When not working on Tellico Village courses, Adam Jacob, head golf pro at Toqua, volunteers his time as a golf coach for the Greenback middle school golf team.
Jacob unofficially helped the team, comprised this year of four boys and three girls, for five years prior to becoming coach.
“The middle school’s season is in the spring so we start in February doing some indoor practice and classroom work,” Jacob said. “We go over the rules of golf, etiquette and work on their swings a little bit.”
Typically, players are able to practice their swings in a large classroom. If there is no snow on the ground, they practice at Kahite. Practice is held four times a week for more than two hours.
For about six weeks, students work on the range and then start to play a few holes. Jacob helps each player perfect their swing and gives them tips on how to play competitive golf.
When practicing on a course, he goes over every aspect of the game — where to tee the ball, what clubs to hit, where to set your golf bag when playing, fixing ball marks on greens and more. For many, it’s their first time on a golf course, so it’s important to spend time educating them about the game.
Golf matches started in mid-March and go through the end of April. District tournaments begin the first of May.
The Greenback girls team won the district tournament recently at Rockwood Golf Course. They won the region tournament May 10.
Adam and his co-coach, Robin Cagle, dedicate countless hours educating and coaching the team. Most middle school teams must practice on their own time. At Greenback, the golf team gets plenty of time with coaches.
Jacob is dedicated to growing the sport of golf within Tellico Village. By volunteering as a school coach, he is able to grow the sport of golf within the next generation of golfers.
