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"It's been exceptional, I would say," Greenville-Wood said of his first season on the recruiting trail.
USCB's director of golf -- he also will take over the fledgling women's program this season -- has seven incoming recruits for the men's squad. The quantity and quality of newcomers exceeded his expectations, especially considering he got a late start in courting them.
"I came in quite late to this job in February, and by that time your recruiting season should almost be done," Greenville-Wood said. "I had nothing done at that point."
Like his first season on the job, when the Sand Sharks won the Webber International Invitational in his first tournament as their coach and finished second in two more tournaments, Greenville-Wood's transition into the recruiting game went surprisingly smoothly.
The Sand Sharks have added seven players to a roster that already included five returning players from their inaugural season, and their coach expects several of the newcomers to challenge for starting spots.
The gem of the class, according to Greenville-Wood, is Englishman Jack Bingham, who boasts a scoring average of 72.2 strokes per round and a season-best round of 65. He advanced to the fourth round of the British Boys' Amateur Championship in August.
"Needless to say, he's a golfer we have, in theory, no right to attract," Greenville-Wood said. "In theory."
But Greenville-Wood has learned the theories that apply to most NAIA schools might not translate to USCB, where the draw of the Hilton Head Island golf scene can lure top-flight talent. Two NCAA Division I transfers are among this year's recruting class -- Aaron Hwang from Notre Dame and John Pannone from Rhode Island -- as are International Junior Golf Academy graduates Luke Kerr-Dineen and Mark Phillips. Tyler Jacobs from Rockville, Md., and Eddie Stahlhuth of Labadie, Mo., round out the class.
"There are so many strengths our program has to offer," Greenville-Wood said, noting that his team's practice rotation includes esteemed courses (and practice facilities) such as Belfair, Berkeley Hall, Chechessee Creek, Tradition National and Island West. "It can only help to improve your golf, even if the coaching was garbage.
"If you're an aspiring professional golfer, really there isn't a better place to come."
The word seems to be getting out. In addition to the five returning starters and seven incoming recruits, Greenville-Wood said another four students have expressed interest in joining the team. He will hold tryouts before the season begins Sept. 7 at the USC Aiken Invitational at Kiawah Island, and hopes to field something resembling a junior varsity program to allow all his players to gain valuable experience.
"Ultimately, I'm really positive about our ability to compete," Greenville-Wood said. "I'm not going to tell you that we're going to win anything, because that would be stupid, but I feel really confident and really good about what these kids can achieve."
