Jack Jacobson, who is a 1967 graduate of MCHS, returned to help his alma mater out by taking over as head of the boys golf program.

Jacobson replaces Mike Allison who resigned in order to concentrate his duties as athletic director at Montezuma-Cortez High School. Allison coached the team for three seasons, himself replacing longtime coach Mert Keel.

Now retired after spending 28 years in the insurance business minding other people’s money, he now wants to spend his time on the golf course. He recently won the Cortez Men’s Golf Association’s Club Championship, defeating one of his star players in sophomore-to-be Shea Sena by one stroke.

"I played golf early in my adulthood and then had to give it up for about 20 years. I returned to playing the game a few years ago and now I really enjoy it. But what I like are teaching kids the game. I like kids. I coached my son (Corey), as a 16-year-old many years ago, to the Colorado State Junior title. I worked with him for 10 or 15 years. Today, he is a good golfer," he said.

When he retired back to Cortez to take care of his elder father, Jacobson wanted to play golf and try to give something back to community.

"I watched those kids (Sena and Keenan Lovett) play out there and thought that I would like to be a part of that program. And little did I realize that I would get an opportunity this quickly. I want to see all the kids who come out for golf to be successful. I want to not only teach them about the game of golf but to be good sports and to get along with other people. They need to learn not only to be gracious winners but how to lose with dignity," he commented.

Jacobson said one virtue he has is patience.

"That helps in teaching the game. I enjoy teaching it to youngsters. It is such a great game and one they can play all their lives. I want to see them hit the ball better. I think I understand the swing pretty good. The one thing that I can recognize is a good swing and I understand what it is supposed to look like. And I can see ways to help correct a not-so-good swing. But people need to play within themselves and their own swing. Just because a golfer may not have great swing (look at the swing of senior PGA tour member Miller Barber), doesn’t mean they can hit the ball well," he added.

Much of the game of golf is in the head.

"The head game is so important in this sport. Sure, natural ability helps. But you have got to have a good mental attitude and know what to do in critical times to score well. Once you get the fundamentals down, then it becomes a mind game.

"What makes me mad is when a player hangs his head down after playing poorly or simply hitting a bad shot. A player has got to adjust quickly and look to the positive or he/she can get into trouble quickly. True, you have got to fall down before you get up again. You just can’t get down on yourself during a round of golf. You have got to quickly adjust and try to turn a negative into a positive," Jacobson said.

Jacobson likes to teach the short game.

"So many strokes are lost in and around the green. Chipping and putting are so important. That is usually one part of my game that is pretty good and that’s where I can help these youngsters.

Jacobson said a player has got to earn the right to play in a tournament.

"The top five players from qualifying will play. I don’t care if a players is shooting very well, he still has got to play well in the qualifying to go on a trip. I believe a kid has got to earn the right to play and I believe that," he reported.

Jacobson said he is looking forward to his first job as a high school coach.

"I have never coached at the high school level. This season will be a learning one for me. I really am looking forward to this challenge. My wife (Laura) just retired and she is supportive of me wanting to coach these kids," he added.