GOLF: Bemidji State alum Lauren Stockmoe relishing the opportunity to be a coach

ALEXANDRIA — Things have come full circle for Alexandria native Lauren Stockmoe.

She was a three-time All-Central Lakes Conference selection, a three-time state tournament participant in high school for the Alexandria Cardinals (Class of 2017) and went on to play college golf at Bemidji State

During her time with the Beavers she was an All-NSIC Second-Team selection in her senior year of college (2020-21) and was named a team captain.

Contributed photo by Sean Johns/Alexandria College - Jeff Roste

And since March of 2022, she's been back in the community working as an assistant for the Alexandria High School girls golf team, an assistant coach for the Alexandria College women's and men's golf team and serves as an assistant instructor and club fitter for the Scott Dirck Golf Academy.

"I never anticipated doing it. I thought that maybe I'd coach kids when I got older, but I had never anticipated it. Everything just fell into place," she said. "It's super cool to be back here in Alex, to be able to relate to when I was in high school and when I was in college and work with all these amazing students and supporting the community. I never thought I'd be doing this, but I'm so glad that I am."

Dirck reached out to Stockmoe about the coaching vacancy at the college and at the golf academy. She was surprised she got the call but jumped on it quickly.

"I thought he was joking when he mentioned it," Stockmoe said. "I was at a place where I just wasn't loving what I was doing, and he's like, 'I think you'd be great at coaching.' I definitely didn't think I had the knowledge that he had. And he was like, 'No, it takes some time. And you know enough about the game of golf to start coaching and teaching.' And now I love it. It's probably been the best decision I've ever made."

Shortly thereafter, Stockmoe started coaching for the Alexandria high school girls golf team with head coach Tim Zupfer and helped coach the team to their second-straight state title and fifth in program history.

"It's one of the coolest experiences I've had," she said. "I definitely would have rather have done it this way than go work at some other school somewhere else. I just feel such a level of accomplishment, and I'm so proud of the legacy that we're building."

Bemidji Pioneer File Photo

Stockmoe listed Zupfer and Dirck as her inspirations in the coaching industry.

"Scott was my coach throughout high school and throughout college, and I definitely don't think I could do it without him and coach Zupfer. You see the legacy he's created and how long he's been doing it, it's just super inspiring," Stockmoe said.

The Alexandria College golf teams are currently either competing or preparing for the NJCAA National Championship.

"The tech school is really fun," Stockmoe said. "Those kids have worked hard to get there. It's really fun being at that next level. The high school level is also really fun. You get all sorts of levels of skill, but in college, you get that next level. And so they're really fun, a little bit closer to age to me, so I can relate to them a little bit more. I went through college, so I can relate that I'm on the school side of it."

Stockmoe's favorite part of coaching is seeing players' reactions to success.

"It's seeing how excited they get when they hit a good shot or have a good hole or a good round," Stockmoe said. "And then being able to show them what they can do and how great they can get with all the practice and teaching the right way to practice for sure is probably the best part of it."

With jumping into a new position always comes some challenges. For Stockmoe, it's stepping back that's been the challenging part as a player turned coach.

"I've only ever been a player, so I'm trying to step back knowing they're not always going to play the same way I play, they're not going to make the same decisions I do, they don't hit the ball the same," Stockmoe said. "And then realizing that I just have to be positive and not overcomplicate things."

Being a former player now coaching at the high school level, Stockmoe has a unique and valuable perspective.

Eric Morken / Alexandria Echo Press

When asked what advice she would give to her high school self, she said, "Just enjoy the time. It doesn't last long, Don't put so much pressure on yourself."

"I definitely really had high expectations and high standards, which is good but also led to a lot of when I didn't exceed those or didn't meet those a lot of frustration and anger," she said. "It's important to enjoy every moment."

Stockmoe working towards getting her PGA card and becoming a PGA professional, which is a process that can take 3-6 years to complete.

"Through that program, you take a lot of courses and do a lot of training, and I'm also trying to learn from my instructor (Scott Dirck)," she said. "I sit in on his lessons, and I learn from him. There's training I can do online, so I'm learning as much as I can, reading books, doing all of that, and taking what I know and trying to transfer it to whoever I'm working with.

"I definitely have big goals, and I would like to continue that legacy. Zupfer's not going to coach forever, so I want to continue the program's legacy. And with Scott, I want to continue building the golf academy. I also want to get more women and girls on the course."