Setting a course for life: For Bob York, golf is all about the kids

KINGSPORT — For Bob York, golf is all about the kids.

The Colonial Heights Middle School golf team in particular.

Eleven years ago, York noticed middle school golf scores in the newspaper, but never saw anything from Colonial Heights Middle School.

“My grandson Nick was playing golf but Colonial Heights didn’t have a team,” York said. “I did some research and found out that a middle school golf program had been started in the Knoxville area and the Kingsport middle schools had teams.

“I went to Colonial Heights and asked about starting a golf team,” added York. “They told me it wouldn’t be an official school team but they would support anything I could get going.”

York made an announcement at the school letting kids know that he was putting together a team if anyone was interested.

“I had so many responses that we had to have tryouts to get the numbers down to where I could handle them,” York said. “I kept eight boys and four girls.”

For York, an avid golfer, it was not so much about being a swing coach as it was teaching the kids all the nuances of the game.

“Some of the kids were taking lessons and some were just beginning. What I wanted was to offer them an opportunity to learn the rules and the etiquette and to have a chance to fall in love with the game.”

For the sixth-graders who come out for the Chargers golf team, the first lessons are simple and to the point.

“I tell them to play fast and write their scores down correctly,” said York.

Teams are formed in the fall with matches starting in the spring.

“We use the fall sessions to work on short game drills and to talk about rules situations. Most of the time the only way they learn about a rule was when they break it.

“Golf is a game about doing the right thing when no one is looking. That’s very important.”

Much of York’s time and that of is team is spent on the practice green at Warriors Path.

“Head professional Mark Houser and his staff have been a big part of our success,” York said. “They have been very supportive.”

Over the years, York has stressed the honesty and integrity of the game of golf. He wants his teams to respect their opponents.

“From the start I was impressed with the kids who came out to play for the team,” York added. “The thing I see is they all have tremendous parents who back them and support them.

“Quality parents produce quality kids.”

And there has been quite a bit of quality.

Including his grandson Nick who went on to play golf at Tusculum, there have been some other golfers of note who have passed through the program.

Cayman Ratliff, who won the Tennessee state junior amateur, is now a freshman on the East Tennessee State men’s golf team, and Allyson Dunn is a member of the Lady Bucs’ golf squad. Matt Bowers was a member of the ETSU club team that won a national championship. Ross Miller plays for Milligan and York’s granddaughter Lacy is on the Middle Tennessee State golf team. And just this past fall, Sullivan South’s Taylor White signed to continue her golf career at Tusculum.

“Not every player who comes through our program is going to get a college scholarship,” York said. “But I don’t know if any of those kids would have progressed like they did without middle school golf.”

Helping York with his coaching duties is Glen Crawford, who has been a part of the program for nine years. His grandsons Drake and Seth also played for Colonial Heights.

Even after his grandchildren moved on, York has continued to devote countless hours to his passion.

So how much longer will York continue to mentor the Colonial Heights Middle School golf team?

“Well, I just turned 75, so that’s a valid question,” York said. “This is something that takes a lot of time. I’ve about given up playing myself.

“If someone came along and asked about taking things over, it would be very tempting.”

Still, the results can outweigh all the time invested.

“It’s been very rewarding for me,” York said. “The kids are so humble and grateful.

“It’s such a joy to see some of them improve from raw beginners to pretty good players. Once they get hooked on the game, it’s hard for them to go home. They just want to stay out here and be around the game.”

York’s passion for the sport has served the youth of Colonial Heights and the golf community very well.

“Seeing these kids fall in love with golf and trying to be really good is very satisfying,” he said. “No matter how far they progress, they have a game they can play the rest of their lives.”