Team of The Week: Grace Golf

Jody Reeves

The Grace golf teams have the distinction of being the final team of the week for the spring sports season.  The Grizzly golfers have had a very successful season thus far.  The boys only losses have come against 3A opponents and the girls have yet to suffer a loss.  As I made my way to Caribou Highlands Golf Course a bitter wind blew across the potato fields that surround the Grizzly’s home course.  

As you pull up to the clubhouse you can see the center pivot that waters the course on the horizon though with the recent rain and snow storms it has yet to be put to use this season.  The golfers themselves were bundled up and working on the practice green.  Coach Kyle Christensen arrived dressed for his day job as a potato farmer complete with a dirty Carhartt coat that was used more for function than the latest fashion craze.  The course itself is located on the Christensen potato farm northwest
of Grace. 

 The love for the sport of golf that Coach Christensen has makes it no surprise that he has been able to enjoy so much success over the years.  Christensen has been coaching for twenty-three years and has won his fair share of hardware.  The current run for the Lady Grizzlies has them looking to qualify for state for the ninth year in a row with the exception of the Covid year.  The boys have made state six of the last eight years and are strong contenders this year as well.  The current varsity squads are a mix of kids from all grades.  The boys team has one freshman, two juniors, and two seniors and the girls have one freshman, two sophomores, one junior and one senior. 

 With just three total seniors the Grizzlies are young with a bright future.  I had a chance to talk to the seniors and get their thoughts on their careers golfing for Grace High School.  Koby Rindlisbaker reflected on last year's state run where the Grizzlies came up just short of a championship.  “Last year was a lot of fun.  We were pretty close and it showed us what we could do and gave us a glimpse of what it would be like to win state.”  I asked Easton Lloyd if he felt any pressure to be an example to the younger guys on the team. “I feel like we’re all on the same page.  Nobody puts anyone ahead of anybody.”  The lone senior Lady Grizzly is Madison Edwards.  Madison told me that when she first started golfing she wasn't sure where or what the fairway was but Madison has developed her game due in large part to older former teammates and Coach Christensen. “Oh gosh I love Kyle.  He’s the best.  He’s one of those coaches that can make it super fun but also when it needs to be serious he can be serious.  He’s also super patient.”  Joining Madison on the girls team are Kamryn Mansfield and Karlie Christensen.  Kamryn and Karlie are not only the top girl golfers on the team but two of the top girls in the state.  The two girls have gone back and forth throughout the season being the number one golfer on the team.  When asked if they like the competition Karlie responded, “I just want to beat Kamryn every week and I’m sure she wants to beat me.”  Kamryn answered, “I've seen how hard Karlie has worked. It's been nice to have someone push me to try to
get better.”  

Entering the district tournament the Grizzly teams are the favorites to win but Coach Christensen isn't taking anything for granted.  “We've been favored in the past and lost so you have to keep working hard and focus on one shot at a time.  You can't expect to just put your name on a trophy.  We have to go out and earn it.”   Coach Christensen also talked about the mental aspects of the game and how you have to be mentally strong.  “I decided that with coaching golf I should get a degree in psychology.  Sometimes out there on the course all you can do is talk them off a cliff.”  

Coach Christensen will look to have the Grizzlies at the top of their game both mentally and physically as they enter the district tournament this week at the Preston Country Club.  The Coach finished the interview by saying, “They're just a great group to coach.  They're the kind of kids that are willing to come out and work and I’m just happy to be along for
the ride.”