Indian Hills’ Links: A Winning Tradition

The game of golf has changed plenty since Joe Collins began coaching the Indian Hills golf team in 1981. Throughout those 30 years, however, one thing has remained a constant: his teams have played the role of gentlemen golfers to a tee.

To mark his milestone year, Collins has been presented with a team that is destined to leave its mark on a program already steeped in history. At 8-3, the Braves have already qualified for the Group II state tournament, and are what a golfer would call a “gimme” to make the league and county tournaments as well.

Indian Hills welcomed back five seniors to this year’s team, and—as deep in talent as they were experience—entered the season with high hopes.

“The kids recognized they were going to have an opportunity to succeed, and they’ve worked hard for it,” said Collins, who celebrated his 300^th varsity win last year. “We hit a lot of golf balls on some cold days in March, and they kids just kept their heads down and stayed focused. They have done everything we ask them to do: respect the game, respect our opponents and respect the golf courses we play on.”

Indian Hills is led by Kyle Koonjy, a junior, and senior captain Kenny Fobian. Koonjy has already qualified for the state tournament, and leads the team in scoring average with 39 (for nine holes). Fobian hopes to play college golf at High Point University in North Carolina next year. Also making valuable contributions are seniors Chris Lee, Stephen Maggio, Nick Finizio, Rob Domalesky, and freshman Adam Rosen.

“They aren’t just golfers, they’re students of the game,” said Collins, the 2005 state golf coach of the year . “The popularity of golf has taken off in recent years, and the sport now attracts some of the school’s top athletes. The kids all put a lot of time and energy into golf, and they train so that they’re in top physical shape.”

For proof of that athleticism, one need to look no further than Fobian, who plays on the golf and track team—both spring sports.

The chemistry of the tight-knit team is as smooth and as long-flowing as the players’ swings.

“The core of our team has been together for three years now,” said Maggio. “We all get along great, and we support one another. If one of us has an off-day, we know one of our teammates will be there to pick us up.”

One of the team’s springboards to success this year was a two-stroke victory over Ramsey last month, which was ranked seventh in the county at the time. It wasn’t until Lee, playing in the final foursome, walked off the final green with a nine-hole score of 42 that the Braves knew they had come of age.

Collins identifies a handful of alumni who have helped build the strong golf tradition at Indian Hills.

• John Keyser, an early 1980s graduate who became
  the first Indian Hills player to earn All-County honors.
• Sean Kendall, an early 1990s grad who won the
  Bergen County Tournament.
• Kevin Fitzpatrick, a late 1990s grad who won the
  NBIL League Championship.
• Early 2000s grad, Ben Schade, is now an
  assistant professional at Montclair Golf Club.
• Tyler Flynn, a 2007 grad, who won an NBIL
  Divisional title.
• Curtis Miesciewski, a 2010 grad who now plays at
  SUNY Delhi, and won Indian Hills first-ever Spirit of the Game award, which honors the Brave who demonstrates the best sportsmanship and etiquette.

Collins became an assistant principal five years ago, but
cherishes his role too much to have ever considered hanging up his golf spikes.
He cites several people who have helped the program to where it is today,
including 25-year Ramapo coach Leo Donnelly, who Collins said “really took me
under his wing in my early years.”

Additionally, Collins points out that Indian Hills has played as a “guest” of the High Mountain Golf Club in Franklin Lakes for the past 30 years, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the two clubs pros, Joe Lawler and now his son, Pat. Dan Bertelli has been invaluable as Collins’ assistant coach for the past five seasons.

Collins shows no signs of slowing his pace, and was ready to take off and follow his players down the fairways after the final pairing had teed off in Tuesday’s tri-match with Paramus Catholic and Ridgefield Park.

“It’s been so satisfying and enjoyable,” he said, “that I wish I could do it for another 30 years.”