Linn-Mar coach devoted to golf

MARION - Few have devoted as much time to golf than Steve Kahler.The Linn-Mar head coach is starting his 26th year coaching, which extends beyond the Lions inclusion in the Mississippi Valley Conference and boys' teams competing in the fall. Almost half of that time has also included serving as Linn-Mar girls golf coach in the spring, and squeezing in time for his own competition and work with youth programs in between.Kahler gives the impression he wouldn't want it any other way."It's been a fun experience," said Kahler, who began coaching the Linn-Mar boys when they were members of the East Central Iowa Conference. "I really enjoy it."So when the first golf ball is teed up at the the MVC Super Meet today at Gates Park Golf Course in Waterloo to mark the start of the Class 4A golf season, Kahler will be almost five months into his annual routine.This season begins with his Lions having to replace four starters from last year's team that finish fourth at the state meet. Junior duo of Tyler McCann and Trevor Berry are the top two golfers returning from last year, but the team will count on the contributions of upperclassmen, who finally get their chance to crack the varsity lineup."I think we have two pretty good ones (McCann and Berry) there," Kahler said. "The others are guys that have waited their turn and are juniors and seniors that their time has come to step in to varsity. I think they're going to fill in pretty good for us."Seniors Jeremy Danover and Mike Tibor and juniors Clay Vieth and Kyle Hackett will step in to help carry on the Lions tradition. Preseason qualifying has shown Linn-Mar's ability to restock its lineup after losing two-thirds of its starters to graduation for the second straight season."It's pretty tough to fill up the loss of four seniors in our top six," McCann said. "People that I thought played well last year, but didn't make the team, they stepped up this year during qualifying and played pretty well." Hunters Ridge is Linn-Mar's home course and is one of the toughest the team's play during the season. The Lions sharpen their skills there, and their play at the course so far provides some optimism for the season.“All of our top six has shot under 80 or 80 during the past few weeks,” McCann said. “We're looking pretty good this year.”Linn-Mar has had success in both boys and girls golf under Kahler. He's coached the likes of Marc Gladson, a state runner-up who went on to play at Wake Forest, Brad George, who placed third twice and state runner-up Amanda Stahl. Both George and Stahl have played at the University of Iowa.“He's coached some great players in the past,” said McCann. “He'll tell you to play it smart, keep it down the middle of the fairway. Usually, what he has to say is really helpful.”Kahler has been the girls head coach for the last seven season, assisting for four years before taking over. He is one of the few who is a head coach for both girls and boys golf teams in the area. Kahler said he takes the same approach to coaching both, stressing fundamentals and the proper way to play tournament golf."I don't vary too much in the approach," said Kahler, who led the Lions to a third-place state finish in 2004. "We've had some good success in both of them. It's been fun."Linn-Mar golfers can observe Kahler demonstrating his teachings. The 57-year-old still competes during the summer. He has numerous titles, including the Waterloo Senior Open last year. He's won senior events in Carroll, Clinton and Ottumwa. He has also competed in the Greater Cedar Rapids Open and has earned a runner-up finish in Cedar Rapids' City Senior Amateur.The three-time letterman for Iowa and member of Waterloo West's 1971 state championship team will continue to play in tournaments as long as he can remain competitive. "I've enjoyed that," said Kahler, who was a Hawkeye teammate of PGA Champions Tour golfer and Belle Plaine native Lonnie Nielsen. "I think it really helps coaching golf being able to compete because that's what you're trying to teach the kids."It helps knowing the different golf courses, because most of the courses we play I've played in tournaments. You're able to coach your kids the course. I think that's an advantage, too."Kahler's ability on the course can be motivation for his golfers. After all, they wouldn't want to take a backseat to their coach.“After hearing what they shoot out there, you want to go out and perform better or as well,” McCann said about Kahler and Lions assistant coach Bill Hoefle. “It gives you that extra boost to go and play better.”Kahler's impact on local golf extends beyond the Linn-Mar school district. Kahler, who helped start the Greater Cedar Rapids Golf Association serving as director for about 17 years, works with junior golfers. He has run junior programs at Indian Creek Country Club and Hunters Ridge. He helped instruct about 110 kids at Hunters Ridge the past year.Kahler said he hopes that the work benefits gofl programs throughout the season. That has work against him in the past, developing golfers that got the better of his Linn-Mar teams while playing for other Metro programs."That's enjoyable. That's part of it," Kahler said. "When you have kids in your program and they end up excelling at the different Metro schools that's fun. You feel like you had a small part."Kahler said his wife, Mary, has always encouraged his golfing efforts, despite the demand on time during their 13 years of marriage."Luckily, I live close to the golf course so I can get out and play. I'm not away too long," Kahler said with a laugh. "She's pretty good about that."