Harrison, Jr. moving the Golf team forward
Lemont Furnace, PA - As the Penn State Fayette Golf team concluded the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) championships simultaneously Tuesday, it finished a wild ride and journey for the team.
The team got off to a unique start as the team did not have a head coach. When Dave Gumbert retired as coach this past offseason, it put the hiring process into overdrive as the season was approaching.
The team opened its season under supervision of Director of Athletics Steve Oberly and it wasn't until September that Freddie Harrison, Jr. was named the new coach. He hit the ground running and things have been going nonstop ever since.
"Unfortunately, we got out to a late start this season because of my late hiring. The goals the remainder of the season were simple; compete, learn, improve. I wanted to see improvement every match. Sometimes in golf improvement isn't seen with the overall number or score. I took notes during the first match of each player's strengths and weaknesses. When the match was over, and we were traveling home, we stopped for dinner and as a team we went over everything. Although I haven't had enough time to spend with all the players, I have seen improvements. I notice them doing more pre-shot fundamentals and blotting their way around the course (i.e. course management). One of my goals is to create a facility where the student-athletes can work on their putting and short game especially. The best way to improve in life is to practice, the more you do the easier it becomes. With these players having so little time to practice between school, work, family, and other obligations it is hard to leave campus and have time to work on their game."
Harrison, Jr.'s passion for golf started in his teens. Although he started working at a golf course at the age of 15, it wasn't a "love at first site" situation.
"Golf was not a sport that I played growing up," he said with a laugh. "When I was a senior in high school, I started playing on a more regular basis. The short game and putting aspect of the game came naturally. I played golf collegiately at Garrett College for a year, and then left to go to SDGA in South Carolina to focus on golf course management, which is where I earned my degree in business management."
After graduating, Harrison, Jr. moved into the world of golf professionally.
"I began working at Piney Branch Golf Club (Upperco, MD) where I was the assistant professional for six years," he said. "My wife and I moved to Virginia Beach; there I was a golf professional at Cedar Point Country Club. Then we had our son and decided to move back closer to family and I was the golf professional and GM at Alpine Lake Resort (Terra Alta, WV) for approximately ten years. I came to Duck Hollow Golf Club in 2016 as the General Manager/Director of Golf and also the Director of Golf at Uniontown Country Club."
Harrison, Jr. looked at the different aspects of what he has taught.
"Throughout my career in golf, I have taught many students of all skill levels, he said. "From professionals and top amateurs in the world to the very beginner. As an assistant professional I was the coordinator of the junior golf interclub program and coached the Vilia Julies girl's golf team. I also currently coach middle school boys' basketball and have coached baseball and wrestling in the past. One thing I have always tried to do is relate golf to any other sport you may have played as a child. I find that it helps give the player a sense of knowledge that he or she now has a better understanding because golf isn't an easy game."
In a short time, Harrison, Jr. has laid the groundwork for what he hopes to see happen with the Fayette program.
"The Penn State Fayette golf team will be competing for a national championship in the future, let's just hope it comes sooner than later," he said. "We have already started recruiting for next year and the future."
Oberly is excited with what he has already seen from Harriosn, Jr.
"Coach Harrison has been warmly welcomed to the Penn State Fayette community as the new head Golf coach," Oberly said. "His combination of skill and knowledge of the sport, as well as his relationship with our community stakeholders, will be a valuable asset for the future successes of the Fayette Golf program. We look forward to his vision for building a perennial PSUAC powerhouse in both the Men's and Women's divisions."
If you would like to donate to the program, please visit https://www.psfathletics.com/information/Support_Athletics and click on GOLF.
For more on the golf team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/golf/index.