With the clubs officially packed away until next summer, it was a season of transition for the Whitehall golf team in 2013.

First, a new coach came on board just as the season was about to tee off. Secondly, they were consistently outmanned by their competition in the Lehigh Valley Conference, forcing them to play at a disadvantage.

But through it all, head coach John Conrad said the team never complained or made excuses. They just played each match to the best of their ability.

In fact, their willingness to compete made an impression on Conrad.

"I think that the kids we had on the team this year showed me more than I expected," said Conrad.

He also witnessed a team that made strides every time they walked onto the golf course.

"I think we consistently got better as the year went on," said Conrad.

Often the Zephs had six golfers competing against schools with 16 players on their roster. It was always a challenge, but the kids didn't let that deter them from what they were trying to accomplish.

As far as what he saw, and their desire to get better, he believes they have the components in place to steadily improve. They finished the season 2-10 and will lose two seniors who were integral to the program.

First, they'll lose Loran Pritchard to graduation. She was a district qualifier the last two years, and was their number one golfer this season. Her presence and leadership will be hard to replace and Conrad knows those will be big shoes to fill.

They'll also lose Brian Mittura, a player who steadily improved throughout the year, said Conrad.

Returning will be junior Patrick Glasgow who challenged Pritchard for the top spot throughout the year. Conrad expects him to improve his game, and believes he is someone who could emerge as a postseason performer if he puts in the time in the off-season.

"I believe he's really capable of putting together a solid year," said Conrad.

Chase Hutterer will also be back, and he will add another solid vet to the roster.

Conrad will also be counting on a number of newcomers that he persuaded to join the team once he became head coach. Those players include Shawn Jacobs and Noah Zahradnik. Conrad also believes their experience will help bolster their numbers since they've been talking to friends about the game and how it can be something worth exploring.

Conrad said that once kids are introduced to the game, they will see how fun it can be. He also hopes that will translate to escalating numbers.

"Hopefully, in the next few years, we'll be bringing sixteen golfers to the table as well," he said.

After completing his first season as the golf coach, Conrad, who's been involved in coaching at Whitehall High School for many years, said he knew what to expect when he took over the reins. He said that he's also learning, adapting to all the "little things" that go with coaching high school golf. Conrad also experienced a short season that's packed with a lot of activity over that timeframe.

Now that his first year is finished, he thinks it's an opportunity for the program to grow.

"I hope I have the opportunity for a long time," said Conrad.