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Golf program drives early interest, success
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Might these boys be three Austintown Fitch golf stars in the making? All three intend to try out in high school. From left to right, they are Joey Schushok, Cameron Gumble and Dominic Ignazio.
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Dominic Ignazio held his form as he aimed for the elusive hole-in-one.
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A good golfer pays attention to his short game, too. Cameron Gumble showed improvement in his putting game at the second hole.
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Ed Santor (left) has a lot of patience and experience, and those qualities help in his teaching career and his golf game. With Joey Schushok (right), Santor used his knowledge to provide constructive tips.
By SARAH FOOR
Early one recent Saturday morning when most middle-schoolers were busy sleeping in, three Austintown Middle School boys were lugging heavy golf bags across the dewy grass of Mill Creek Park’s Par 3 Golf Course.
Their mentor and unofficial golf coach Ed Santor explained the importance of the boys carrying their bags.
“It’s a responsibility thing. Here, and even on the high school team during official meets, the boys aren’t perched on golf carts and zipping around the course. That weight on their back reminds them what they’re working for.”
The three young golfers that showed up that morning, Joey Schushok, Dominic Ignazio, and Cameron Gumble, are Santor’s investment into the future of the Fitch golf program.
Santor calls his informal practices the “Developmental Golf Program,” where he helps build interest in Fitch high school golf by helping the boys work on their drives, putting and swings.
Santor was the football coach at Liberty for 15 years before he gave up teaching and went into a business career. He was semi-retired before he found his new position teaching golf at the middle school two years ago.
“This position really brought me back — back to coaching, back to the schools and into Austintown. Let’s face it, golf is a lot less intense than football. At this age, I like that,” he explained.
Because he is only two years into his program, Santor hasn’t found any definitive proof that his work has given new golfers to the Fitch golf program, because none of his students have moved up to the high school yet.
But the three young golfers gave a resounding “Yes!” when asked if they’ll be joining the high school team.
“I think I’m a little better at golf than I am at basketball, so I’m investing in that. With my skill improving, I’ve spent days golfing with my dad and Grandpa,” said Ignazio.
“Golf has helped me find myself and my friends since moving here from Wisconsin. I’ll definitely be trying out for the high school team,” said Gumble.