Prep football crowds can number 5,000 or more, while some sports play to only a handful of spectators. But there is also one high school sport where the athletes have never seen a single fan show up to witness their performance. Chances are, they never  will. The sport is golf. Members of the Point Loma High School (PLHS) boys’ and girls’ golf teams don’t mind, though, because they learned long ago that spectators are only allowed on the links during professional tour events. Yet they enthusiastically show up for practices and matches, hoping to trim a shot or two off their rounds and to help add another league championship to the golf banners in the Pointer gym. PLHS alumni Fred Fogerty (1969) has been coaching both girls’ (fall) and boys’ (spring) golf on and off for five years at his alma mater “although I’ve spent about 10 years with the program counting time my kids played.” “Some of these kids don’t need much coaching,” he said while watching his boys warm up on the Torrey Pines golf course driving range before their recent crucial Eastern League match with Patrick Henry. “But if I see something Ican help with, I do.” The skill level of these teens was clearly evident. As Fogerty spoke, golf balls by the dozen rocketed straight ahead off the tee, looking like they wouldn’t drop for miles. And a few others were hooked or sliced. On this day, the Pointers were preparing to do battle with Patrick Henry, the only team to defeat them after 19 matches. A victory would leave the teams tied for the Eastern League championship. After several hours of competition on the front nine, however, the Pointers came up short, dropping the match by a margin of 216-222, or about one shot per golfer. (Scores are the sum of the five lowest rounds over nine holes). The Pointers boys finished the regular season with an 18-2 record and traveled to Brawley on May 18 for a playoff match preceding CIF playoffs. “This boys’ team has the lowest scoring average of any I’ve coached,” Fogerty said, “and senior Robby Pejovich did more to help me than any other kid has done by taking care of things like filling out scorecards and much more.” Golf is as an “underfunded” sport at PLHS, but Fogerty knows it better as an “unfunded” activity. The volunteer coach has spent “a couple thousand” dollars a year from his own pocket but insists “I’ll never accept any money” to coach. Fogerty even bought a member of the girls’ team a complete set of used clubs. “The game has changed, and you can’t go out there with your grandparents’ clubs and expect to do well,” he said. Fogerty also buys hundreds of golf balls each year and paid his daughter, Sarah, a salary to help him work with Pointer girls last fall. “I enjoy working with the kids and seeing them learn the game,” Fogerty said. “It’s calle ‘giving back.” He is quick to note that the Point Loma Optimist Club donates $500 a year to the girls’ team, and the boys received sharp-looking golf bags this year through a donation from a local family. Also helping coach on the boys’ side is Mike Dutra, while Paul Rathbun has given lessons. Always looking to fill both teams, Fogerty is keenly aware many on his boys’ team are graduating next month. And he’s ready to help the newcomers. “I’ve arranged for free lessons with Jacqui McSorley at Point Loma Nazarene University and Pointer grad Bob Bellesi (1968), both teaching professionals,” Fogerty said. “Also, kids can get unlimited play on our two home courses (Balboa Park Municipal and Torrey Pines) for only $10 a month.”