Goodfellows share strong bond through golf

IOWA CITY - Iowa City West senior Madison Goodfellow has a unique relationship with her mom, Mary.

Not only do they share a love for golf, but Mary Goodfellow serves as the Women of Troy's girls golf coach. It can produce a strong bond between player and coach, but also lead to the normal clashes between parent and teenager, too.

"We definitely have those," Madison Goodfellow said. "If I play bad, I probably have an attitude with her more than I would have with anyone else that was an actual coach that wouldn't be my mom. There's a line that we know. I know when to drop the attitude and just play the game.

"Overall, we get along really well."

All that aisde, the Goodfellows own a strong relationship and balance their dual roles as mom/daughter and coach/player as part of the Women of Troy girls golf team. Madison is competing in her senior season while Mary is in her 13th season as head coach.

Mary Goodfellow has worked with Madison and her sister, Bailee, who golfed at West before graduating after last year, since they started golf competitions around 10 years old. They were used to the situation by the time they were united at West.

"I guess I've been kind of coaching them ever since they were little," Mary Goodfellow said. "It actually made the high school transition pretty easy."

Having a parent double as a coach is more of a blessing than a curse, according to the younger Goodfellow. She likes have the intimate connection with her coach. Golf can remain a focus long after they return home from the course.

"I like it better than having a different person as my coach," Goodfellow said. "I like having a personal relationship with her and even when we're home we still like talking about golf."

The relationship doesn't revolve around just talking golf. Even though Mary Goodfellow is removed from her competitive days as a three-time letterwinner for the University of Iowa from 1981-84 and a National Golf Coaches Association Academic All-American, she participates in friendly competition with her daughters during the summer.

Mary Goodfellow said she has a strong short game, but both daughters hit the ball farther. Madison has yet to beat her, while Bailee may have bested her once. Madison said that will change soon.

"I think this summer I'm going to beat her," Madison Goodfellow said. "She always gets me on the last hole with the short game. She always makes a long putt or something. I've come close many times but I can never actually beat her."

Mom takes time to gloat with some good-natured ribbing.

"Of course she does," Madison Goodfellow said. "It's friendly competition."

Mary Goodfellow recalled thinking about the idea of coaching her daughters when Bailee was in first grade and Madison in pre-school, and being able to share golf with them. She also considers it a positive.

"Luckily, it turned out that way," Mary Goodfellow said. "I think that will be something we'll have the rest of our lives to be able to play together and have that competitiveness."

Golf and the parent/child dynamic aren't new to Mary Goodfellow's family.

Mary Goodfellow, formerly Mary Kramer, attended Cedar Rapids Regis High School. Her dad, Justin Kramer, was a longtime golf and basketball coach at Regis and Cedar Rapids Xavier. He coached Goodfellow's brother, Joe Kramer, to the 1983 Class 3A state golf title for the Royals.

They were able to share a similar experience last year when Madison earned her top-1o finish at the 4A state meet at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny.

"That was really special and Madi got to go to the state tournament last year," Mary Goodfellow said. "I was so happy when Maddie finally got to reach that goal and was able to have that experience. I told her you'll never forget going to the state tournament."

Justin Kramer attends all of his granddaughters' meets, making Madison's prep competition and Bailee's college meets for Mount Mercy. Mary Goodfellow credited her father for creating a tradition that can be shared by the entire family. She plans to pass the torch.

"He loves to watch the kids," Mary Goodfellow said. "He has a passion for the game that he passed to me and now I'm passing it to them."

Madison Goodfellow said her love for golf developed instantly when she started swinging a club at age 5. It was a natural fit.

"I feel like I was born with a golf club in my hand," Madison Goodfellow said. "I knew it was my niche when I started playing. I really like golf."

She is good at it, too. Madison placed eighth at the 2010 4A state tournament, matching her exact goal entering the event. She shot 85-83-168 on the course playing at a long distance of 6,100 yards, resulting in a proud mom and coach to enjoy the ride home with her top golfer and second-oldest of four children.

"We were very happy," said Mary Goodfellow, who also has a 13-year-old son interested in golf and a 7-year-old daughter. "She had some great scores."

The same car ride had Madison already evaluating the work needed to improve on her accomplishment. She played regularly during the summer, preparing for her final season and she wants to conclude her high school career with first-team all-state honors. She has already earned medalist honors in competition, striving to drop her 9-hole average from the low 40's to 38 by the end of the season.

"I want to make state again," Madison Goodfellow said. "This year I want to place in the top four."

Her mom will be there every step of the way and so will her coach. That can be good and bad.

"I guess having mom as a coach has its draw backs," Mary Goodfellow said with a laugh. "But, they always have a ride home from practice."