As the sun begins its late-afternoon descent over the undulated fairways of Lake MacBride Golf Course, a familiar sound drifts from the parking lot. It isn’t the click of spiked shoes on pavement or the rattle of clubs in a bag. It’s the opening chords of Toby Keith’s 1993 hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
for the Solon boys’ golf team, this isn’t just a song, it’s a signal. Played by head coach Adam Stahle before every meet, the ritual serves as the final collective exhale before the competitive tension of a varsity meet takes over.
“We listen to that one song every time,” said senior Tyler Greazel, with a grin. It’s a small tradition, but in a sport as mentally taxing as golf, these moments of levity are the “secret sauce” for a Spartan squad that is currently firing on all cylinders.
The Spartans are hitting their stride at a perfect time. The past week served as a definitive gauntlet for the program, headlined by a crushing 155-181 victory over Benton Community at Lake MacBride. In that meet, Solon didn’t just win; they dominated by keeping their team spread remarkably tight.
Led by sophomore Kobe Ridout, who carded a blistering 37, the Spartans saw four of their top-six golfers finish at 40 or better. By turning in a sub-160 team score and keeping their top four within three strokes of each other, Solon signaled they are ready for the postseason. They followed that peak by grinding through two of the season’s toughest invitationals, securing gritty fourth and sixth place finishes against elite competition. For Stahle, now in his 19th season at the helm, these performances are exactly what he wants to see: a team that is battle-tested, composed, and enjoying the ride.
Senior Nick Stahle watches his ball disappear into the cup at Lake MacBride Golf Club, securing a crucial par that helped the Spartans post a dominate sub-160 team score in their victory over Benton Community.
The crucible of MacBride
To understand why Solon remains steady under pressure, you have to look at where they spend their afternoons. Lake MacBride is not just a practice facility; it’s a masterclass in precision. For the uninitiated, the greens are fast, sloped, and heavily undulated – a combination that demands total focus.
“The course isn’t overly long,” Coach Stahle explained. “But the greens here have lots of slope. It’s easier to go from fast greens to slow greens than the other way around. When you play here, you go to a different course and a four-foot put suddenly looks a lot straighter.”
On any given afternoon, the practice green at MacBride is a hive of activity. You’ll see varsity veterans working alongside JV hopefuls, all trying to solve the riddle of the course’s notorious breaks. For the players, the home-field advantage is as much about the bonds they build as it is about navigating the slopes.
“I like it,” said Greazel. “It’s always fun coming out here playing with friends. It’s always a good time.”
Ridout credits this daily grind for his personal growth, particularly on the greens. His improvement was on full display during the Monday meet, where his ability to navigate the quick surfaces at MacBride allowed him to outpace the field. But even as he finds individual success, he keeps the focus on the program’s collective strength.
“We always have a really good team,” Ridout observed. “It’s always hard to be in that top six.”
Strength in the pack
That “top six” is a moving target because of the program’s sheer depth. While sophomore Ryder Laing and Grant Gordon consistently provide low scores – both carding 39s against Benton – the Spartans’ true weapon is their “pack mentality.”
With Own Heesch (40), Gordon, and Ridout consistently pushing one another in practice, the pressure is shared across the entire roster. The safety net is provided by veterans like Nick Stahle and Greazel – seniors who provide the steady hand and leadership necessary for a deep postseason run. This balance ensures that if one player faces a tough hole, a teammate is always there to pick up the slack.
“The team itself, 1 through 40, seems to be pretty close,” Coach Stahle said. “There is a good competition, but they genuinely care about each other. They’re asking, ‘How’s my teammate three groups behind me doing?’”
The mental shift: “Talk to me”
In nearly two decades of coaching, Stahle’s approach has evolved from technical to psychological. He admits that he used to be a “swing coach,” obsessed with the mechanics of the follow-through. Today, he realizes that golf is won between the ears.
“A coach that is intense doesn’t usually result in better play in golf,” said Stahle.
Unlike the high-decibel environment of a football locker room, Stahle’s strategy for calming a struggling player often involves avoiding the topic of golf entirely.
“It’s about knowing what the kids are interested in outside of golf,” he said. “I’ll ask, ‘What did you do this week? You went fishing? How’d that go?’ As soon as you can get them to relax, all of a sudden they’re not thinking about why they hit the ball four yards right. It relaxes them, and it usually leads to better play.”
That mental fortitude is exactly what Greazel points to as his biggest area of growth.
“The coaches really taught me a lot about being smart,” he said.
This “smarts-over-strength” approach is a hallmark of the program, teaching athletes to manage their emotions as much as their yardages.
The multi-sport advantage
In a community like Solon, where many athletes jump from the football field to the basketball court to the golf course, Stahle sees a unique benefit in the “quiet” nature of the game. He believes the mental challenges of golf benefit his multi-sport athletes by strengthening their focus and resilience in ways other sports cannot.
“To have a sport that challenges you mentally…it’s different,” Stahle said. “You can take what you’ve learned here and apply it to other sports.”
Whether it’s a high-pressure free throw or a crucial snap, the “MacBride Mentality” – staying calm after a mistake – is a transferable skill that helps Solon athletes across the board.
Playing for the seniors
Despite the individual nature of the sport, there is a clear “selfless” streak running through this year’s squad. For younger contributors, like Ridout, the motivation to return to the State Tournament is fueled by a desire to see the upperclassmen go out on a high note.
“For me, it’s basically doing it for the seniors,” Ridout said. “It’s their last year and I want to do my best so they can be successful. Also for the coaches, they do a lot for us.”
Greazel agreed, noting that the primary goal is getting the group back to the season’s final stage. As a senior, he’s focused on maintaining the balance between high-level focus and the lighthearted nature that makes the team tick.
A lifelong perspective
As the postseason approaches, the philosophy at Lake MacBride remains focused on the big picture. Having played the game for over 40 years, Stahle’s goal for his players is the same one he has followed for decades: love the game for a lifetime.
“I never want any of our kids to peak in high school,” he said. “This is a lifelong sport…go out, hang out with your friends, and enjoy that time.”
The advice from the varsity ranks for the next generation of Spartans reflects that same grounded, positive mindset.
“Make the most of it,” said Greazel. “it’s gonna get hard sometimes but just have fun while also focusing.”
Ridout’s take is even simpler: “Come out with a good mentality and try to have as much fun as you can. Practice is mostly always fun.”
For now, the fun continues in Solon. As the Spartans pack their bags for the final stretch, the mission is simple: keep the rhythm, trust the training at MacBride, and keep Toby Keith playing. If they can do that, a return trip to the State Tournament isn’t just a hope – it’s a distinct probability.