As Falcon golfer Blake Blakey teed up on the first hole at Useless Bay Golf Club Thursday, his teammates and Wildcat competitors waited their turn with feigned disinterest.

Blakey made his shot and watched as the ball dropped squarely in the center of the small pond in the distance.

Walking off the tee, he gently slammed the driver into his bag and managed to squelch his frustration.

“It goes in there all the time, but I’m working on it,” he noted.

He could have teed-off again — always a bad choice according to Coach Dick Jones — or taken his second shot at the ball’s point-of-entry two club lengths away, which he wisely did. He endured a one-stroke penalty on a par 5, but then no one promised Blakey, or Tiger Woods for that matter, that life on the links would be easy.

But managing the course, and the mistakes made along the way, is an essential ingredient.

“This game is much like life and Blake is pretty good at course management,” Jones said.

There’s something very calming about golf, especially when played on the beautifully manicured course at Useless Bay. Perhaps it’s the closely clipped greens, the row of empty burnished maroon carts patiently waiting in their slots or the young fellow dragging a load of caviar and melons up the drive for that evening’s repast in the restaurant.

The South Whidbey High teams are lucky to play on such a first-class venue; the club’s membership has supported the school for years allowing students full access to the driving range and course. The club pays for range balls and provides wholesale prices for golf clothing. In return, the athletes help re-seed the greens during “divot parties” to ensure the grounds stay healthy.

The boys, 14 to 17 years-old, somehow seem more mature than on their school’s campus.

“We teach course etiquette from the first day,” Jones said. “They develop a lot of social skills not found in other sports. It’s a game for gentlemen, after all.”

He was about to add, “And for gentle women as well,” when Wildcat Coach Jack Serwold interrupted to discuss placement of a small water hazard hidden off to the left behind some tall, perfectly-topped pine trees.

Maintaining the course must require an equal measure of tact and planning — a carefully written notice politely warns members: “We’ll be applying fertilizers and fungicides to greens today.”

Just so they know.

The match against Archbishop Murphy was the third of the week. Though the weather on April 17 threatened to tax their nascent skills, the boys overcame all odds by beating Cedarcrest in nine holes, 198-220, at Carnation Golf Course.

“Breaking 200 is a milestone for them,” Jones said. “Especially with the wet, soggy conditions on the course. But it was a very good day and they were on their game.”

Blake Blakey shot a 35 even par, Nathan Kamps 36, Jensen Connor 40, Tommy Boyle 43, Eric Barrow 44 and Clark Sarbaugh 45.

“Nathan and Jensen both shot scores more indicative of their potential,” Jones added.

Things went less smooth at home the following day — they lost to defending conference champ Lakewood, 205-231 though Blakey medaled with a 38.

Better times Thursday as the boys posted a five-point spread over ATM, 225-230. Wildcat Cameron Zweller medaled at 37 but overall team spirit triumphed; Kamps had a 38, Blakey 40 (the hazard factor), Connor 41, Barrow 51 and Wes Christensen 55.

Jones teaches that it isn’t so much how you get to the green as what you do upon arrival.

On a par-5 hole, it should take three shots to get on the green, two to make the cup.

“A 200-yard drive can be just as effective as one a hundred yards longer,” Jones explained. “The guys are working hard on advanced skills and starting to make the turn.”

That’s the theory. And, like most theories, easier said than done.

Jones pointed out the importance of younger players. “In golf, we take the five best scores out of six so a JV kid can move up and make a difference,” the coach said.

On the team’s chances for the balance of this season, Blakey is optimistic.

“We’ve won and come close to winning but we’re all striving to come through as a team,” he said.

They get their next opportunity April 25 at Lakewood.