The No. 21 Irish travel to a warmer climate this Spring Break, as they head to Kaneohe, Hawaii for the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational.
After a 10th-place finish at the Central District Invitational Feb. 22, Notre Dame is looking for a stronger performance this time around.
In the time since the Central District Invitational, the Irish have been able to work on their game in spite of the weather in Notre Dame's state-of-the-art indoor facilities. Senior captain Katie Conway said that the team did not go on a training trip over the winter, but they kept in prime form in spite of that.
"We have one of the best facilities in the country," Conway said. "The facility has six hitting bays and a putting green with eight holes cut surrounded by synthetic rough and different lies for additional short game practice.
"We can really practice every shot imaginable from right around the green, and new renovations that were recently completed added a few more different lies with a variety of synthetic grasses used."
Conway said the South Bend winter does not affect the team's performance.
"We may not be able to play outside," Conway said, "but our facility certainly allows us to stay in top form during the rough South Bend winters."
The Irish hope their indoor facilities will allow them to compete against their opponents in Hawaii. The field of 19 teams includes a number of top-notch, warm-weather squads in No. 9 Arizona, No. 11 Vanderbilt and No. 16 Arizona State.
Notre Dame faces an entirely new set of competition, as no other team that played in the first event, the Central District Tournament, will also play in the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational.
The Irish tee off on the Kaneohe Klipper course Monday.
