Indiana University Athletics
Harris Happy with Move to Indiana
2/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Feb. 20, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Not many people would be excited about moving from California to Indiana, but Indiana women's golfer Elaine Harris is an exception to the rule. The sophomore is a native of San Francisco, Calif., and was excited about the opportunity to come to Indiana for college.
"I just wanted to see a different part of the country," Harris said. "I wanted an adventure that my parents hadn't experienced. Indiana has a beautiful campus and I really liked the size of the school and the diverse campus."
For Harris, the hardest part was the normal adjustments all freshmen have to make when starting college.
"Most of the adjustments that I felt were just being a freshman," Harris said. "Adjusting to school, having a golf schedule to follow and being on my own for the first time. Culturally there are some differences but I haven't necessarily had to adjust to them, I just noticed them."
She readily admitted the weather did require an adjustment as well.
"The weather is a factor," Harris said. "Sometimes it hurts to play golf here, but at home I did not have to worry about that. We never had snow in San Francisco."
Her adjustment to college and life in the Midwest has been made easier though support from her teammates and the IU coaching staff, as she has grown not only on the golf course, but off it as well.
"We have a really great team," Harris said. "We are all supportive of each other and have all gotten along really well. I am really thankful for a supportive group of girls that keep me in line. I have seen a lot of improvement since I have been here. The coaching staff has been really supportive and given me a lot of both technical tools to use and particularly emotional and mental tools as well that are involved in walking onto a golf course."
The IU women's golf team will be hosting the Big Ten Championships, starting on Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30 at the Indiana University Golf Course, something that Harris and the whole team is looking forward to.
"We know what our challenges are going to be," Harris said. "We know what holes we don't play well and what our strengths are, so I am really looking forward to the Big Ten Championships. I think we can all place really well."
