Last spring, girls’ golfers from Newtown High School came out in full swing to participate on a club team. They practiced chips, putts, and drives in anticipation of competing as a varsity squad this year.

Their time has come. The Nighthawks are scheduled to tee off for their first official campaign on Monday, April 13, when they visit Danbury’s Richter Park at 3 pm to take on Immaculate of Danbury.

Newtown’s new golfers have had to wait for a team of their own; throughout the years girls have played individually among the boys. Now they’ll have to wait a little bit longer than they were originally supposed to, thanks to the weather. The home opener, originally scheduled for April 8, has been bumped to April 14; Brookfield and Bunnell of Stratford will both visit Rock Ridge Country Club at noon for an April vacation competition. Rock Ridge is opening a bit late, as anticipated, because of the extended winter.

“To me, this is fantastic,” said Jeremy O’Connell, who coaches the school’s girls’ basketball team in the winter and looks forward to leading the golfers this spring. “It’s a different form of coaching.”

The game is so individualized and comes down to the player and the course, O’Connell notes. One of his main objectives is to teach the team members about the rules and etiquette of the game. Another goal of O’Connell’s: To go for a South-West Conference championship.

A year ago, the Hawks played for fun, and to learn of course. “This year, it’s supposed to be [about] enjoyment but it has to be more competitive,” the coach said. “We want to win.”

Sure, it’s a first-year varsity season for the golfers, and some don’t have much experience on the course, but O’Connell is confident that his lineup can challenge the competition.

Newtown is led by senior captains Brenna Kelly and Halle Wilson. The young lineup includes junior Hannah Logan; sophomores Kayla Ward Molly Wilson, Allie Indelicato, and Casey Muckell; and freshmen Sarah Houle, Kira Kelly, Liz Weisgerber, and Camryn Findley.