The Oaks Club Pro Jamie Davison is Named LSSU Golf Coach
Release courtesy of Linda Bouvet, Lake Superior State University Sports Information Director
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.
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