Max Bock leads Belchertown golf into postseason
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BELCHERTOWN - Senior Max Bock is wearing his lucky orange Titleist hat, hanging out by the clubhouse at Mill Valley Golf Links with a club in his hand, waiting for the rest of his Belchertown teammates to finish the match.
He was practicing putting and chipping on the practice green. He was even practicing juggling a Pro VX golf ball with his wedge, just like Tiger Woods in the Nike commercial.
Bock's 5-foot-9, 140-pound frame does not hint at the size of a giant golf game. Bock, a senior, left-handed player, is one of the top golfers in western Massachusetts and he will try for his second individual championship next week.
"I think we're going to do really good. It's really just keeping our heads in the game for us," Bock said. "I mean, we've been playing really great all year and I expect us to do really good for western Mass. and then states."
Bock will lead Belchertown at the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament, Tuesday at the Franconia Golf Course in Springfield. As a freshman, Bock led the Orioles to the sectional championship by earning medalist honors. He and the Orioles were second last year. Bock was injured and didn't play well when the Orioles finished fifth in 2009.
Bock got to where he is today by practicing and playing golf since he was two years old.
"I just picked it up on my own. My uncle's got a golf course down in Florida," said Bock, who uses a lucky blue chip from the course to mark his ball, "but I really just picked up my dad's golf club and started swinging it."
He hasn't stopped since.
"It's rare he's not playing golf," teammate Shawn Lebeau said. "He used to play soccer for a while, but he's always got a club in his hand at some point and time."
Bock takes golf very seriously. "To be honest with you, I'm normally on the golf course 24-7," Bock said.
He wants to win and puts in the time to be a top player. This season, Bock has averaged a stroke or two over par. As a junior, he averaged a 37.7.
"As a player he's been very consistent," Belchertown coach Dave Wright said. "I don't know if he's improved at all, it's tough for him to improve. His game is pretty good so it's hard for him to move up. He's very consistent, is playing well, and he works very hard."
Bock's athleticism allows him to put a beautiful swing on seemingly every ball and skillfully control each swing to put the right amount of pressure needed to hit the ball short or far. Opposing coaches have noticed.
"He rarely makes a mistake (and) every shot is pretty much in play," South Hadley coach Frank Miele said. "He is a solid ball striker."
In Wright's first season as coach, he said how helpful it was to have a player of Bock's caliber on the team to help out the rest of the squad and share his knowledge of the sport.
"As a person he's easy, he's very humble, very easy to play with, even for the younger guys," Wright said. "Everyone looks up to him. He never puts anyone down and is always willing to help."
Bock exudes the sportsmanship often seen in the game of golf. During a match against Northampton on Sept. 21 at Mill Valley Golf Links, Bock explained confusing holes and yardage to Northampton players. Bock also does this with younger teammates at practice.
"He's probably the nicest kid you'll meet in your whole life," Lebeau said. "He's always out there helping, whether it's our opponents or me or whoever, so he's an outstanding guy on and off the course."
During one practice round at Mill Valley, Bock gave tips to sophomore Kush Basu, who improved after every hole. Bock even took video of Basu's swing on his iPhone to show what he was doing wrong and how to fix it.
"I really just try and give them support, teach them how to have a better mental game," Bock said. "The seniors will help (the underclassmen) with their swings and give them good tips. But really I just tell them to keep your head in the game because anything is possible."
Bock's best shot this season came against South Hadley at The Ledges on Oct. 7. After a double bogey on the second hole of the match, Bock was frustrated but cleared his head and moved on. On the final hole, the par-5 18th, Bock sank a deep eagle putt to erase his double bogey and shoot an even-par 36.
"It was a 35-40 footer, downhill, (the ball) broke some. It was awesome!" Bock said. "You got to keep your head in the game. If you get a double bogey and get pissed off, then another bogey is likely to follow."
Bock and the Orioles (13-4) have been practicing nonstop in order to be in top playing form when the western Mass. tournament approaches. Bock puts no pressure on himself to perform well in his senior season.
"I really try not to get into my head too much. I want to do good. I know I'll do good as long as I'm not cocky about it," Bock said. "I'm just going out there looking to have fun, do my best, and hopefully shoot well."
