This was a tough spring to be a college golf coach, and it was especially difficult for Orie Murray and her Oakland Community College Raiders.
Many of you know Coach Orie as TGA’s assistant chapter director. She is now in charge of all after-school programs in Oakland County, and she runs summer camps and leagues at Somerset Park and occasionally at Maples.
Orie was excited to begin spring events with TGA and her OCC team. She was welcomed with many smiles from TGA kids, but got a different response when she arrived with her team for OCC’s first tournament. Another coach greeted Orie by saying, “How did you get a man’s job?” Orie said she was “kind of speechless,” but shrugged it off and led her team to victory. Later in the season, the same coach acknowledged that Orie “was a good coach and has a nice team.”
That would be an understatement. The Raiders advanced to the National Division II Junior College tournament in Plymouth, Ind., after finishing second in regionals at Battle Creek. They were 13th at the national event, and TJ Hirschfield tied for fifth in the individual competition.
Orie was the only female coach at regular-season events, regionals and nationals. Unfortunately she was not the only coach or player to catch Covid-19. Orie and two of her top players tested positive early in the season, so the entire team had to miss the second conference event. Because OCC didn’t earn points that week, the Raiders finished second in the conference, despite leading by more than 100 strokes in other events.
“The two players did not recover well from covid, but they stayed mentally strong for the team,” Orie said. Before each round, she provided a sheet with tips and hole locations and inspirational quotes. One quote from Arnold Palmer summed up her team’s approach: “Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character.”
Orie and her players overcame adversity with patience and positive attitudes. “I have observed a lot of other coaches who are way too temperamental and quick to criticize,” Orie said. “I try to emphasize the positive. These kids are people first, then students, then golfers. What’s really important is how they represent themselves and the school.”
