10 Questions With ... Joey Rogers -- Men's Golf

We continue our 10-Questions With feature with Orange Coast College men's golfer Joey Rogers. Also, be sure to check out this week's Zoom interview with Joey and women's golfer Meah Collins by clicking HERE.

1. What is it about Golf that you love so much?? What was it about the sport that keeps attracting you back to it?

"To me, golf is like a little orchestra. From a non-competitive standpoint, we get to play on some of the best fields around. Always nicely mown, beautifully designed. From a competitive standpoint, there are so many variables that can change an entire round. You could start off in nice, sunny weather and finish in the rain. You have to endure challenges on almost every swing. It's a game that is similar to life. It teaches you patience and growth and challenges both the physical and mental side of things."

2. I know it's a thing now, but for the most part, most fans don't connect golf with physical fitness and training. What kind of work do you do off the course to make sure you're at your best week in and week out?

"I do various types of working out. I like to get in a lot of runs and even some half-marathons from time to time. I try and do squats and deadlifts three times a week and I try and run at least seven miles twice a week. Before COVID, I would hit the gym three times a week, but I'm lucky that I have friends who have home gyms so I've been working out with them. With the constant hitting of golf balls, having strong wrists is important so I do a lot of wrist exercises too."

3. A second part to that question … casual golfers want to shoot like the pros, but they simply don't put in enough time to get better. How much time do you spend on the golf course on any given week, working on various parts of the game?

"At least 2-5 buckets of balls each session. It varies from week to week. I also like to give myself eight hours of putting per week. That's the best way to lower your scores. When I'm hitting it well, I don't swing as much, but when you're trying to find that feel and your swing, I'll stay there until I find it. Before COVID, I'd spend approximately 65 hours a week playing golf and working on my game. During all this, I try and double-down on some course time to get better. There's a par-3 course near me in Norwalk that I can spend a lot of time at. You're always continuously fine-tuning your game and each type of shot."

4. Take me through your mindset during a match with someone. Does it vary from hole to hole do you keep a consistent mindset throughout each match?

"If it's a match play situation, your emotions DO run wild, so I try and focus on my breathing and I try to control the things I CAN control. I have a gameplan to every round and I try and stick to it. If I find myself breaking that gameplan, I immediately try and get back into that gameplan. You might be all-square through 16 and on a par-5 and he's already laid up on his second shot. You think about going for the green in two, but you need to know what you can and can't do at that time. If you don't have that shot, stick to the plan.  When it comes to stroke play, I just play. I'm a big fan of visualizing about playing the course the night before and I think about the shots I'm going to hit and simply play the round I played in my head the night before. I've been lucky enough to play at Costa Mesa Country Club so I know how the grass reacts so when we play there, I can take advantage of what I know about the course. There's really nothing pushing out and it frees you up a bit because you're not forcing shots. It's a lot easier said than done, that's for sure, but that's why I practice as much as I do. I want to be prepared for anything out there."

5. What would be your biggest assets on the course?? And also, what would be your biggest flaws on the course??

"If I had to pick a flaw to my game, it would probably be on the mental side of things. I don't like shooting bad scores, so I tend be play a bit on the conservative side. The fact I don't like to play bad golf sometimes prevents me from playing GREAT golf. Pars are good ... don't get me wrong ... but sometimes I don't take advantage of certain opportunities when they come to me. But I guess that is also an asset for me is the fact I stay melancholy on the course and I don't let my emotions get the best of me. It's hard for me to get into a rut. I can bogey a hole, then, bounce right back on the next hole. I rarely three-putt so that's definitely another strength." 

6. If I gave you a 24-hour pass from COVID and you could do anything that you used to do, what would it be?? What do you miss the most from this isolation??

"I do miss flying and traveling … I was fortunate to go to school out of state so it would be great to fly and see some of my friends. Definitely, it would be to travel freely, with no restrictions."

7. All kids like to eat … what are your favorite meals??
   1. Favorite food in general – "Beef ribs"
   2. Favorite snack either before or during a round – "Carry a few Special-K cereal boxes during a round just to snack on, then maybe a snickers bar at the turn."
   3. Favorite meal afterwards – "My go-to is a burger afterwards. I love In-N-Out and I'll get two double-doubles and some animal-style fries!" 

8. When you're not golfing, what do you enjoy doing?? Any hobbies or interests???

"I'm a big reader of just about anything. I also love to run and take part in outdoor activities, including hiking, paddleboarding. I'm also pretty competitive so I enjoy playing ping pong, air hockey. If I'm golfing with a buddy, if I beat them, I make them sign over their golf ball to me and I put it in my wall collection."

9. What kind of coach has Coach Collins been to you?? What lessons has he taught you the most about running or about life in general?? 

"I came to OCC with a lot of goals and ambitions and he's held me accountable. I wasn't sure how I was going to blend in and he's made me feel welcomed and very comfortable. He's a man of few words but lots of positive reinforcements. He will tell you straight up, and there's no babying around. If I want to achieve something, this is what I need to do. He's always got a positive attitude and he always says 'I don't wanna hear about the bad shots … only the good shots.' Just like in life … if you're having a bad day, don't let it bleed into the next day."

10. What would you like to do AFTER Coast?? Are you majoring in anything at the moment?? Any longterm career goals???

"I'd like to go on to a four-year college and my graduation is my No. 1 priority. Of course, I'd also love to make to the PGA Tour, but I also would like to pursue a career in finance and marketing analysis. I'll leave OCC with my AA and some certificates and from there, major in marketing/sales and become a financial analyst. I'd love to get into Pepperdine or USC, or perhaps a nice college on the east coast, but that school has to have the right academic background."