It’s difficult to win a match, or even compete, when your team only has four players.

That’s the case for the Wareham High School golf team, who lost two former golfers to other schools, two to other sports, one due to grades, and another who outright quit.

The team has yet to win a match this year, and it’s unlikely that they’ll do so. Still, Coach Ed Monteiro says his remaining players—which includes two eighth graders and two juniors—have gotten better as the year has gone on, and he hopes to attract more players to the program for 2015. According to Monteiro, the group has remained positive even though they have virtually no chance of winning as a team.

“They all have a good attitude about that,” he said. “They know the outcome is not going to be in their favor. They would like to be more competitive and have a chance to win, but they just try to do the best they can for their individual selves.”

Monteiro said that generally, younger golfers start to play the sport because of a parent or relative, and that it’s hard to get kids to play who haven’t had that influence.

As previously mentioned, two eighth graders play on the team, which was part of a decision by the district two years ago that helps Wareham High School continue to field teams in sports where participation is low.

Eighth graders Ethan Osley and Beau Vasconcellos joined juniors Jarrod Murphy, the team’s captain, and Max Jones for this season. Monteiro said his two nephews are going into the eighth grade next year and he’s hopeful they can help the team as well.

Most teams Wareham competes against bring eight or ten players to a match, and the top six scorers score points for their team.

“Unless they all shot career rounds, they have no chance to win. Even then, it’d be difficult.”

Monteiro said there are opportunities for young golfers to play in Wareham. He said at the Bay Pointe Club, where the team plays its home matches, a youth membership is only $225 per year.

“They treat the kids very well,” he said. “$225 is unbelievable for golf, and they can play all summer long as much as they want.”

He’s also been in touch with the owners of Golf Shots Driving Range on Sandwich Rd. to try to recruit younger players for next year’s team.

“We hope to get another five or six kids for next year, he said, noting that any girls interested are encouraged to play as well. “They get to play at least three or four times a week. Everyone on the team’s improved.”