April/May 2011
U
Think Globally, Act Locally”
Page 10
PEOPLE
Checking in with
Jack HefFeman
McClellan ’11
The whole world will he watching —
incltuiing many at SAPC — as Prince
William marries Kate Miiidleton in what
has heen duhhed the “fairytale wedding of
the century!" So, how could we resist a
Q&A with our very oum English import.
Jack H^eman McClellan ’11?! Below, he
gives us a hit of an idea ofwhat lifi is like
for him in jolly ol’ England! A?id hest
wishes to Will arul Kate! Tune in to your
telly on April 29, to he part of their hig
day!
About our subject:
My name is Jack Heffeman
McClelland, I was bom and raised in
a toum called GuUfirrd in Surrey,
England. The golf program and edu
cation brought me to St. Andrews. I
am currently a senior, about to grad
uate with a business degree in May.
Q.) Coming all the wvy firom the UK,
how did you first discover St.
Andrews? And what was your first
impression of this college?
A.) I was recruited by the golf coach at
the time, he sent me an email asking if
I would like to play golf at St Andrews
while getting a education. I visited sev
eral schools and St Andrews came out
on top. I came over to look at the cam
pus in the spring and it was beautifiil.
All the people I met were really nice so
it seemed like a great fit.
Q.) You are a golfer at St. Andrews
and a business major, so do you plan
on going into the business of golf?
A.) Yes, my plans are going into the
business world that will involve golf in
some way. My passion for golf and
desire to be a businessman will hopeful
ly combine to make a good career path.
Q.) Have you always had a passion for
golfi Is it big in your home country?
A.) I’ve grown up playing golf with my
father from a very young age and have
kept playing ever since. I would say
football (soccer) is the bluest sport in
England but golf is not far behind.
Q.) What has been your best experi
ence with the game of golf so fu? For
example, how many games have you
won? What has been your highest
score?
A.) At St. Andrews I have had a couple
of personal highlights that stand out. In
my freshman year, I qualified for the
Regional Event that was held in
Charlotte, NC which was a great expe
rience from which I learned a lot. My
bi^est accolade in my St Andrews golf
ing career so far is winning the medalist
position at the St. Andrews Spring
Invitational Event at Woodlake Golf
Resort in Vass, NC.
Q.) Have you noticed a ilifference
between golf in the US and golf in the
UK? W>uld yon say that there’s a gen
eral difference in sportsmanship
between American athletes and those
from the UK?
A.) The biggest difference I have
noticed is the way the courses are built
and the ground conditions.
The Lance
Considering the size difference that
America and England has, the courses
are built on a more wide spread layout
in America compared to a compact lay
out of golf courses in England. In addi
tion, the grass conditions that we play
on in England are very different to the
Bent and Bermuda grasses we mainly
play on in North Carolina.
Q.) There seems to always be a lot of
discussion about the United States
educational system in comparison to
that in many other parts of the world,
and the US is said to lag behind in
many areas. Applied to sports, do you
think that to be the case? Comparing
the practice habits of golfers finm the
UK to those which you may have
observed in the US, how would you
rate American sportsmanship?
A.) It is hard to comment on the educa
tion system throughout the world, but I
would say the education system is very
different firom England to America.
But, In relation to the collegiate sport
system, for example the NCAA, NAIA
and other organizations; America is by
far well ahead of Europe, especially
England. There is nothing that can
compare to the coll^iate system that
will allow athletes to play sports at such
a high level while getting a good educa
tion.
Q.) It is quite obvious that American
athletes are well-known for making
big bucks. Would you attribute that
to an intense American passion for
sports, or would you say it’s more tal
ent related?
A.) The high performing athlete’s
throughout the world make some ‘big
bucks.’ It is hard to answer that ques
tion if it is down to passion or talent.
Q.) That being said, would you like to
be a rich and fiunous golfer someday?
(See Checking In, Page 11)