Marinello Has Big Plans for Huntington Golf
Mike Marinello is looking for the perfect round. The Huntington High School golf coach wants to get the most out of his players and is always working to develop a championship caliber program. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Blue Devil golf team’s 1978 state crown captured under coach Lou Boccia and if Marinello has his way, it won’t be the school’s last.
“The Huntington golf team needs to address several factors as it moves forward and seeks to improve,” Marinello said during a recent interview. The coach hopes that a majority of team members consider golf to be their “first” sport. “Many athletes who play other sports put in the time necessary in the off-season to improve their skill,” he said. “Golf like any other sport requires that students practice and play during the off-season.”
It’s this off-season period that Marinello is zeroing in on. “Having playing opportunities during the off-season will equip our athletes with the skills necessary to compete for individual and team league and county titles,” he said. “Providing golfers a chance to play and practice on a consistent basis during the spring and summer is crucial to team improvement. Several factors must be considered including the cost involved with playing and practicing, golf course access, and the cost of equipment and playing rounds. These may be obstacles for many students on the golf team as well as students who may have an interest in golf.”
While the issues are many, Marinello is also crafting possible solutions. “The Huntington golf team has formed a relationship with the Huntington Crescent Club to have our team members work at the club as caddies,” he said. “This would provide them with a weekly playing opportunity, as well as a summer job.”
Marinello said that the Crescent Club’s membership and head pro John J. Schob “have been extremely helpful over past two seasons. Their continued support of the Huntington golf program will be critical in building and improving the program.”
Marinello is also hoping for the creation of a junior varsity golf program or, absent that, the addition of an assistant varsity coaching position. “Almost all other teams in the league have a JV program that feeds the varsity,” he said. “With a JV program, young players have the opportunity to develop their skills and more athletes can participate.”
The current Blue Devil program cannot accommodate golfers who aren’t in the starting lineup with an opportunity to practice or play during home or away matches, Marinello said. He believes that to assist in the development of these golfers, the school needs to maximize their playing opportunities and he thinks a varsity assistant coach would help in this area.
Getting younger students involved in the sport is another priority in building a stronger program in the future. “I hope to develop a student-parent clinic,” Marinello said. “If the parents are playing, then their children will be playing too. Golf is a great family game, if parents are playing golf with their children they will be more likely to give them the necessary support to improve and develop into quality golfers.”
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