Most golf teams have six or seven players, but this year’s Bakersfield College women’s golf team has found a close bond in its smaller size.

Returning player Andrea Marquez feels she can be closer with a team she is not competing with.

“I think it’s great, I’m really grateful [we have a smaller team,”] she said. “ Some of the teams that are bigger, they have to compete in these spots to play in these tournaments. So luckily, as a smaller team we don’t have to do that. It’s nice because we don’t have that inner-team rivalry. We all get along really well.   We’ve all been the normal college age and we can relate to one another, and have.”

Bob Paillet, the coach of the team, believes that competition inside of a team has its benefits.

“Not that our girls aren’t trying, but I think if you are fighting for a spot you might try a little harder, you might practice a little harder,” he said. “Competition is good.”

Chelsey Roberts, a freshman player who is returning to golf after playing in high school, also feels the close nature of a smaller team and feels that it has helped her game.

“Our team is actually really close and we all get along really well,” she said. “ The games all mental, and one thing that’s good is that since our team’s so small and we’re all really close, you have your other team on the course and we see each other.”

Marquez also feels her game has improved because of her relationship with her teammates.

“I’ve improved so much from last year, I think it’s because I’ve been able to relax more than last year, most of that has been because of my teammates,” she said.  “A lot of the times I’ve struggled and they’ve helped me in many ways. Even outside of golf they’ve been able to help me for when I’ve had personal problems or stuff in school where I get stressed out. That close knit is what has been helping us the most. I’ve been close with everybody and you know, some days one can’t help me but another one can. We are very, very different, but for me, I’ve been able to use those differences to help me in a different way.”

The players also have fun off of the field.

“Some teams that aren’t close get really competitive with each other on the team and when you play in a tournament you play golf for like five hours,” Roberts said. “Then you have all the time you have to spend with your team after the tournament and the next day, so your spending a lot of time with your team. When you get along with them, it’s easier to just have fun.We enjoy hanging out with each other. At practice I don’t think our team has ever been mad at another person.”

“The most memorable thing about this year is just how much closer and nicer it has been. To have a team I can get along with at practice and also outside of practice, I think that’s been the nicest thing,” Marquez said.

Marquez shares some of these moments.

“On some trips, those are the times that we really get to bond more. Like in the hotel rooms, at team dinners, after tournaments, on the van rides, that’s what’s been nice. Just how we crack jokes and hang out, and be able to talk about our golf games, but we also move on and talk about other stuff, whether its school, or news or whatever.”