It’s tough to imagine how the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s golf team could improve on last season, but it is going to try.

“We’ve got to play very consistent,” said coach Bill Bilton Jr., who led the first-ever TRU golf squad to a Canadian Colleges Golf Championship last year.

“We’re showing more consistent scores than we were last year. Riley [Balson] last year, he was famous for his 69s and 79s. But, compared to last year, we’re more consistent.”

And they’ll have to be — the Pack begins defence of their national title tomorrow in Castlegar.

Second-year golfer Rylan Nelson — who didn’t take part in the Castlegar tournament last year — said he’s eager to compete in the Kootenays.

“The guys who went [to Castlegar] last year, they’ve told me some things about the course,” he said.

“Not about specific holes or anything, but they’ve told me how long it is and sort of what to expect.

“Hopefully, they’ll give me some more tips before we get out there.”

After the Castlegar tournament, the WolfPack are scheduled to compete in Nanaimo, at home in Kamloops, in Windsor, Ont., and then in Kelowna — all on consecutive weekends.

Bilton said it’s a jam-packed — but short — season.

But that could soon change.

“Next year, there’s a lot of talk within the conference about splitting the season up into two semesters,” Bilton said, explaining the change could be approved as soon as December.

“It would make a lot more sense.”

But, for at least one more year, Bilton knows his team will have to put up with the hectic pace of play.

“I think all we can really do is just come in relaxed and kind of just let momentum dictate how the season progresses,” he said, refusing to make any predictions about how the defending champs might fare this year.

“I don’t want to stick my neck out, but I like our chances.”