Five Minutes with Golf Head Coach Jim Booros

4/21/2020 2:00:00 PM | By: BJ Spigelmyer - DeSales SID

Center Valley, PA (April 21, 2020) - Continuing our series of getting to know our head coaches a little deeper today we spend five minutes with the DeSales golf coach, Jim Booros.

Jim Booros just finished his 12th season as the golf coach at DeSales University. Booros inherited a team that finished in ninth place in his first year as the head coach in 2008-09 and has guided them to third place finishes in 2011 and 2012 and back-to-back program-best second place finishes in 2013 and 2014.

Booros has been a Class “A” member and now a life member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of American since 1983. He played full-time on the PGA Tour for nine years between 1977 and 1991. During that time he participated in 252 events making 117 cuts, recording 11 top 10 finishes, played in five major championships (four US Opens, one PGA), made the all exempt top 125 money list five times and won the 1989 Deposity Guaranty Golf Classic in a four hole playoff against his good friend Mike Donald. You can read his entire bio HERE

1 - What made you get into coaching?
I love the game of golf. Coaching allows me to stay in the game, share professional and personal experiences with my players, and teach them how to play (and respect) the game with honor and integrity.

2 - Describe your journey to DeSales University?
My journey began 47 years ago when I became a professional golfer. I had the good fortune to play on the PGA Tour for 10 years and I was a club professional for 27 years. As a club professional, I was responsible for all operations including merchandising, teaching, organizing club and corporate tournaments, and training and supervising members of the staff. Most importantly, we ran charity golf pro-am tournaments where my friends from the tour (e.g. Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Larry Mize, to name a few) came to play and help raise money for non-profit organizations in the area.

3 - What made DeSales the right place for you to coach?
My wife was hired by Father Dan Gambet (former DeSales President) over 30 years ago, so I had the opportunity to get to know the DeSales family long before I accepted the coaching position 12 years ago. Father Gambet and later Father O’Connor were respected by DSU employees and they responded to their leadership. I was in the right place at the right time, with the right people.

4 - Why should future students come to DSU to play golf?
DeSales values their athletes but the focus of your college experience here isn’t on athletics. Playing sports also involves learning leadership skills, team skills, and time management skills. Students get support from influential people from all walks of life. They learn to acquire and appreciate a sense of purpose here.

5 - What is your favorite DeSales memory as a coach?
Watching Schuyler Hart shoot 67 at Lehigh Country Club after making an eagle (hitting driver/5iron – 15 feet) on his final hole #11 (10/3/2016). Hart poured in the eagle putt on his last hole of the day (#11) to shoot a 3-under 67 to win low individual medalist and break the DeSales school record for the lowest round in school history. Definitely a great round of golf for a “true” champion.

6 - What was your favorite memory as an athlete back in your day of playing?
My favorite memory was winning the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic on the PGA Tour in 1989. It was won after a 4-hole playoff with my good friend Mike Donald.

7 - Do you have any game day rituals?
As Lanny Watkins always said, “golf is habitual”. Every player has their own routines, warm-up practices, playing traditions, and other quirks. My ritual: I would carry 5 dimes in my pocket and use them to mark my ball. They had to be 1965, 1966, or 1967 dimes. Got to think low.

8 - Who is your favorite team or player in sports?
I’ve been a Boston Celtics fan since I was eight years old. John Havilcek and Larry Bird are two of my favorite players. And, I got to meet them both when I played on the PGA Tour.

9 - Do you have a sports hero?
Arnold Palmer – I played golf with Mr. Palmer in Palm Springs California in 1988 while on the tour. Obviously, he was one of the best players of all time, but he also had that magic smile, timeless charisma, and flawless ability to relate to everyone with respect and charm.

10 - What are your hobbies outside of golf?
I am good at club repair. I can re-grip, bend, lengthen, shorten, you name it. I’ve been a golf club surgeon for over 45 years.

11 - If I were not coaching, what would I do?
I continue to play competitive golf. When I’m not playing in a tournament, I’ll play as many days as I can find a “game”.

12 - Favorite Movie?
I have many, The Shawshank Redemption, Terms of Endearment and on the lighter side Tin Cup and Caddyshack. But every Christmas season since I was a kid I have to watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' with Jimmy Stewart, one of my all time favorite actors.

13 - TV Shows?
My wife and I have been watching plenty of Netflix originals. Bloodline, Broadchurch, The Sinner is good and Ozark was real good. Favorite TV show is Blue Bloods.

14 - Favorite Food/Dessert?
My wife’s roast beef and chocolate cake!!

15 - Favorite Inspirational Quote?
“The Man Who Thinks He Can”, Walter Wintle”

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t, it’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost.
For out in the world we find success begins with a fellow’s will; it’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are; you’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before you ever win a prize.
Life’s battle don’t always go to the stronger or faster man;
but sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.

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