Jim Delaby, PGA director of instruction at the Monarch Dunes Golf Club, frequents many schools along the Central Coast to give golf lessons—but Santa Maria High School is the first where he gets to teach swings indoors.
The school just acquired a golf simulator, which students can use without going outside the classroom.
“These simulators are so rare because they’re so expensive. I’ve never heard of any other school with one,” Delaby told the Sun. “I’ve been to a few sports bars that have golf simulators, but even that’s rare. It’s usually something you’d only find at a specialized golf store.”
The high school acquired the golf simulator in January thanks to the athletic department’s budget as well as funds raised at the school’s annual golf tournament. The device uses software optics and laser technology to track the golf ball once it’s hit and measure the amount of spin and ball flight.
The simulator occupies a spacious room adjacent to the school’s weight center. Members of the boys’ and girls’ golf teams take turns hitting into a net. A virtual depiction of where the ball would have gone is displayed on a television screen for users to view.
“It’s so much faster to practice this way because it takes away the ball flight,” Delaby said. “The simulator really speeds up the process, especially for one-on-one lessons.”
Delaby currently coaches the girls’ golf team at Nipomo High School, but he also teaches a four-part golf program at Santa Maria High School. The program is a collaboration between Delaby and his longtime friend Jay Cheney, coach of Santa Maria’s boys’ and girls’ golf teams.
“I’ve always wanted this kind of opportunity for the students, to be able to golf indoors like this,” Cheney told the Sun. “This is such a great opportunity for the team because it frees up a lot of extra time to practice more and the feedback from the simulator is accurate.”
Another benefit of the golf simulator is being able to practice on campus, Cheney said, which eases transportation issues to golf courses for team members.
Practicing on campus is also beneficial because it promotes golf in general at the high school, Cheney added. Cheney believes the golf simulator is the perfect way to introduce students to the game.
“Some of the kids who walk by and see what we’re doing have stopped to try it out,” Cheney said. “We’re attracting students that might not have ever considered trying golf. And we welcome any student who wants to give it a shot.”
The high school’s golf teams are made up of 10 boys and seven girls, so there is plenty of room to grow, Cheney said.
“I think most people get into sports through word of mouth or through their friends, which is how I got into golf,” said Santa Maria High School senior Isaiah Kurgan. Kurgan has played golf for the school since he was a freshman.
“I have to admit, I really wish we had this simulator four years ago when I first started,” Kurgan said. “Not just because it’s convenient—mainly because it’s just a lot of fun.”
Intern Caleb Wiseblood is sticking with mini golf. Contact him through Managing Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 30 – Apr 6, 2017.