“Golf is a lifelong sport, it is not just a one time thing,” Zach Strouts, new girls’ golf co-head coach, said. “Rule number one is to have fun and teach girls about golf.”

Strouts was the assistant coach last year and is now co-head coaching with Joe Yaeger who has not coached girls’ golf before. The new assistant coach is Natalie Pastor who coached the girls last year according to Strouts.

“I hope we can be successful this year,” Strouts said. “But the focus is on teaching the girls the skills needed to play golf for a long time.”

Strouts said he knew the girls from last year and is excited to teach and play golf with them again this year.

On top of teaching the girls, Yeager said he hopes to start the season with a strong reputation as the courses begin to open up.

“This is my first year in a new conference, and it’s my first year with the girls,” Yaeger said. “I don’t know much about the strength of the new conference but I hope we make a strong presence.”

Despite being a new girls golf coach, Yeager said he has gotten to know some of the girls and thinks that they will bring a competitive element.

Senior captain Samantha Jermusek said she is excited about the new coaching staff and is hopeful for the season.

“I love the new coaches. I’m really excited to have Joe (Yaeger) as a coach, and I’m happy to have Natalie back,” Jermusek said.

As a returning player, Jermusek said she hopes the team can improve from last year and succeed in the new conference.

“I think we’re going to struggle against some of the bigger schools but we are going to win more matches than last year,” Jermusek said. “I also hope we have some girls go back to the second round of sections this year.”

According to Strouts, the girls will practice in a golf dome in Brooklyn Park while the snow is still on the ground and Theo Wirth will be the girls’ new home course because of the flooding at the Meadowbrook course this past summer.

The girls’ season begins March 16 and registration forms to join are available in the athletic office.