From the Archives: 50 Years of Gilman Golf (1974-2024)
While Gilman students began competing in golf as early as the 1920s (read more about Gilman Golf history here), spring 2024 commemorates 50 years of interscholastic varsity golf at Gilman. According to founding member Henry Blue '74, in the fall of 1973, he and Guy Phelan '75 approached Headmaster Redmond C. S. Finney '47 with the idea of establishing a varsity golf team at Gilman. Although individual students had already participated in junior tournaments, Blue and Phelan were eager to represent Gilman collectively as a team in the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA). They emphasized to Mr. Finney that there was a dedicated group of Gilman students passionate about golf and that the MSA already had an existing league.
Mr. Finney and Athletic Director Alexander Sotir approved the proposal, and in the spring of 1974, Gilman formed its inaugural varsity golf team. Despite not being a golfer himself, Frank "Bill" Andrews agreed to coach the new team, ferrying them to and from matches and practices in a VW bus. Without a home course or practice facilities, the team trained at a former golf course in Roland Park run by Baltimore Country Club, while home matches were hosted at Mount Pleasant. Despite lacking branded Gilman gear, the team had an impressive debut season, boasting a 9-2-1 record and clinching an MSA co-championship with Loyola. Lettermen players that season included Phelan, Jimmy Vandenberg '74, Blue, and Bill Saltysiak '75.
"Without Frank Andrews' commitment, there would never have been a golf team at Gilman."
Guy Phelan '75
Reflecting on 50 years of Gilman golf, Blue takes pride in the program's evolution. He admires how varsity golf fosters competitive yet amicable interactions among students from different schools. As golf is a lifelong pursuit, Blue still maintains friendships with individuals he met and competed against during Gilman golf in 1974. Blue is "extremely grateful for the commitment and dedication that the School, coaches, and players have displayed in the ensuing years as the sport has grown and become increasingly competitive."
In 1976, the Frank W. Andrews, Jr. Golf Trophy was established by Blue and Phelan in honor and memory of Mr. Andrews, a Gilman faculty member from 1956 until his death on July 5, 1975. According to Phelan, "Without Frank Andrews' commitment, there would never have been a golf team at Gilman. Although not an athlete himself, his dedication and excitement was an inspiration for the entire team." The trophy, still awarded today, recognizes annually the player who has displayed the largest measure of loyalty, dedication, and enthusiasm.
Since 1974, the varsity golf team has amassed an impressive record of achievements. The team has secured 10 MSA and Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) championships. MSA championships and co-championships include 1974, 1977, 1979, 1987, 1990, and 1991, and MIAA championships include 1995, 1998, 2006, and 2008. Additionally, Gilman clinched the MIAA Stroke Play Team championships in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011. Individual champions in both the MSA and the MIAA include McLane Cover '79 (1978), Henry Schumann '84 (1983), Justin Klein '92 (1991), Gerald Lee '93 (1992), P. J. Singh '98 (1996), Bart DeLuca '98 (1998), Chris Rockwell '06 (2006), Sam Stewart '11 (2011), and Mac Webster '18 (2018).*
"Golf is an individual sport, so the times you are able to compete on a team are some of the most fun times you can have ... I loved every second of being able to learn from teammates and push each other to get better."
Brad Miller '08
Reflecting on the impact of Gilman varsity golf and his time on the team, Justin Klein '92 says, "Golf is a unique sport. As a player, there is nothing I can do to influence how my teammate performs during a match directly, but rooting for them to perform creates a kinship and connection that forms a unique bond among teammates." He expresses particular pride in the team's accomplishments during the 1989-1992 seasons. Klein played under Head Coach Harvey Peterson, who was the longest-serving varsity golf coach, from 1978 to 1997, boasting a commendable record of 163-57-10. Moreover, Klein highlighted golf's enduring nature, noting, "Golf is also a sport where for decades after Gilman and college we can still compete at a high level, and I have enjoyed success partnering with Gilman golf alumni in amateur and club events spanning the entire history of the program, including Guy Phelan ’75 and my own sons (Charlie Klein '20 and Drew Klein '27) — no other sport affords such an opportunity to compete after Gilman and college with players spanning such a wide age range. This brotherhood of strong connections extends to rooting for other Gilman golf alumni and sharing in the pride of being part of the Gilman golf legacy."
Klein's sentiments are echoed by another notable Gilman golf alum, Brad Miller '08. Miller turned professional in 2012, played in two PGA tour events (2015, 2017), and was a member of the Korn Ferry Tour (2020-2022) and PGA Tour Canada (2018-2023). "My time playing golf at Gilman is one of my greatest memories in golf," Miller says. "Golf is an individual sport, so the times you are able to compete on a team are some of the most fun times you can have. Between Gilman and college golf at the University of Richmond, I loved every second of being able to learn from teammates and push each other to get better." Miller played under the direction of Head Coach Donald Rogers, who was the head varsity coach from 2006 to 2016 and earned a record of 103-40-6. "We won the MIAA tournament in 2006 and 2008 and lost in the finals in 2007. Those championships were experiences I still think about. Being able to share a victory with a team is very unusual in golf, so it was something I treasured and still do to this day."
Miller also stresses how golf builds on Gilman's values, stating, "A lot of the values that are taught in golf are the same values Gilman teaches its boys to become respectful gentlemen." Miller values learning, and now, as an assistant coach, stressing the qualities of good sportsmanship. "Being able to take our core values from Gilman into the sports arena, I think, gives Gilman a reputation around the league as a pleasure to compete against.
Today, Gilman's golf program is strong. The varsity team is led by Head Coach Mike Wallace, who says, "It's been such an honor to lead our program, and the road ahead for us shines with promise. Our athletes are continually pushing themselves to improve and, in doing so, are gaining knowledge that not only helps during competition but ultimately extends far beyond the golf skills they've developed. I can confidently contribute to our greater community that valuable life lessons have been learned through the shared experiences of our players for 50 years now … and I see no reason why we shouldn't expect the same for 50 more years to come."
*Please note that Gilman's historic athletic record-keeping is a work in progress and may contain errors. If you see something that needs correcting, please email archives@gilman.edu.
From the Archives: 50 Years of Gilman Golf (1974-2024)
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