Heart River's girls golf coach Kirby Robb will take over the same position at Dickinson High School starting this fall.
In addition to coaching in Dickinson in the fall, Robb will continue coaching Class B golf at Heart River in the spring, as well as maintain his position as golf pro at Pheasant Country Golf Course in South Heart.
He said learning the norms and trends of Class A golf will likely be a challenge.
"The travel is going to be a little further to tournaments, which is going to be a little bit different for me," Robb said. "Instead of going to Beulah for a golf tournament I've got to go to Jamestown - 50 miles versus 300. Plus Class A plays a lot of two-day tournaments."
Dickinson High School Athletic Director, Guy Fridley, said he is hoping Robb's arrival will draw excitement to the girl's golf program.
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James Hayden previously held the job and will now be able to focus on coaching girl's basketball. The team went 6-18 this past season, Hayden's first as head coach. Fridley said he hopes both the basketball and golf programs benefit from Robb joining the Dickinson High coaching staff.
"Unfortunately, youth in the game of golf right now around this area isn't increasing. It's more decreasing," Fridley said. "Kirby is one that sees that and is really making a push to bring golf clubs back into kids' hands and enjoying the game of golf."
Robb said his biggest challenge will be gaining numbers to build the program. Coming into the season, which begins August 1, the Midgets have four golfers, nearly half of the nine golfers Robb coached in the spring.
Ten years ago when he took on the coaching position for South Heart, the team was small like Dickinson's. Five years ago was the first time he coached a full team, but now he consistently leads a championship contending team. Heart River took third place in the state meet this past spring.
"Not to put the pressure on Kirby," Fridley said, "but I'm hoping that's something he can bring to our program. Just bring some numbers and bring some excitement into our girls golf program."
Robb said he's taking on his new job like a challenge.
"I'm just hoping I can build the program up and get lots of new numbers out and start building it," he said. "It might take a few years but we'll see."
