The Marblehead golf team took to The Meadow Golf Course in Peabody for its first match of the season against Peabody on Tuesday. The Magicians won the match 44-28.
Six Magicians (Charlie Grenier, Simon Quicken, Jacob Hershfield, Marty Ryan, James Bickell, and Toby Grenier) won their match to start things off right.
Head coach Bob Green was pleased to get the first one out of the way.
“It’s always good to get the first match over with and it’s even better to start the season off with a win,” Green said. “The kids kind of relaxed after it. I know how good they are, but they don’t know yet. Playing with a fear of losing is not a bad thing.”
Despite the win, Green praised a strong Peabody team that has been improving over the years.
“Peabody is a much-improved team and they had a lot of kids with good golf swings,” Green said.
The strength of Marblehead will be its depth, according to Green, who feels his top four golfers can be the number ones on most teams in the conference.
“We have a very skilled team where our one through four could probably play as the number one on most other teams in the conference,” Green said. “Our team is very professional with their approach and they have that love for the game.”
“I can see they have talent. It’s just trying to bring the best out of them,” Green said. “I told them that we have four guys that can be number one on most teams, but it’s about team golf, not individual golf. Everyone bought into the team game and I haven’t seen anyone complain about not being number one. Developing the team game mindset will allow them to excel.”
Green, who has been Marblehead’s coach since 2018, said he values mentality.
“I like the kids’ attitude. I stress body language and being positive,” Green said. “I work on the mental approach to their game because what happened on the last hole doesn’t matter. After all, it’s a new hole.”
Green added he doesn’t set out team goals, rather, wants players to focus on the big picture of qualifying for the state tournament.
“We won the conference last year in the Lynch Division. It’s about the bigger picture of making the state tournament. In the five years I’ve coached, we’ve made sectionals four times. The big challenge is making the state tournament,” Green said. “I want them to focus on the big goal of getting to states – not the small goals.”
And according to Green, his players are all bought in.
“I enjoy coaching so much and being with the kids. I enjoy the kids’ love of the game,” Green said. “We practiced at Tedesco the other day and when we got there, I didn’t have to say anything. They know the drill. They go and create and work on their game. As a coach, it’s great that you don’t have to tell them what shot they should be working on.”
The Magicians are in for a big match on Thursday when they take on St. Mary’s at Hillview Country Club.
“This will give us a good yardstick to see where we are since St. Mary’s always has a good team,” Green said. “Unfortunately, I will be missing a player for that match, but we’ll bring someone up from the JV team.”
