Student Aims to Play Golf Across U.S., Make Williams Golf Team
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| Dethier teeing off at Bully Pulpit in Medora, N.D. |
Dethier attended Mount Greylock High School and played golf and baseball, and competed in Nordic skiing for the Mounties.
Dethier's father, David, is a professor of geology and mineralogy at Williams, and his older brother, Evan, is a member of the Eph Nordic ski team. Dethier’s blog Eighteen in America, is a way of keeping his mom, Nancy, dad and brother, friends and others interested informed, as well as a way to make contacts. He may turn the blog into a book at the end of his trek.
Dethier began his trip last September, driving west out of Williamstown through New York, and as of Feb. 23, he had progressed to 50 miles east of Houston on his way to New Orleans.
His favorite course to date has been the famed layout at Pebble Beach, and not just because he was able to finagle a complimentary round. As told on his blog, Dethier had e-mailed R.J. Harper, vice president of golf at Pebble Beach, about his journey, and the Harper set him up for a free round with three of the young assistant pros. Though Dethier's play at Pebble Beach did not match the superior quality of the course, his 82 enabled him to walk off a winner.
Though roughing it by staying in his car most nights, some 40 to date, Dethier has come across some Eph alums who have offered to let him bunk in with them and their families. He recently spent four days at the residence of Darryl Shaper, a 1986 graduate, in Braunfels, Texas, which is halfway between Austin and San Antonio.
Dethier said he is looking forward to getting farther east, where he will have even more opportunities to crash with Williams folks and friends. He has stayed with some of his high school friends on various campuses he has passed on his journey and those opportunities have provided a chance to catch up, get a hot shower and access to the Internet.
Through his blog, Dethier has heard from a couple of guys in New Zealand who are committed to playing a round of golf every day for a year. That group is even planning to come to America and hopes to play with Dethier. Someone from Golf Digest who is golfing his way around the country as well has also made contact and there may be an opportunity for him and Dylan to meet up and play a round.
Williams head men's golf coach Rick Pohle, who is in his 27th year at Williams and has guided the Ephs to six of the last nine NESA titles, is familiar with Dethier.
"We have a lot of talented players on hand and a good class coming in, but Dylan will get every chance to show he deserves to be on the team as will all of the other candidates," Pohle said recently.
