Photo by Brandy Mills-Carver: Returning letterwinners for the Fort Dodge girls golf team are (left to right): Emma Lloyd, Brielle Crouch and Gracie Harvey.

Fort Dodge girls golf coach Angela Dencklau has a very competitive group on her hands this spring.

The Dodgers only have three letterwinners back and six players on their entire roster, but Dencklau is confident each of her athletes will push hard to maximize their potential in the weeks to come.

“They really want to learn and improve and do as well as possible score-wise,” said Dencklau, who is beginning her fourth season at the helm. “The goal is to use that to their advantage. Golf can be a tough sport physically and mentally. There are good days and there are bad and it’s all about how you respond to that, because nothing is guaranteed from one round to the next.

“They expect a lot out of themselves, which is good. But they also need to handle the adversity and disappointment if and when things don’t go their way. So we are really working on attitude and mentality — getting the right perspective so they can handle the highs and lows (independently).”

Junior Emma Lloyd is the top returning player for Fort Dodge. She is flanked by varsity veterans Gracie Harvey and Brielle Crouch, who are both seniors.

Lloyd had a nine-hole scoring average of 51 in 2025, with a low of 47.

“Emma is very steady,” Dencklau said. “She’s driven to prove herself as a top player and leader of this program. She knows the game and has found her comfort level, so the next step for her is to increase her expectations when it comes to her meet scores.

“There’s a determination with her that really sets the tone.”

Harvey was a first-year team member last spring. Dencklau has noticed growth both in her ability as a player and how she approaches practice and preparation.

“Gracie told me last year that if she’s going to do something, she wants to do it right,” Dencklau said. “So she asks a lot of questions and really wants to earn her way as a varsity player, even with her spot (virtually guaranteed). We could see a jump from her because she’s really settling in after spending a lot of time learning how to approach (meets and tournaments) a year ago.”

Crouch was in the lineup for every meet last year and had a low nine-hole round of 56.

“I think that could be more of an average for her now rather than (a best),” Dencklau said. “Brielle has the right mentality to be a motivator and a team player. And if she can be in the 50s (on a regular basis), that will help us tremendously.”

Three freshmen are learning the ropes to round out the scorecard: Kinsley Nelson, Emersyn Lara and Allison Baade.

“They’re all softball players who are used to working hard and wanting to get better,” Dencklau said. “They listen and soak up everything we talk about. They’re not just here to try — they want to contribute.”

Dencklau continues to emphasize the importance of being efficient around the greens.

“So much of your scoring comes from the short game,” Dencklau said. “So we’re really working on that and stressing the idea of getting better with it every day.

“Competitive golf can be tough. You deal with nerves, unpredictable spring weather (conditions), learning courses you may not be familiar with, and (opponents) from other schools who you wouldn’t necessarily choose to play with (in casual circumstances). Our more experienced players are doing a good job of explaining what to expect.

“We have a score goal and what you’d maybe call a ‘settle for’ score. So maybe if things don’t go exactly as you hoped, what would you still be OK with shooting? Because bad holes and bad shots happen. You just don’t want it to spiral.”

Last season’s top player, Braxtyn Dencklau, was a senior and played in the fall at Iowa Central. Another regular contributor, Alani Crouse, graduated early.

The Dodgers open at Marshalltown on Thursday in a quadrangular with the Bobcats, Norwalk and Newton. Their home opener is April 14, and the FDSH Invitational is May 15 at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

“Our quote for the season is, ‘it’s how you deal with failure that determines how you achieve success.’ Finding that balance — where we are approaching things the right way no matter what and being positive and supportive of each other — is just as important as our scores. Sometimes even more so, because that’s where the real growth comes from.”

2026 FORT DODGE GIRLS GOLF

Roster

Seniors — Gracie Harvey, Brielle Crouch.

Junior — Emma Lloyd.

Freshmen — Kinsley Nelson, Emersyn Lara, Allison Baade.

Schedule

April 2 — at Marshalltown; 7 — at Ames; 14 — Humboldt and Manson Northwest Webster; 21 — at Des Moines East; 28 — at Marshalltown; 30 — Iowa Falls-Alden.

May 4 — at Des Moines Roosevelt; 5 — Mason City; 9 — at Storm Lake Invitational; 12 — IAC meet in Des Moines; 15 — Fort Dodge Invitational.