What does it mean to be a part of Jasper golf? Many would describe most division I golf teams as an elite group of golfers united by a love for the game and to ultimately bring home championships. That is correct, however, Jasper's golf is more than just winning or losing and birdies or bogeys. Jasper's golf is more than players and coaching staff, it is a tight knit community that expands beyond the Bronx. It's a culture and attitude that represents who we strive to be on and off the course. The hope is to apply these lessons and values to every aspect of our lives so we can learn and grow beyond golf. The goal is too become not only the best student-athletes we can be, but the best version of ourselves.
The Bronx has a reputation of toughness, strength, and resilience. Residents of the borough have a strong sense of grit and resolve, as seen by their various communities and rich history. They meet obstacles head-on with unshakable perseverance. The Manhattan College golf team similarly exemplifies these same traits in their team dynamic. The players exhibit a tough attitude as they manage the ups and downs of competition, just like Bronx inhabitants do when faced with adversity. Their mutual dedication to conquering challenges, both on and off the course, embodies the Bronx's unwavering mentality. The Manhattan College golf team is a living example of truly adapting to the environment around you and embodying the Bronx mentality into their team culture.
I have brought together an inside look into Jasper golf from a variety of perspectives. Taking the time to catch up with players, coaching staff, and past affiliates with the program, we will get an exclusive look into what it means to play division I golf in the Bronx and to be a part of Jasper golf.
With almost a full two years being the Head Men's Golf Coach here at Manhattan,
Keith Prokop has truly embodied what it means to be a Jasper. Prokop came from Dominican College and dominated at the division II level taking his team to the National level. Prokop didn't know what to expect coming from being in New Jersey his whole life, and then coming to the Bronx. After observing what Jasper golf was and is, he truly believes that "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere".
When asked about the Jasper golf culture, Prokop describes the mentality as "a combination of toughness and hustle, but the biggest thing about our program is the reflection aspect. Getting better everyday is our goal and we need to learn from our mistakes and our triumphs". Prokop's view of Jasper golf aligns with the earlier statement of getting better on and off the course. Learning and growing from success and failure is what Jasper golf is all about and Prokop continues to preach that in the program.
When asked what it means to be the coach of Manhattan, Prokop emphasizes the importance of striving for greatness in every one of his players. "I get to see the beginning of the most important stretch of my student-athletes lives and get to help shape them into the men they will become". Prokop wants the program to not only succeed at the athletic level, but to see all his athletes excel well beyond their college years. Prokop emphasizes that playing golf in the Bronx allows the players to adopt life skills such as toughness and resilience that will help them face adversity in life.
Who better to discuss the team culture then an individual currently playing and competing as a Jasper,
Colby Norton. Going into his final semester, Norton took the time to talk about why he became a Jasper. "I chose to be a Jasper because of the sense of community that Manhattan College has. Being able to play college golf with a team and coach, that bond together is something I wanted to be a part of"'. Norton has certainly been a leader for the Jaspers on the course with his consistency and reliability, but also off the course as a role model figure for the young core.
"The Manhattan Golf culture is one that is built around pushing each other and having positive relationships. We take pride in making sure we enjoy the journey we have with each other while pushing one another to be great". Norton believes this is the culture, holding one another accountable and learning from the mistakes. Being that tight knit group is somewhat of a common theme here at Manhattan, Norton expresses how Jaspers golf truly embodies togetherness and building those long-lasting connections.
The Jaspers take pride in their toughness and ability to grow through tough times. Norton states that "golf is more than just a game, but provides life lessons for all of us, and to be able to go through it all with people I am close to, is something I will remember for the rest of my life. When pushed down and hit hard with adversity, you must pick each other back up and in time, success will follow". This is something that the program has ingrained in the culture from being in the Bronx and it continues to carry on from generation to generation and Norton is evidence of believing that Bronx tough mentality is a part of Jasper golf.
At the 2023 MAAC Championship, former Assistant Athletic Director Matthew Raidbard, was able to join the Jaspers at their conference championship in Orlando, Florida. He was able to see firsthand what Jasper golf is about and how the program operated on a daily basis, as he expressed, "I thought Manhattan golf had an excellent culture that was extremely supportive and positive. I was amazed at the mental focus and toughness each team member displayed". Raidbard was heavily involved with the program behind the scenes, but for this short time he was able to spend time with the athletes and he really learn about the program and each student-athlete. "I enjoyed spending time with and getting to know the student-athletes on the team, and thought the team had great personality and sense of camaraderie. The team was fun and great to hang out with, but also knew when it was time to shift gears and focus on the competition at hand". Raidbard saw the brotherhood that the Jaspers have with one another that allows then to push each other and compete at such a high level, but he also saw them tap into that "Bronx Mentality" and knew that they were now focused on the competition at hand.
Raidbaird was shocked to see how much toughness and effort is required to compete at this level and gained tremendous respect for what the Jaspers do day to day. "What surprised me most, was how much time, energy, effort, and hard work went into a competition day. I had no idea that the day would start before the sun came up, and then how intense and physically demanding the day would be between the warm-up, playing the round, and the going back to the range afterward to practice again". This is just a small sample of the individual focus and determination it takes to be on Manhattan golf. The countless hours dedicated to their craft and constantly improving overall team culture is what Raidbard was able to see down in Orlando, and he could not express enough how impressed he was by the Jaspers team culture. Raidbard was able to see how the culture matches with that Bronx toughness and how the players strongly took pride in associating themselves with that.
Jasper golf is, at its core, much more than just a college golf team; it's a close-knit community, a resilient and tough culture, and a dedication to individual growth. Coach Prokop, student-athlete
Colby Norton, and Former Assistant Athletic Director Matthew Raidbard have hopefully provided you with valuable insights on what it means to be a part of the Jasper golf family and what it is like to play golf in the Bronx. It's evident that Jasper golf is simply more than just about the game itself when we consider the ideals of toughness, companionship, and continuous growth. It's also about the relationships and lifelong lessons that are made both on and off the course. The Jaspers are a living example of the persistent spirit of development and excellence that characterizes the Jasper golf culture that is built right here in the Bronx as they continue to overcome obstacles and strive for success in the MAAC.
