Douglas High School’s golf coach Bosco Selchow may have retired from teaching but he’s nowhere near ready to retire from coaching.
 Bruce Whetten/Douglas Dispatch Gabriel Ortega is the most experienced golfer on the DHS squad this season coming in with two years experience. Douglas kicks off its season Sept. 2 at home against Buena and Palo Verde in a triangular match. |
The match begins at 3 p.m. at the Douglas Golf Course.
A pre-season tournament had been scheduled before that date but now it appears to have been cancelled.
Selchow says he has a very young team this year; one that is inexperienced.
“We have quite a few kids that haven’t played competitively,” the coach said. “They’ve played a lot of golf just not competitive golf. - I think we’re going to be okay.”
The coach said every time his kid’s play they will be learning the game and what it takes to play competitive golf.
“It’s just a matter of getting the experience they’re going to need,” he said.
Selchow had a golfer he had been working with the last three years who decided not to come out this year for what would be his senior season.
The coach said the decision of this young man to not come out means the rest of the golfers on the team will have to step up.
With no seniors on the squad junior Gabriel Ortega is now the most experienced golfer on the Douglas squad this year.
“He played quite a bit over the summer; played in some tournaments and really worked hard at improving his game,” the coach said. “I expect him to be our No.1 player throughout the year.”
The coach said after that every slot on the team is wide open as the 12 remaining male and female golfer’s battle for the final four slots.
In golf each team plays its best five players and of those five the top four scores are scored.
The coach said he expects sophomore twins Martin and Eric Valenzuela to challenge for two of those remaining slots.
The Valenzuela brothers come from a local golf family. All of their older brothers have played for DHS and the oldest one played collegiately. The dad, Martin, has been Selchow’s volunteer assistant the last eight years and is making at attempt to turn pro.
“They been playing since they were little kids,” the coach said of the brothers. “I expect both of them to be pretty competitive.”
Selchow said having Valenzuela as his assistant all these years has been a big plus.
“He has a lot of knowledge and really helps the kids,” Selchow said “It really helps me out a lot because I can’t be everywhere at once. - He’s been a big help. I really appreciate him volunteering his time.”
Another sophomore Robbie Romero has decided to come out for the team this year.
“I expect him to be competing for one of the spots,” Selchow said.
Alex Montano and Ernie Tapia both played sparingly last year as sophomores and could see more playing time this year as juniors if they can get their scores up.
“Both of them have improved quite a bit from last year,” the coach said.
Freshman Diego Campas has shown some improvement and continues to work to make himself better, the coach added.
Reynaldo Ortiz is another sophomore who played some last year but backed off during the summer is back and now trying to find his stroke.
Sophomores Adrian Vildosola, Arnulfo Valdez and Julia Robles are also expected to challenge for some playing time.
Robles also comes from a local golfing family.
Selchow said Robles is a true beginner but she has shown improvement the short time she’s been with the team.
“We have a lot of young kids that have played quite a bit on their own just not competitively,” the coach said.
The A.I.A.’s new format to qualify for state is going to make things more challenging on these kids to qualify for state.
“It’s going to be a lot different for us,” the coach said. “We no longer have a regional tournament; we probably won’t have a regional champion. The way we qualify for state now is totally different than what we’re used to.”
The coach said each golfer must shoot five qualifying scores at various golf courses; they have to shoot a certain score or better in order to qualify as individuals. As a team they have to shoot a certain score based on the rating of the golf course.
“The rating is confusing,” the coach said. “The rating tells you the difficulty of the course. Our scores will have to be based on that rating. - It’s plain and simple either you shoot well or you don’t make it.”
Three of the five scores can be on the teams’ home course.
“It really does make a difference now where you’re playing,” Selchow said. “It’s going to be a learning experience this year for everybody in terms of what its going to take to get into the state tournament.”
Selchow is enjoying retirement and says not having to teach all day then come out and coach is now a lot easier.
“It’s a lot more relaxing,” he said. “But I’m still staying busy.”
How long will he keep coaching?
“Who knows,” the coach said. “I’m still having fun coming out here. I still like watching these kids and trying to make them better.”
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