Tech tees it up

The sports landscape at York County Tech got a bit bigger Monday. That's when the school's fledgling golf program competed in its first-ever event -- the YTI Invitational at Heritage Hills Golf Club.

York County Tech decided to add golf last spring, Spartans coach Jim Scarborough said. The team's home course will be Springwood Golf Course in York.

The inaugural squad features eight players, anchored by junior Nick Houston. He played in the York-Adams Tournament at Briarwood last year as an independent, and even qualified for Districts.

While Houston boasts pedigree, his teammates do not. The other seven Spartans -- four freshmen and three juniors -- have essentially no experience, Scarborough said. That made Monday's inaugural tournament a rough introduction for some of the Spartans' newer golfers.

"I have to maintain their interest," Scarborough said. "Try to keep their spirits up. If they think they're not playing up to what their potential is, I have to say 'Keep on trying.' I stressed to them, it's a matter of practice."

But this seasons isn't about results, Scarborough said. It's about teaching the game and developing a base for the program to build from.

"You have to take into consideration what this is all about," Scarborough said. "I'm hoping that to get this off on the right foot so that eventually we will have more participation.

"Right now, they're competitive. And in two or three years hopefully they'll be even more competitive. It's a start with the freshman."

Scarborough is learning on the fly, too. He spent 12 years as the YCAGA's executive director, but didn't get into coaching until now. Friend and former YCAGA president Harry Brown helped spur the addition of the golf team at Tech, and recommended Scarborough as a coaching candidate.

"At age 67, it's something that I never expected to be a high school golf coach," he said.

The Spartans' first YAIAA meet is slated for Thursday at the Mountain View Golf Club in Fairfield.