I didn't realize that Doug had a round two of questions...Subliminal messaging, I guess~
How did you get into coaching high school golf?
I am a full-time teacher and part-time golf writer (I like to think so...) When I arrived 15 years ago at the school, I began conversing with the then-current coach about golf and the team. Eventually he invited me out to help and become the assistant coach. About 8 years ago, a bunch of girls came to me and said they wanted to start a girls team, with me as the coach. That one runs in the Spring, with the guys in the Fall. I took over as head boys coach about 6 years ago.
What do you do as coach?
Two different animals. The boys team had tryouts last week. We will do short game practice today, then have two rounds of knockout matches wednesday and thursday at Harvest Hill. We have three foursomes, so 1 v. 2 and 3 v. 4 the first nine, then winners and losers v. each other in the second nine. That will happen with the 5-8 and 9-12 foursomes, too. On Thursday, I'll move guys around and see who really has balls. During matches, I don't play (as my HS coach did). I ride around in a cart and keep them focused and motivated. I'll remind them that they are allowed to take everything but their blood, sweat and guts home with them. Since it is such an individual sport, I make it a privilege to turn golf into a team event. We don't have much time for fitness anymore with the boys, as the schedule is so compressed in the fall.
With the girls, we begin March 1st, so we have 1.5 months of indoor season. We will do fitness for most of it, along with a few visits to golf domes in the area. We also fit two weeks of spring break in, so it's only a month of indoor. With the girls, they like less coach on-course contact, so I'll wave a lot and make sure they have food and beverage. Unlike the guys, who play 9-hole matches at match play, the girls compete in a Toronto-based league with 18-hole medal tournaments.