The golf capital of the world may not be Solon, Iowa, but statistics show that the interest in the sport at Solon High School might argue otherwise.
If you took a poll at Solon High School, 16% of the student population would identify as golfers. Of 489 students, 80 play golf. 60 of those students make up the boy’s practice squad, Junior Varsity, and Varsity golf teams.
And Boys’ Head Coach Adam Stahle instills a love for the game in all 60 of his players. Stahle has been the Head Coach for golf at Solon the last 18 seasons. Stahle is a Solon alum, with a passion for the sport. Stahle leaves his day job where he is an underwriter at an insurance company and travels to his alma mater to coach golf because he says every season provides new opportunities.
“It’s been fun, it’s been rewarding. Obviously, that’s why I’ve been doing it for so long,” he said.
In his 18-year career, Stahle has had a lot of success in his coaching, but Stahle’s main goal is not to be successful. Year in and year out, his goals stay the same, to compete— respectfully—with the top teams in the conference and state competition.
Stahle described his prior season as “good,” but it was also a season with ups and downs. He led his team to earn the WaMaC Conference title for the fourth year in a row but ultimately fell short of their end goal to make the state tournament.
This spring, Stahle will return to MacBride Golf Course after losing a large senior class of 20 golfers.
“I’m excited to see the kids this year who step up,” he said.
Stahle will be looking to the following returning players to set the tone:
• Senior, Isaiah Zoske (9-hole low (four rounds) 29), 18-hole low (ten rounds) 67) – Zoske is the 3A State Runner Up and was named the co-player of the year in 2024 by the Iowa Golf Coaches Association.
• Junior, Nick Stahle (9-hole low (two rounds) 43, 18-hole low (ten rounds) 79)
• Senior, Nolan Seagren (9-hole low (one round) 46, 18-hole low (five rounds) 83)
• Senior, Brady Evers (9-hole low (one round) 52, 18-hole low (one round) 82)
As Stahle prepares for another spring season, he summarizes his coaching style as one that empowers his boys.
“I’m there to provide advice as far as what I’m seeing at the given time,” he said, “but I know a lot of these kids have spent a lot more time than just the season on working on their golf game.”
The season opens this week with the Solon Boys Invitational Friday starting at Noon at the Lake MacBride Golf Course.
2025 Home Meets
Friday, April 4 – Solon Boys Invitational, 12:00 p.m.
Monday, April 7 – Vs. Mount Vernon, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, April 28 – Vs. Clear Creek Amana, 4:00 p.m.