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End of a father-daughter endeavor

Foltz duo braces for their final rounds of high school golf together

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot High senior Marley Foltz creates a divot during a practice round played Saturday at the Souris Valley Golf Course.

Senior Marley Foltz has always had somebody to lean on during her golf career.

Whether it was sinking lengthy putts at the state tournament or wading through weeds trying to find her golf ball, her father and Minot High girls golf coach Scott Foltz has been by her side since the first hole.

Now, with the West Region tournament taking place today in Dickinson and the state tournament a week away, Scott anxiously awaits to witness Marley’s final high school swings for the Majettes.

“It’s getting close,” Scott said. “I wonder if the practice round at the state tournament in Grand Forks is where it’s going to hit me because that’s the final 36 holes. It’s going to be an emotional experience. I’m excited, but not looking forward to it. I don’t want it to end.”

There have been plenty of memories they will cherish forever.

Alex Eisen/MDN Marley Foltz (right) watches her dad Scott Foltz tee off on the second hole at the Souris Valley Golf Course in Minot.

Scott took over as the Majettes head golf coach when Marley was in the eighth grade. It was a small varsity squad of seven golfers at the time, which meant Marley had to compete right away.

Thrown into the action, Marley’s skills gradually caught up with her competitive drive. She has improved from her 110.8 season stroke average per round as an eighth grader to 86.6 in her senior season.

Yet, her scoring average this season wasn’t enough to make the West Region All-Conference team. An uncharacteristic round of 102 last week at the Mandan Invite allowed fellow teammate Jaci Jones to take the final spot as one of the West Region’s Top 10 golfers and claim the All-Conference honor.

“Honestly, short answer, I think I forgot how to golf,” Marley said about her round at Mandan. “I knew that it could be the difference between making it or not. So, it was for sure very frustrating. But, what can you do?”

Scott interjected: “And those thoughts pile on top of you. Golf is so much mental.”

Alex Eisen/MDN Following a rough hole No. 2 for Scott Foltz (right), he exchanges a glance with his daughter Marley Foltz to acknowledge he had given away his early lead during their practice round on Saturday.

“The worst thing you can do is add negative thoughts,” Marley said. “But, that’s what I did.”

Golf can be a cruel game. In those moments, having someone around that you’re close to is invaluable.

“He knows me more than any other coach would,” Marley said. “It’s incredible to have somebody that knows how to calm me down or hype me up. It gets you in a good head space for a tournament because that’s what golf is. It’s all head space.”

Scott added: “When Marley is having a tough hole or a tough round, I can play the dad coach card and put my arm around her shoulder and talk to her like I’m her dad. It’s an advantage to have that connection. There are no other golfers out there that I can put my arm around.”

That added attention of being the coach’s daughter is welcomed by Marley.

“People ask me, ‘Do you actually like having your dad as a coach or is it like uncomfortable in any way?’ And I tell them that I love it,” she said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. For one, on road trips, I don’t have to bring any money because he always has my meals paid for.”

Nothing like free food and bonding time on the open road while listening to the Minnesota Twins.

“Road trips are a blast because we are both Twins fans, so we turn on the radio to Twins games on the way home,” Scott said. “We talk Twins and we talk golf.”

Much of the talk at the Foltz household revolves around golf during this time of the year.

“My poor wife and son hear nothing but golf,” Scott said. “Either we are getting ready for practice, talking about practice or talking about the tournament. I hear myself talking about it and I get tired of myself.

“But, it’s such a short six- to eight-week season. It’s very intense and then it’s done. You leave it all out on the course and everything else takes a back seat. Then, when it’s done, it’s done. The snow is flying and it’s too cold.”

Marley then trades in her clubs for a bat, as she is a part of the Minot High softball team in the spring.

“Things seem to come kind of easy to her,” Scott said. “One of those people that picks up a club, a bat, a pencil or instrument and goes, ‘Ah, I’m good at this. How about that?’ It’s been fun to work with her.”

But, even at a young age, there was never any doubt that Marley was going to be a golfer.

From being utilized as a designated putter at a Pee Wee Pro-Am tournament when she was five or six years old to always being around practice when Scott used to coach golf at Bishop Ryan, Marley never really had a chance to avoid the sport.

“From the time I was aware of what golf was, I just knew I was going to play golf for him,” she said. “That’s what I was going to do, so there really was never any question about it.”

Scott added: “I remember one day she just said, ‘I’m going to be one of daddy’s golfing girls one day.'”

A statement made years ago is now nearing its conclusion.

While Scott plans to continue coaching following Marley’s graduation from the program, a sentimental send-off to his daughter remains.

“You get to share a bond with a child that a lot of people don’t get to share,” Scott said. “It’s an experience I’m going to treasure forever and I look forward to sharing it with my grandkids. Hopefully, I’ll get to take my grandkids out to play golf someday.”

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.

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