10 state championships later, Huntley retiring as Flora golf coach

After forging 10 state championship teams – including the past six in a row – in 16 seasons, A.C. Flora’s “accidental” golf coach is retiring.

Well, sort of.

“I’m just retiring as head coach,” he clarified in handing the reins of the Falcons’ program to Robert Dargan.

That qualifier is good news; don’t expect Harry Huntley to disappear from the state junior golf scene. A person with his expertise is far too valuable to move completely to the sidelines

Already a member of the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation board, “I told Happ (Lathrop, SCGA executive director) I wanted to do more to help junior golf,” Huntley said. “I learned a lot as a coach and want to use that to help others.”

That’s a far cry from his introduction to coaching. More an interested parent, he had volunteered to assist with the Flora junior varsity team that included son Fielder in 1999. The varsity coach quit unexpectedly and then-athletics director Bob Reynolds named Huntley the new coach – without informing Huntley.

Surprised then, Huntley looks back and said, “I’m glad he did. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this kind of success. It’s been incredible.” He paused, then added, “I guess I did something right.”

Yes, he did, said Will Murphy, now a senior on USC’s high-powered golf team and one of 18 players who advanced from Huntley’s Flora programs to play in college.

“He’s such a great coach, and he still keeps up with (former players),” Murphy said. “He’s different from a lot of high school golf coaches; he emphasizes discipline and practice, and he still keeps the game fun.

“He emphasized the short game, chipping and putting, and so many young players don’t think about those things. It’s all about how far they hit it. I know what I learned from him has served me well.”

The short game and competition provided the key ingredients in Huntley’s philosophy.

“In high-level junior golf, plenty of kids can hit the ball a long way,” Huntley said. “But if you manage the course and have a really good short game, you can win. Our record at Flora shows that you don’t have to hit the ball 300 yards to win.

“I wanted to get boys in the seventh grade who wanted to work hard, and they would be ready to play by the time they reached high school. One of the biggest keys is competition; they need to play tournament golf the year around. I more than encouraged that.”

Success, he said, required a huge commitment from the youngster and the parents, and it’s a huge time commitment for the coach, too. Huntley wanted his teams to compete for the state championship every year, and reaching that goal meant dedication by all hands.

“My teams never went out and hit range balls,” Huntley said. “We practiced putting and the short game, which make up for a lot of mistakes. Yes, it starts with players, but having good players doesn’t mean you will have the best team. You have to work hard.”

Huntley got into coaching to be involved with his and wife Kathy’s four children. Hunt, the oldest, had played football and joined the golf team after his dad became coach. Fielder played six seasons on the varsity, Kathryn played on a state championship team during Huntley’s handling both the boys and girls teams 2009-2013, and Jennings capped his career this year with a career-best 68 in the final round of the state tournament.

“I thought after Fielder finished high school (and the Falcons had won state titles in 2003 and ’04) would be a good time to retire,” Huntley said.

“Retirement” lasted one year.

“My successor left after one season and (school officials) asked me to come back,” Huntley said. “My wife, Kathy, talked me into it.” He laughed and added, “She made herself a golf widow.”

His golf game improved during his one year off from coach with his handicap dropping 12 to 6. Now, he’s back at 12 and hopes history repeats.

“My sons have to give me strokes,” he said and laughed.

But he will be giving again – giving back to golf and teaching the lessons beyond the game.

“Seeing the young people grow is what made it so much fun,” Huntley said. “Winning doesn’t hurt, of course, but we had a Falcon golf gathering at Spring Valley not long ago. About 40 guys came, and it was great to see them back together and see what they have become. Charles Warren (Flora’s first state champion who won the NCAA individual title at Clemson) was before my time at Flora and he came down from Greenville.

“We had lawyers, kids in dental school ... it’s amazing how successful they are, and I think golf plays a big part in development. Golf teaches if you want to get more out of something, you have to be willing to put effort into it. That’s what I want young people to learn.”

Remember, he retired from being head coach. He did not retire from teaching.

This story was originally published May 27, 2015 at 8:35 PM.