History of the MIGCA

The Beginning of the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association (MIGCA)

In the fall boys golf season of 1975, Bill Rea, the coach of Bloomfield Hills Lahser and Art Link, the coach of West Bloomfield, were playing in the Plymouth High School Best-Ball tournament at Braeburn Golf Course. It was then that the two coaches discussed the fact that we needed a golf coach’s organization. Bills background included being the Vice-President of the Michigan Swim Coaches Association, and Arts  background included being a track coach and a member of MITCA (Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association). So the discussion began and Gary Newcomb of Lake Orion, along with Jim Koresky of Milford and John Fundukain of Walled Lake Western had a dinner meeting at Teds Restaurant in Bloomfield Hills. At that meeting, Art was named our first president, Bill, the President Elect, Gary, Secretary-Treasurer, Jim, Past President, and John, our State Delegate to the Michigan High School Coaches Association. These offices and our first by-laws were adopted from the Michigan swim coaches association.

The real start of the organization began in 1976, with discussions on a spring clinic and a fall awards banquet. Those two events were developed to get our organization off the ground. With the help of Bruce Fossum, the Michigan State Men’s Golf coach and Forest Akers at MSU, our first clinic was held with golf and a dinner/meeting at the Pretzel Bell on Trowbridge Road in East Lansing. In the fall of 1976, we had our first All-State awards banquet, honoring six golfers from the fall of 1976 boys’ season, a coach of the year (by the way that coach is coaching today), coaches awards for 15 and 25 years of coaching. two outstanding service awards for individuals outside the coaching profession, and an honorary membership award. 

There have been many coaches over the years that have had an impact on MIGCA, and the Founding Five would just like to say it was a pleasure to get the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association started, and for those who are coaching now and, in the future, get involved, it’s fun and you will develop friendships for a lifetime.

From: Gary Newcomb, retired Lake Orion Golf Coach
Some revisions by: Bob Lober, retired Traverse City Central Golf Coach and MIGCA Hall of Fame Chair