THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Learning as he goes, Grove sets sights on major step

Growing up, there was no goal on what was going to come next for Coeur d’Alene native Russell Grove.

Still, as a 37-year old about to see his biggest moment playing golf, there’s still no particular goal in mind.

But the stakes, they’re a little higher now.

Next week, the North Idaho College men's and women's golf coach is going to be playing in a major championship for the first time — the PGA Championship May 18-21 at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y.

Grove qualified for the PGA with a top-20 finish in the PGA Professional Championship April 30-May 3, in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. He finished in a tie for 11th.

GROVE, who helped Coeur d'Alene High to the 2004 state 5A boys golf title, just picked up the game starting as a freshman. Grove was fourth at state as a junior and senior.

“I hadn’t really thought about playing professionally as a kid,” he said. “Four years into it, I knew I loved the game. I didn’t really have any expectations. I just wanted to play college golf.”

So, Grove did, for four years at the University of Idaho.

“I really struggled my freshman year,” said Grove, the valedictorian at Coeur d’Alene in 2004. “My sophomore and junior year, I started to do a little better. By my junior year, I shot a few low rounds and thought about playing golf professionally.”

Straight from Idaho, Grove turned pro and played on the Pepsi Tour, with stops in the Southwest, and Gateway Tour, one step below the Korn Ferry Tour, before becoming an assistant professional at Twin Lakes Village Golf Club, then later Avondale Golf Club in Hayden Lake.

“I’d always loved to compete and it’s been a big part of my life since high school,” Grove said. “Then I started to coach a little bit. Being a professional golfer is definitely not the best paying job to be in. I just started to stick with it, but always thought I could always switch to something else. Hopefully now, I’m getting into my golf prime.”

He admits that there were a few times where he considered life outside of golf, but opted to stick with it.

“For me, you try to find something you’re passionate about,” Grove said. “If you love it, it will become easier to get where you want to be.”

GROVE IS now in his seventh season as NIC golf coach.

Being a coach has allowed him to get on the course and work on his game as well.

“It’s more flexible being a coach than assistant professional for sure,” Grove said. “As a coach, I can do some recruiting calls in the morning, practice by myself and then do some more calls at night, whereas if I was an assistant pro, I’d have set hours and wouldn’t be able to play as much. It’s way more flexible being a coach now.”

As time allows, Grove still competes in some Inland Northwest PGA tournaments, as well as some regional tournaments as part of the Pacific Northwest PGA.

“Those feel like pretty legit tournaments and the section does those like a real professional event,” Grove said. “I still try to learn one or two things each time I play those tournaments. When I talk to recruits, and I tell them every time, that it can’t hurt to challenge yourself. You can always learn something each round.”

GROVE HAD played in the PGA Professional Championship five times previously, coming close several times before qualifying earlier this month, shooting 6-under 66 in the final round.

“When I get there to the course, it will probably sink in what I’ve accomplished,” Grove said. “Hopefully on Thursday, it’s just me and the golf course like I try to treat every other tournament I play in. I’m just looking forward to going and getting on the golf course.”

Something that he’ll focus on more now as he travels to New York this afternoon.

“I’ve always worked hard at whatever I’m involved in,” Grove said. “Whether it’s coaching or playing, it gets my full attention.”

Grove will also have a familiar face alongside him as Taylor Pierce, a teammate on the 2004 title team at Coeur d’Alene, will be Grove’s caddie for the tournament.

“We’re comfortable with each other,” Grove said. “He’s caddied for me at three of the qualifiers before. Having someone there I know and is really knowledgeable about the game, will really help me.”

As for the tournament itself, it’s something that Grove is taking in stride.

“Ultimately, there’s nothing to fear,” Grove said. “I’ve already won teeing off in the event. They’re all just normal guys that are good at golf too. I just need to go out and do what I do.”

Due to the PGA Championship, Grove won’t be with the Cardinals, at least for the first round, of the NWAC Championships at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima when the tournament begins on Sunday, May 21.

“They’ve had the championship there for a few years now and I know the course really well,” Grove said. “It’s nice with technology, you can do anything remotely. There’s a lot of prep up to the event, which I can do from New York and tell them how to play certain shots. Once you’ve got that game plan, it’s up to them to execute.”

You first, coach.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow on Twitter @JECdAPress.