Former Baseball Player Swinging a Different Stick

San Mateo’s Ryan Hammer grew up playing baseball. Following his graduation from San Mateo Union High School in 2006, Hammer looked to San Jose State for the possibility of extending his baseball career. What he found was something totally different.

“I was not guaranteed a roster spot and I was getting up at 6 a.m. to practice and working several jobs,” he said. “I decided to concentrate on school work and I started playing golf.” Hammer said he never played golf in high school because he was afraid it would hurt his baseball swing but when his girlfriend suggested they go to the driving range to hit balls, Hammer discovered he was a natural.

Now Hammer is playing golf at Cañada College, majoring in business, and hoping he can turn his new sport into a college scholarship. “I love playing golf at Cañada,” he said. “My teammates are my best friends and we have a great time together. School is going great and if golf doesn’t work out I know I have a great education to fall back on.”