Studentenverhalen
A Golfers Paradise in Florida at St. Leo University
Bas Vermeulen knew that he wanted to study in the US before he even started high school but it wasn’t until his junior year, after speaking to a study counselor, that he voiced his dreams to his parents.
In particular, Bas wanted to combine a study with competitive golf. After researching options, Bas and his parents met with Marina and in the Fall of 2018, Bas left for St. Leo University in Florida with a scholarship in his pocket. Speaking to him recently, Bas filled me in on his time in the US and how he is keeping busy now that he is back in the Netherlands.
The sum of his experiences have made him the dedicated pro golfer he is today
St. Leo University is a top-ranking private Catholic university located in the Tampa Bay area. The golf team is highly competitive, including players who rank highly nationally, and the Lions have had a consistently strong showing each season. Bas was well placed to get the most out of the coaching staff and himself during his time with the team. And he did! While he faced highs and lows – as any top athlete does – the sum of his experiences have made him the dedicated pro golfer he is today.
Looking back, Bas can see himself standing in his bare freshman dorm room, looking at the bunkbed and desk and wondering what on earth he had gotten himself into.
But his freshman year was fabulous – he made a host of friends and roomed with another golfer. Making contact with people was easy because everyone was in the same boat and sharing a room with a fellow athlete meant you could help each other stick to the schedule. Which was busy!
Classes in the morning, golf practice in the afternoon and in the off season, gym sessions 2-3x a week. The rest of the time was spent studying, sleeping and eating. Like most other students, Bas had a meal plan and the food was…ok. It’s food for the masses and lots of it. Special food stations provide variety and you can always find something fresh and to your taste
Bas lived with teammates on campus throughout his time at St. Leo’s and enjoyed it thoroughly. So much so that he ended up taking a job as Resident Assistant (RA), where together with a team of other older students they supervised, aided and mentored dorm residents.
He received free housing in return but what Bas enjoyed most about the job was meeting students outside of athletics and being involved in the campus community. Giving back to the greater university community is an important part of college life and something Bas found to be profoundly rewarding.
Playing golf for a top 20 ranked Division II school
St. Leo University is a D2 school and its golf team enjoys a top 20 ranking. This involves travel for competitions, max 8-9 hours in the bus. There is enough time to do homework or study and professors are flexible about missed exams. The team had a specific person players could meet with if any problems arose with scheduling, etc. but Bas had good relationships with his professors so there were no real issues.
Collegiate golf has a split season, meaning they start in the fall, take a break during the winter, and start up again in the spring.Florida in August and September can be extremely hot and humid, the afternoons often culminating in a short rain shower. From October onwards, the weather is fabulous.
Golf athletes normally have classes from 8:30-12, grab a bite to eat, and then attend a daily practice from 1-6 pm. After practice it’s time for dinner, study or off to work, if you hold a campus job. Student-athletes have more time during the off season for fun and the university did a great job of offering shuttles to the local supermarket or mall.
St. Leo U also had an organization that offered discounted tickets to concerts or even tickets to Disney World for just $10! It helps to have car but most American students have one so you can always come along for the ride.
Bas has had many great experiences: as an international student he was happily surprised by the welcoming and open nature of the Americans he met. He was included in activities, invited to Thanksgiving dinner or to play at golf courses he would not have normally have access to.
He enjoyed the travel and competition, with the national championships being one of the highlights. He also loved being part pf the St. Leo community – working as an RA meant that towards the end of his time there, he pretty much knew everyone. As an athlete he pushed himself to get the most out of his talents. Top sport in the US can be hard at times – the coach has the final say and you might have to swallow your ego.
Ups and downs are part of the game and there will come a moment when you will be confronted by your own limitations but the test is being able to move forward and through whatever issues may come your way. Bas’ personal and athletic development has grown in leaps and bounds during his time abroad. He bounced back from an injury, made it back to St. Leo’s after Covid-19 closures, successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems in three years and was awarded an MBA in Data Analytics.
Bas would recommend being a student-athlete in the US to anyone thinking about combining a study abroad with their sport.
He has personally benefitted from thoroughly getting to know another culture and remaining open to different points of view, gaining personal independence, and learning to approach life with an enterprising spirit. This has stood him in good stead in presenting himself to employers and organizations and helped him move forward on the pro golf circuit. His English has of course improved and he feels he can tackle whatever comes his way.
'What did you find most useful in working with UStudy'
When asked what he found most useful in working with UStudy, Bas mentioned how appreciative he was of the roadmap provided that laid out what he needed to do – testing, transcripts, application, etc.
He needed the structure UStudy provided to help keep him on track because at times it felt like there were a thousand different things that needed to be done.
He also found working with the sports mentor to be a real plus and it helped him feel like he was on the right track. The advice he received about education and sports helped him focus on achieving his goal of playing college golf in the US. Now, back in the Netherlands for a few years, Bas has two academic degrees
