New rule lift limitations on prep golf coaches

Imagine a football coach limited to talking to players in between series, or a softball coach unable to talk to players from the time they reach base until they return to the dugout.

Prep golf coaches used to face similar restrictions, being allowed to consult with their golfers from the time they complete one hole to the tee box of the next hole. Fortunately, change accompanied this season.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association implemented a new rule, allowing golf coaches to advise and talk with their players during actual live play in a round. Coaches have welcomed the revision.

No longer are their hands tied.

'It is a breath of fresh air,” Cedar Rapids Xavier Coach Tim O'Brien said. 'For myself, it's not like I've changed anything … It allows you to talk to players and guide them the right way.”

Coaches are permitted to coach a player until the player reaches the green without delay and any part of the golf ball touches the playing surface. Coaches then have to wait until all players in the group have completed the hole before addressing the player again.

Only one designated coach, excluding assistant coaches, can communicate with players, but the coach cannot help with putting. Officials emphasize coaching should cause delays or affect the pace of play. In fact, the ability to talk to golfers during play can encourage them to speed up their play.

Most coaches try to provide simple advice, like when conditions changed from sunny and calm to overcast and windy Monday at the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division meet at Airport National. At least week's CRANDIC meet at Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids Prairie Coach Erik Columbus reminded his player, Cooper Reittinger, to consider the wind on his second shot.

The rule helps with those minor situations.

'I will talk to them about remembering the wind, you want to be below the hole or it will break right when it gets on the green so play on the left side,” Cedar Rapids Dennis Goettel said. 'We're able to offer help like that.”

Minnesota instituted the same rule recently. Goettel said the reaction was interesting at first because players were nervous that coaches might meddle too much.

'I try not to do that. First of all, I'm not a great golfer,” Goettel said with a laugh. 'These guys know better what club to use in most cases. If they ask my opinion, I'll offer it.”

Clubs, conditions and course management are a small part of the sport. Sometimes it isn't the swing or the decisions coaches need to discuss. The opportunity to talk to players can help them maintain composure when the fickle sport turns on them. They had to wait in the past, which may have resulted in more strokes.

'Most of the coaches I've talked to think the biggest advantage is trying to help kids mentally,” Goettel said. 'You can help them get over a couple tough holes in a row or bounce back, looking forward.”

Many players are active year-round, playing on their own and without assistance throughout the off-season. Questions do occur and now coaches can come to their aid.

'They play all summer by themselves,” O'Brien said. 'At the same time, it's just nice when your own player has an issue, whether with their own rule situation, you are able to help your player.”

O'Brien said he thinks the rule change has produced a more relaxed atmosphere and he has not witnessed any problems in Xavier's tournaments. He praised the IHSAA for the decision, noting that it resembles the college game more for the players.

'That's the norm,” O'Brien said. 'We're definitely getting closer to that.”

COUGARS CONTROL VALLEY

Cedar Rapids Kennedy continued its dominance at the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division meet Monday at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City.

The Cougars won the meet, which is the second of three events that determine divisional individual and team champions, recording a team score of 310 and runner-up Linn-Mar by 20 strokes.

Kennedy occupied the top of the leaderboard. The Cougars' Cole Murdock, Davis Sutton and Tanner Stewart tied for first, shooting 77 apiece. Conner Koberg tied for fourth with Iowa City West's J.D. Goodfellow with 79.

Kennedy owns a 39-stroke lead over the Lions, heading into the final divisional Sept. 29 at Ellis Golf Course. The Cougars sit atop the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association Class 4A rankings. Kennedy is first in 18-hole team average, while sitting third in 9-hole average and second in combined ratings.

POSTSEASON ASSIGNMENT

Linn-Mar will host the state qualifying meet Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion.

The field includes Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Iowa City High, Iowa City West and Western Dubuque. Cedar Falls, Ottumwa and both Waterloo public schools will compete in the district.

The top four finishers, including all fourth-place ties and top three teams advance to the state tournament Oct. 10-11 at the Tournament Club of Iowa Golf Course in Polk City.

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