By Ethan Moore, Sports Editor.
One of the most important building blocks for a stable program is having the right head coach in place. Delta believes they’ve found the right man to coach golf in Kyle Whittington. He graduated from Delta in 2009 with an Associate of Arts and later got a Bachelor’s degree from Northwood in Business Management. Since then, he’s been the assistant pro at West Branch Country Club, and later the head pro.
“I love teaching the game of golf to others. Golf has always been a passion of mine,” says Whittington. “I attended Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management program directly out of high school, and over the years I have enjoyed teaching a junior golf program and have progressed to giving lessons and clinics to more advanced golfers.”
This is Whittington’s first college coaching gig, but he feels he’s more than prepared to face the challenges that await.
“I have been giving lessons and coaching junior golf for the better part of the past 10 years,” says Whittington. “While I have never been the coach of a ‘team,’ several of these kids and individuals have been involved in competitive golf.”
Coaching golf is different from what you see in more popular sports such as football or basketball. The coach doesn’t have any direct impact when the game itself is being played, they can only help in practice sessions to get the players ready.
“I think the key to being a productive coach is spending time with each player figuring out the way they learn most effectively,” explains Whittington. “There isn’t a single correct way to swing a golf club or to play golf. My job is to get the players to better understand why their shots do what they do.”
Now that the job is his, Whittington has roughly a month to prepare the team for match play and get them to buy in to his coaching philosophies.
“In the coming week or two we will beginning practicing at the Mid-Michigan Golf Center in Midland,” explains Whittington. “Obviously the winter weather and golf don’t exactly mesh, so here we will be able to get some swings in at their outdoor facility and get a jump start heading into the season.”
The golf program at Delta certainly has room to grow, and now it’s up to Whittington to recruit new talent and maintain stability.
“I’m most excited about getting to know the players and helping develop the golf program at Delta College. As of now we only have four golfers on the team. It will be my job create an appealing environment and successful program that students will want to be a part of in the coming seasons.”
Whittington is the third new head coach for Delta in the 2015-16 season, including men’s basketball and softball. He’s ready to take this opportunity and prove he can be the long term answer for Delta golf.
“My goal as a team is to have each player look back at the end of the season and say they are a better player than when the season began,” says Whittington. “There is no doubt in my mind that this goal is obtainable.”
