Golf is known as a game that tests the patience of those who play it.

For Chilton County High School seniors Trey Baker and Cole Watley, their patience resulted in a scholarship to Snead State Community College.

Both players made it official with a signing on Friday in front of joyous family and friends in the school cafeteria.

Baker and Watley will remain teammates for at least the next two years, as their first year will also be the first for the Snead State golf program after a recent hiatus.

“It was a great opportunity to start a foundation for the program,” Baker said. “I’m fortunate that it worked out perfectly for everyone.”

It is a unique situation to enter a program that is as new as they will be as college students. However, both golfers embrace the challenge and see it as the ultimate test.

“To be one of the first few is an honor,” Watley said.

Chuck Kalanick is the coach at Snead State and has personally known Baker and Watley since they were eighth graders.

“I’ve watched them progress, and now they’ve got two more years to improve,” Kalanick said. “They’re good kids, and they’ll make great examples as we go into our first year.”

Baker and Watley remember the first time they met Kalanick as the “old guy” trying to mess with their swings.

“I moved here from Myrtle Beach, S.C., and he was one of the first ones to come up and tell me that there was something wrong with my swing,” Watley said. “He’s helped us a lot since then.”

According to Kalanick, when evaluating high school golfers, one of the first things he looks for is consistence.

“If they’re consistent, that means they can get better,” Kalanick said.

The Chilton County golf program has maintained success in recent years thanks to the effort of players such as Watley and Baker.

“I loved every minute of it, but now it’s time to go onto bigger and better things,” Baker said. “It’s just been real fun.”