LSSU names The Oaks golf pro Jamie Davison golf coach
SAULT STE. MARIE - The Oaks at Kincheloe club professional Jamie Davison, who has 20-plus years of playing and working experience in the golf industry, has been named head coach of the Lake Superior State men's and women's golf teams, which will begin competing in the fall of 2009.
LSSU, which has offered men's golf off-and-on since 1951, last competed in the sport during the 2004-05 school year. LSSU is offering women's golf for the first time. Davison will begin his duties immediately, focusing on building rosters for both teams. A meeting for current and incoming students who are interested in trying out for the golf teams will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, in the Norris Center's Gregory Lounge.
"I know a lot of high school coaches in the Upper Peninsula and will try to get some of their players over here," said Davison, an Ontonagon native who started the girl's golf program at Rudyard High School in 2001. "I'm definitely going to start in the U.P. because that's where most of my contacts are. But at the same time, there are a lot of players to choose from downstate. Unfortunately, the problem with the U.P. is their high school season is so short. The players in the lower peninsula have a distinct advantage playing and practicing outdoors at least a month earlier than those residing in the U.P."
LSSU will become the 10th school to compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in men's golf. Only Grand Valley State, Ferris State, Ashland, Findlay, Northwood and Tiffin offer women's golf. Davison will have very little competition for recruits in northern Michigan. Northern Michigan University and Alpena Community College both offer men's teams.
"The men's side is not going to be an issue," he said. "There are so many high-level men golfers, but there are considerably fewer up-and-coming women golfers. My biggest challenge will be recruiting quality talent and building a brand-new program. But, for the women, we are the only program in the U.P."
Because of the vast number of northern Michigan golf courses, Davison expects to find pockets of talented women golfers, notably in the Traverse City, Gaylord, Petoskey areas and across the entire U.P.
"It's exciting that we are able to add sports at a time when most universities are cutting," said Kris Dunbar, LSSU director of athletics. "Our university is taking a proactive step to attract incoming students. The university and our athletics program will remain viable if we offer the programs that students want. We've had a lot of inquiries regarding the men's program and a decent number for the women's."
The Oaks at Kincheloe, which is one of only two area golf courses that meets NCAA length requirements, will serve as the home venue for the LSSU teams.
"It's a traditional, championship golf course with enormous length," Davison said. "The greens are smaller than most college players are used to playing, but we can do a lot of different things with the golf course. It has five sets of tees, which can make things interesting. We have a full practice facility and it's always dry."
Davison began playing golf when he was 13 years old and began his management career at Gladstone Golf Club after he graduated from high school. He has vast experience as a tournament director and instructor. He was president of the U.P. Golf Association in 2007, and The Oaks served as host of the UPGA Men's Championship that year.
"I've always coached or assisted the local golf teams' coaches, along with directing different clinics through Bay College (in Escanaba), junior camps through CCSS (Consolidated Community School Services) and one for LSSU. This is my 10th season at Kincheloe and I can't wait to get started coaching for LSSU," Davison said.
