Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin History

The GCAW, Inc. was formed in 2011 to take over the duties of the WHSGCA (Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association), which originally formed in 1986. The GCAW is a non-profit, non-stock corporation represented by its membership of current and retired high school and college golf coaches in the state of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Association was formed by a number of coaches in 1986. Gregg Shimanski was the primary spearhead but there were a number of others who were involved from the start including Lee Kaczmarek.  John Janty and Len Friede were at the first meeting along with several others, but there are no records from the first meeting held in Madison. Their first All-State teams were selected in 1988, both the boys team that spring and the girls team that fall. The first Annual Membership Meeting and Coaches Tournament was held at Cherokee C.C. in June, 1987. Len Friede from Port Washington was the first editor of the “Coach Approach.”