SPRINGDALE — Roger Voss darted around Springdale Country Club on a golf cart, stopping once he caught up with his players.
The Springdale High golf coach chatted with a few teenagers and complimented them as they teed off on another hole.
But it was apparent that none of Voss’ players this upcoming season are females.
Springdale again won’t field a girls golf team because the school simply doesn’t have individuals who want to play.
“Our side of town, there just aren’t that many golfers. Now there’s a bunch of soccer players,” Voss said. “But we’re getting better.”
While Springdale Har-Ber will have a girls golf team this fall, Springdale doesn’t have golfers interested in playing for the school. And it’s not as if Voss can roam the hallways, looking for girls to tee it up for the Lady Bulldogs.
Voss started Springdale’s girls golf team in 2000, but he has seen his number of players, both male and female, dwindle since Har-Ber opened.
Voss said that at one time 45-50 students would try out for the Bulldogs’ boys golf team, but they’ll have only six male golfers this fall.
Springdale had only one player the last time the school fielded a girls golf team a few years ago. It’s a much different situation than when Voss had as many as nine females competing for the Lady Bulldogs.
Springdale’s number of golfers could gradually increase, thanks to youth golf programs, such as First Tee, which helps encourage kids to take up the sport.
Still, it takes time for some of the young female golfers to reach high school. They’re not at Springdale just yet.