Nov. 3, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame head men’s golf coach Jim Kubinski has been nominated for the 2007 GOLF Magazine “Top 100 Teachers” list, which annually honors the elite golf instructors in America. Kubinski was among those chosen from the Indiana section of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America and is part of a group of 400-500 nominees (from approximately 30,000 PGA professionals nationwide) who are considered for this prestigious award. The Top 100 list regularly carries over a great deal of its membership from year to year, with renowned instructors such as Hank Haney (coach for PGA Tour great Tiger Woods), David Leadbetter (who operates the celebrated Leadbetter Golf Academies), Butch Harmon (instructor for such current PGA Tour pros as Stewart Cink, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard) and Rick Smith (who has worked with PGA Tour greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson) among its current roster. The ’07 GOLF Magazine Top 100 selections will be announced later this month.
“Just being considered for the GOLF Magazine list is a tremendous honor,” Kubinski said. “It speaks volumes about the golf professionals I’ve worked for. From my very first job as an assistant professional back in 1994, I’ve had tremendous teaching support and encouragement. My first boss, Carey Mountcastle, had worked for Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village and always stressed the importance of educating myself. He exposed me to many, many teaching philosophies ranging from the early 20th century writings of Ernest Jones and Percy Boomer, to Jack Nicklaus and today’s teachers like Rick Smith.”
Kubinski has had a major effect on the Notre Dame men’s golf program ever since he assumed the head coaching position on Jan. 28, 2005, coming to South Bend after spending a year and a half as an assistant coach with the Duke men’s and women’s programs. In his two-plus years on the Notre Dame campus, the Springfield, Mass., native has skillfully guided the Irish to consecutive BIG EAST Conference titles and NCAA regional berths, not to mention three tournament victories, 10 top-five finishes and 12 wins over Top 25 opponents. What’s more, Notre Dame posted a school-record 292.97 stroke average last season, shaving nearly six shots off the previous program record, and the Irish were named the Golfweek National Team of the Week for the first time ever on May 1, 2006 after a stirring 12-shot comeback victory in the final round of the BIG EAST Championship. Currently, Notre Dame is ranked among the top 50 in the nation by both Golfstat (41st) and Golfweek (46th).
“My time as a coach and golf professional at Duke University was a wonderfully unique opportunity,” Kubinski noted. “I had the great fortune of working not only under a Top 100 teacher in (Duke Golf Club general manager) Ed Ibarguen, but also for two Hall of Fame coaches in Rod Myers (men’s coach) and Dan Brooks (women’s coach). How many young professionals have been that fortunate? Each of those men were outstanding mentors and influenced my teaching tremendously. They each have their own styles, too. To be able to take away the very best traits and techniques of each famed instructor is something that has enabled me to become successful as a teacher.
“Regardless of how the final voting comes out, I think the fact that we’re talking about teaching is exciting,” Kubinski added. “Too many times, coaches focus on wins and losses and scheduling and recruiting and so many other things. It’s nice to have this time to reflect on what our real mission is. We’re here to help our players improve — on and off the course. Teaching, whether golf technique or life lessons, is the most important part of our job. I would be thrilled to be included in the GOLF Magazine listing, but nowhere near as excited as I am to work with my players on a daily basis and see them succeed.”
Kubinski and his Notre Dame charges will return from a three-week layoff on Nov. 6-7 when they compete in the CordeValle Collegiate, to be hosted by UCLA at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.
— ND —