stage where she’s at than any kid I’ve ever coached, boys’ or girls’ team. She’s a really focused and mature kid.”
Goderre was named The Day’s 2023 All-Area Girls’ Golfer of the Year.
The first time Goderre grabbed a golf club, she was hooked on the sport. She got her first set of clubs at about 10 years old.
“Something sparked in me,” said Goderre, who resides in Lebanon. “I can’t stop loving it.”
Goderre has been working on her game and steadily improving ever since.
Howard first met Goderre while helping out at a junior clinic at Norwich Golf Course. Howard didn’t know at the time that Goderre would eventually attend NFA.
“I was incredibly impressed,” Howard said. “At that point, I said, ‘Wow, she’s got a bright future.'”
By the time high school rolled around, Goderre was ready to make an impact as a freshman. She has benefited from working the last four years with Nicole Damarjian, director of instruction at Blackledge Country Club in Hebron.
When asked what impresses Howard about Goderre’s game, he responded: “She’s got a very good golf swing. The other thing I like is she knows how to play the game already. I get kids who come in sometimes and they’ve got a good golf swing and can hit balls on a range but they don’t necessarily know what they’re doing once they get out on the course as far as the management part of the game, which is such an important part.
“She’s ahead of the game in that area. You just watch the way she carries herself out there, you can tell she’s a golfer. And you don’t always see that.”
Goderre, an All-Eastern Connecticut Conference selection, posted some impressive scores.
Her best round during the regular season came against Bacon Academy at Chanticlair Golf Course in Colchester. She never played there before and shot a 1-over-par 36 — her lowest nine-hole score ever.
At the ECC championship at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam on May 31, Goderre shot a team-low 47 to finish third overall.
Goderre finished her freshman season with a strong showing at the Division I girls’ state tournament at Timberlin Golf Club in Berlin on June 7. After qualifying as an individual, she shot an 86, tying for ninth overall.
Howard was not surprised about Goderre’s performance against some of the top girls in the state.
“I walked the whole way with her that day,” Howard said. “She had a little hiccup in the middle of the round, the wheels started to come off a little bit, but she regained her composure and she finished strong. … She went out there and played with players from some of the better teams in the state and she held her own. She looked like she belonged.”
Goderre, who says her strong work ethic comes from her parents, is determined to keep improving. She eventually wants to play on the Division I level in college but realizes she has a long way to go. She’s learning to properly balance academics and athletics.
She tries to stay humble and keep her emotions in check on the golf course.
“A lot of people tell me, you’re really humble,” Goderre said. “I want that to be me because I used to play soccer growing up and I was kind of a cocky little kid. I never showed it but my body motion showed it.
“As soon as I got to golf, I knew I couldn’t be like that. I’ve matured and told myself to work hard through it all and enjoy the process and have fun and do what you love. It’s really helped me. “
Howard is looking forward to watching Goderre grow as a golfer and a person.
“I’m really excited to see what happens over the next couple of years,” Howard said. “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse and build up all sorts of expectations for her right now. If she continues to progress, certainly there’s a tremendous amount of potential there.”
The Day’s 2023 All-Area Girls’ Golf Team
Player of the Year — Caroline Goderre (NFA)
Mia Belcamino (Bacon Academy)
Mary Haburay (East Lyme)
Erin O’Farrell (NFA)
Madeline Smith (NFA)