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What was it like competing in Vegas earlier this month?
Hamade: Vegas is always a fun tournament to go to. We go there every year, and it’s always at the same course, and it’s just a really fun event. [The] first day, we played 36 holes in one day, which is kind of a grind. We usually start the day at 5 a.m. and don’t get back to the hotel until 6:30 p.m.
How were you with that 5 a.m. start time?
Hamade: It was the first time I went to bed before 11 p.m. in a long time, let’s just say that. Even then, I was still tired in the morning.
Did you go to any casinos?
Hamade: No, we didn’t. We have in the past, and we’ve explored a little, but this time it was a shorter trip. Usually we stay a day after the tournament, but this time we had to head back right after the third round.Â
What drew you to playing golf?
Hamade: My uncle was a teacher at this golf academy in Delta, and at the time, I was going to school in Langley. I went out this one time, and I saw these high schoolers who [got] to play golf during class time … and I was like, this is awesome! This is so cool … So then I legit just moved high schools, and I quit playing softball, because I was kind of getting sick of it … I started playing golf and kind of fell in love with it.Â
Who from your team would be the most competitive in a game of mini golf?
Hamade: Probably me, or I’m gonna say Morgan [Best] … We all like golf [and] you’re competing with yourself too most of the time, so I would say I’m probably the one to be mad that I lost mini-golf or something.
What’s your zodiac sign?
Hamade: I’m an Aries.
What is the best course that you’ve taken at UFV?
Hamade: Probably the gender and [gender relations] course that I took with [Dr.] Amber Gazso. It was SOC 335 I believe. Everything I learned in that class was just so interesting … It made me feel well versed in the stuff that I care about.Â
Do you have a favourite arcade game?
Hamade: I’m gonna have to say air hockey. Foosball second, and then maybe basketball, third.Â
What is the most challenging part about playing golf?
Hamade: Probably that it’s just you. I mean, there’s coaches and stuff, but nobody can hit the golf shot other than you. So I think it’s a lot of pressure sometimes, and just dealing with mistakes that you make can be hard because you can’t blame anyone else but yourself, really. And honestly, one of the challenging things about golf is that it seems so simple, and you feel like you do the same thing, but then the outcome is sometimes just horrid, and you sometimes can’t figure it out.
What’s your go-to beverage?
Hamade:Â Oh man. A matcha latte.
Finally, what’s the last TV show you watched?
Hamade: Full Swing (2023-). It’s a golf documentary about all the professional golfers on tour … it’s kind of just following the lines of the PGA Tour players, what they do, all their competitions, and the big events in the past years. It’s kind of cool. Gets me fired up [and] always makes me want to go play golf.Â
Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
