Despite a disappointing fall season last semester, North Idaho College golfer Spencer Skipper has adjusted and improved his game, making him one of NIC’s top competitors for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship May 12-17 at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.
Skipper, a 20-year-old sophomore from Coeur d’Alene is studying business administration.
He grew up playing golf with his father, Steve, who has taught him a lot about the game.
Spencer said he always went to the driving range with his dad when he was younger, but he didn’t begin playing golf competitively until his freshman year at Lake City High School.
“My dad has been the one who has mostly helped me get to where I am today in golf and in life,” Skipper said. “I’ve also had a couple of swing instructors who have helped me with my game, but I’ve mostly learned everything from my dad.”
Spencer said he and the men’s and women’s teams practice every day.
“I’m out here on the Avondale Golf Course every day, and if I’m not out here, I’m at the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course by myself practicing,” Skipper said. “I’m usually out practicing every day for at least a couple of hours.”
Spencer said his favorite course to play is the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course, but that the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is obviously very fun to play on.
“Spencer has improved greatly since he began playing for us,” said head coach Derrick Thompson. “Even though he struggled in the fall, he’s played so well lately here in the spring.”
Skipper said he is considering a few different schools to transfer and play golf.
“Right now, if I had to choose which school to go to I’d probably go to William Penn University in Iowa, but I’m not decided on any school yet. I’m going to wait and see how the national tournament goes.”
Skipper said he wants to play golf professionally if he can make it.
“Golf has really helped me get a good start on my higher education and if I have more opportunities to keep playing golf, especially as a career, then I definitely will,” Skipper said. “If I can play at a higher level after college then I’ll definitely see if I can accomplish my dream of playing on the PGA Tour.”
Skipper said he’s faced a few challenges to get where he is today.
“I’ve gone through some slumps,” Skipper said. “I played terrible this last fall, and that kind of screwed me over from going to a NCAA Division I school because many Division I schools are finished recruiting by the end of the fall season. I played so bad that no one even wanted me, but I came into the spring season with a positive mindset. I didn’t put too much pressure on myself to find a school to transfer to and I just went out and played.”
