Bogalusa High School’s golf program is coming back this season.
Randall Ginn is the head coach of the team. He said that when he and Bogalusa City Schools Superintendent Lisa Tanner were talking about him going to Bogalusa, one of the things they talked about was that it would be a good idea to resurrect the golf program.
“I know when I coached at Covington years ago, I had to fill in for the golf coach one day and the (Class) 5A tournament was up here at this country club (Bogalusa Country Club),” Ginn said. “It wasn’t just 5A, I think it was teams like Covington, Franklinton and Bogalusa and teams in this area. Then for years, I hear they discontinued it for whatever the reason was. We just put out an open call and thought it would give kids the opportunity to play something different they’re not exposed to.”
The team features five members — Ramero Watterson, Keltron Harry, Zachary Castilow, Michael Graham and Tomarkus Moses.
The group is in the early stages of learning the game.
“They all make solid contact with the ball in the fairways and off the drive,” Ginn said. “Chipping is a struggle right now. They’re learning how to keep their own score. We’re going to behind the 8-ball. It’s not going to happen overnight.”
The team is going to be playing in the Northlake Golf League, which plays at courses in Washington, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes and features teams from the area like Franklinton, Lakeshore, Salmen and Pearl River.
“I was in this league enough with coach (Stephen) Burris at Franklinton and my own sons playing up there to know they will learn as they go and the other kids they’re with will help them with the rules,” Ginn said. “Hopefully the other kids they’re playing with, in addition to the little bit of stuff I tell them, will fill them in as they’re out there playing. Everything I’ve seen so far in the past in this league shows that.”
Bogalusa’s first golf meet in the Northlake Golf League takes place Tuesday at Pinewood Country Club in Slidell. The first two meets will be nine holes and then 18 the rest of the way.