Once a week throughout the summer, the Saucon Valley golf team gets some optional preseason work at Lehigh University’s Mulvihill Golf Complex.
Most people recognize Mr. Scott Roberts as a social studies teacher at Saucon Valley Middle School. During the Fall sports season, when he is not in his classroom, however, there is a pretty good chance you will find him on the “links” somewhere coaching Saucon Valley’s golf squad. Say “hello” to Coach Roberts. He is a homegrown guy looking to build the school’s golf program. Saucon Source had an opportunity to ask Coach Roberts a few questions. Check out what he had to say about Saucon’s golf team and more!
Q: You have a deep connection to Saucon Valley. Tell us a bit about your family?
A: I was born and raised in the Saucon Valley School District. I am the youngest of eight kids (Robin, Gayle, Linda, David, Richard, Roger and Kim), all of whom graduated from Saucon Valley between 1974-1991.
Q: You are a 1991 graduate of Saucon Valley. Besides golf did you participate in any other sports?
A: I played golf, basketball and tennis while in high school.
Q: Who do you credit for nurturing your interest in golf?
A: Art Guerreri, Ernie Savakis and Fran Vari were my coaches at Saucon Valley. But, it was my brothers, who also played golf at Saucon, that taught me how to play.
Q: Can you give us a rundown of your golf resume?
A: I played golf all four years in high school and earned All-League honors every year. I also qualified for the PIAA state tournament my junior and senior years. I went on to play three years in college at Villanova, where I earned Big East honors my junior year.
Q: You also spent time as a professional. Can you tell us about that?
A: For seven years I was in the golf business with the American Golf Corporation. I spent most of my time at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood. I spent the last couple years with the company helping to open golf courses around the Northeast.
Saucon Valley Panther golf coach Scott Roberts instructs sophomore Riley Martin.
Q: Why did you leave the golf industry?
A: It was great always being around golf, but I had very little personal time. I developed a desire for a life outside of golf. I had an opportunity to coach at Albright College and at the same time convert my degree from Villanova to a teaching certificate.
Q: What do you like best about coaching golf at Saucon Valley High School?
A: Since 2007 I have been the golf coach here. I enjoy the opportunity to work with golfers with a variety of experience. I have had the pleasure to coach excellent individual golfers and to teach some with little to no experience.
Q: Tell us about your immediate family and their connection to golf.
A: My wife (1999 Saucon grad Katie Lance) has played golf in the past but doesn’t play all that much. (She doesn’t have the patience). My kids, five-year-old Amelia and Andrew, age 3, share a set of junior clubs that they fool around with but have not really shown much of an interest at this point.
Q: In your experience, what is the number one golf tip you find yourself providing?
A: Having a good pre-shot routine is very important. It allows the golfer to feel comfortable no matter what is happening within the round.
Q: What can you tell us about the 2015 golf season?
A: Last year was bittersweet. It was the first winning season in a couple of years and I watched a bunch of kids grow up over their four-year careers. Most of the seniors last year had earned four varsity letters over their four-year playing careers. They struggled through two very tough years, but continued to improve and ended their senior season with an 11-4 record.
Q: What are your goals for the 2016 season?
A: We have three main goals. First, is to get the team to qualify for the Colonial League tournament. Second, we have a couple of excellent golfers and their goals are to qualify for Regionals and ultimately States. In my years as golf coach no Saucon Valley golfer has ever qualified beyond Districts. Thomas Coakley, Sophia Israel and Brenden Gertz each have the potential to change that. The third goal is to rebuild. We have 11 returning golfers from last year’s squad. Of the 11, eight are upperclassmen.
Saucon senior Sophia Israel is the 2015 Colonial League Girls champion and looking to build on her successes for the upcoming 2016 golf season.
Q: What is it you hope your golfers leave your program with?
A: Ideally, they all acquire basic knowledge and respect for the game. Hopefully, they become golfers for life.
If any Saucon Valley students in grades 9-12 are interested in giving golf a shot, they are encouraged to come out to the Mulvihill Golf Complex Tuesday, June 28 between 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Coach Roberts will be on hand with a few of his golfers for an optional preseason practice session. If you cannot make it, contact Coach Roberts at Sc***********@sv********.org and let him know you are thinking about it! Whatever you decide, be sure to register for your Fall sport at Saucon Valley before July 24, 2016!
Best of luck this upcoming season to Coach Roberts and the Saucon Valley golf team. The Source is with you!
