Hart County Girls Golf – Gibbons named new head coach

By T. Wampler, JPI Sports

 

Coach Boyd Rexroat handed over the reins of the Hart County girls’ golf team to Marlie Gibbons this season.

Gibbons served as an assistant last season at HCHS and is “super excited” to become the Lady Raiders head coach this season. Gibbons served as an assistant at Barren County before moving to HCHS last year.

Gibbons played collegiate golf on a full-ride scholarship at Lindsey Wilson and said in a recent interview that, “I’ve been playing golf as long as I can remember.”

Gibbons started playing golf beginning in elementary school, at the high school level before the rules changed prohibiting it.

“I was kind of grandfathered in, and I am so thankful for all the experience I gained as just a young kid playing competitive golf,” she said.

“I’m super excited about it,” answered Gibbons when asked about being the head coach of the Lady Raiders. “I got into teaching and coached my first year at Barren County middle school. Then, the opportunity opened up for me, kind of just fell into my lap, to come to Hart County and I absolutely love it.”

“It was also a career move for me,” Gibbons added. “I will graduate this December with my teaching degree.”

Gibbons fast-tracked in college and finished in 3½ years. She believes in the education process and loves teaching and coaching.

Gibbons loves Hart County and the small, but vibrant group of Lady Raider golfers she has this season. She was also very appreciative of Coach Boyd Rexroat and the help he has given her during her time of transition.

“I cannot say how much help he has been to me and our team,” she said. “He loves golf and he loves coaching and being around the players.”

Gibbons said what they lack in squad size, they more than make up for it with their “drive.”

“My top three golfers want to be the very best they can be and they are willing to work to get there,” she said. “My two seniors are providing great leadership, ideal leaders, and all three are always willing to help each other and the younger players.”

“It is like having three more coaches with my two seniors and my sophomore,” Gibbons added. “If I’m busy with one group, they are right there to offer advice or tell me what they need to work on when we are practicing.”

Gibbons said one thing that really stands out about this group is their communication skills.

Gibbons said she also has two more young freshmen golfers that she is “bringing along slowly” before they begin to compete in an 18-hole tournament setting.

“Like my top three, I am proud of the effort they are putting in to improve and learn more about golf,” she continued. “All five are just great kids and very coachable.”

Gibbons says their scores are “steadily dropping” and she believes the Lady Raiders will see even lower scores as the season progresses.

“I love to see those scores going lower and lower,” she added.

Gibbons says she is thankful for the good coaches she has during her high school and college careers.

“If there is one thing I took away from playing in college, it was to be the best ‘you’ can be,” she said with the emphasis on, “You.” “Don’t compare yourself to Tiger Woods or some great woman golfer. That’s not who you are. Set out to be the best person and golfer you can be and that means working hard on all facets of your game.”

Gibbons said with that mindset, you can grow and improve your game as you practice and compete. Gibbons chuckled when asked if she was competitive.

“Oh, yes.” she said emphatically. “I wanted to win when I played, and I want our team to give their best and compete every time we play. If we do that, then winning will come and one way you win is by getting better every day.”

Gibbons is glad to be a part of the Hart County family and thankful for the support she has received since arriving last year.

“Everyone made me feel welcome and I want to give back by being the best coach and teacher I can be,” she added. “The support at our school and in this community is tremendous.”

“I love their communication skills with each other,” replied Gibbons when asked what stood out about this year’s team. “The other thing is that they are always coming to me and asking what they can do to improve their game and their drive, that spark that makes them want to be better golfers.”

One area Coach Gibbons says they are working hard on early in the season is, “ not leaving their shots short.” Gibbons said it is partly judging distance, but she wants them to be brave and once they select a club, “don’t leave it short.”

“I try to motivate them a little bit, and tell them you got to throw it,” Gibbons concluded. “You’ve got to get it to the pin or it won’t go in the hole. Throw it, get it to the hole.”

The Hart County Lady Raiders golf teams this year includes: Hailey Johnson (senior), Anna Sims (senior), Mackenzie Benningfield (sophomore), D’Niya West (freshman), and Jillian Walters (freshman). Coach Gibbons will have more comments about her team, and player photos will be featured in the Fall Sports Specials later in the season in a future edition of the Hart County News-Herald.