Messenger photo by Eric Pratt: Fort Dodge girls golf returning letterwinners are (left to right): Braxtyn Dencklau, Alesha Strain, Felicity Strain and Reigan Grossnickle.

Angela Dencklau knows the Fort Dodge girls golf program won’t turn the corner overnight.

The first-year head coach’s message to her young team is simple: take things one shot, one hole and one round at a time.

“We just have to focus on getting better every single day,” said Dencklau, a former Dodger player herself. “There are no short cuts in this sport. It takes work, focus and commitment.

“I’ve seen a lot of improvement already. The girls are building confidence and consistency with each swing. We can’t skip steps (in the building process): it will have to come with time and experience.”

Four regulars return to the FDSH lineup this spring, but only one — Alesha Strain — is a senior. Strain is joined by her younger sister, sophomore Felicity, on the scorecard, as well as junior Reigan Grossnickle and sophomore Braxtyn Dencklau.

Dencklau, the coach’s daughter, returns with the top nine-hole average from a year ago, followed by Alesha Strain, Grossnickle and Felicity Strain.

Freshmen Emma Connelly, Brielle Crouch and Alani Crouse are the other team members.

“We’re young overall,” Angela Dencklau said. “We have a lot of growth and learning to do when it comes to competitive rounds. Handling both the physical and mental nerves that come with real varsity meets is a challenge, of course, but I’m excited to see what they can do.

“One of our main goals is to make sure the only pressure they feel is from themselves. Their progress is (relative to) their own scores. Just showing steady improvement and believing in themselves more along the way.”

Dencklau is emphasizing not only the importance of steady ballstriking, but reducing strokes in the short game.

“You have to be able to chip and putt with efficiency,” Dencklau said. “It can make or break your score. It may be tedious at times to work on (in practice), but it’s a necessity.”

Dencklau adds that golf is “a sport I’ve enjoyed my entire life.” She’s hoping to spread that passion to more student-athletes at FDSH.

“I’ve been playing since I was four years old,” Dencklau said. “The (Dodger) program has gone through some lean years (recently), but there is a lot of history here. Hopefully we can rebuild and restore some of the success and pride by recruiting more kids to try and stick with it.

“Golf is a life-long sport, and it’s a lot of fun. I just hope we keep adding girls who are eager to work hard, learn and create the foundation for Dodger golf moving forward.”

2023 FORT DODGE GIRLS GOLF

Roster

Senior — Alesha Strain.

Junior — Reigan Grossnickle.

Sophomores — Braxtyn Dencklau, Felicity Strain.

Freshmen — Emma Connelly, Brielle Crouch, Alani Crouse.

Schedule

April 11 — at Humboldt; 17 — at West Des Moines Valley Invitational; 18 — Ames; 25 — at Waterloo East.

May 2 — Mason City; 5 — IAC Northern Division Meet (Round 1) in Mason City; 9 — IAC Northern Division Meet (Round 2) in Fort Dodge; 12 — Fort Dodge Invitational; 17 — regional meet.