Carlmont High School sophomore Martin Chen brings a mix of humor, consistency, and performance to the varsity golf team, standing out for his personality and ability to perform under pressure.
Chen started playing golf in the summer of 2019 at a camp where the sport’s difficulty immediately stood out to him.
“I thought it was really interesting because it was a really difficult game,” Chen said. “I was too unemployed over the summer, so I just took up golf because it was something.”
Before focusing on golf, Chen played several other sports throughout his childhood, including basketball, swimming, tennis, baseball, and fencing. Golf ultimately stood out above the rest because of the repetition and patience it required.
Moving into varsity golf in high school was a big adjustment for Chen, as the sport came with much more pressure, though he still finds joy in the little things about it and in spending time with the golfing community.
“I think my favorite part about playing golf is hitting big drives on golf holes or eating food,” Chen said.
Throughout his time in the sport, Chen has faced many challenges, his biggest being motivation.
Chen said that staying motivated and consistent are things he constantly works on, and a lack of either can hinder him on the course.
“My biggest challenge playing varsity golf is not trying very hard during practices and getting benched because of that,” Chen said.
Carlmont varsity coach Rylan Flores said Chen’s personality is one of the main things that sets him apart from the other players on the team.
“Martin operates to the beat of his own drum. He’s very much always wandering, always listening, and always contributing his very own brand of Martin comedic timing,” Flores said.
According to Chen’s teammate Keegan Marlatt, Chen’s positivity helps the team perform its best.
“Martin offers a positive attitude to the team, which boosts our morale and helps us stay grounded even when things go awry,” Marlatt said.
Marlatt also said that Chen’s work ethic should not be overlooked, as he is usually the first to arrive and the last to leave practices.
“Although Martin is usually one of the first to arrive at practices, he is also often the last to leave, practicing his driver and wedge skills until the sun goes down,” Marlatt said.
The outcome of Chen’s work ethic was proven at the 2026 Peninsula Athletic League individual finals, as Chen finished as Carlmont’s lowest scorer and earned a medal as an individual. At the Central Coast Section, he briefly led the tournament before a few errant shots shifted his position, though he still led Carlmont with a score of 75.
To Chen, golf has become a crucial part of life, and he has learned countless lessons along the way.
“Golf has taught me that the world is really unfair and you just have to keep trying,” Chen said.
Looking ahead, Chen is confident in his future and hopes to continue playing golf and compete at the college level.
“If I try for it, I could play college golf,” Chen said.
