Men's golf coach optimistic

Bob Livingstone looks you in the face and tells you, st raight up, how the Cal State Long Beach men's golf team will be the best in Southern California within three years. You want to believe him, but those know the story of the men's golf team - not too bad two years ago, not so great last year- may ask " Is he serious?"

"I think this year the regionals are a very realistic goal," says Livingstone, the team's new coach.

Obviously, he is serious. And after a few minutes spent discussing Livingstone's new situation with him, you, too, begin to believe. He is a man with a plan, this 31-year-old CSULB alumnus. The men's golf team last appeared in the NCAA national tournament in 1974, when they finished ranked No. 6 in the country. Livingstone says it's about time for the program to reach that level again. The key, he says, is to keep the bountiful crop of local golfers in the area.

"It's like (CSULB President Robert) Maxson wants this to be the No. 1 choice for students," Livingstone says. "I want (CSULB) to be the choice of Southern California golfers." Livingstone, who took over for longtime Coach Del Walker Aug. 8, just may have the advantage it takes to effectively implement his scheme. Before coming to CSULB, he spent the past six years coordinating and officiating tournaments for the Southern California Professional Golfers Association. So Livingstone's name is a familiar one on the local golf circuit.

He is also getting the help he needs from the athletic department. Funding for the program has been increased, which may give that critical boost to landing the one or two standout recruits or transfers who will put the team back in the upper echelons.

"I think the athletic department commitment É has us to the point where we should be the best in Southern California," Livingstone says.

There was a time when Livingstone had aspirations of playing for CSULB, but the familiar problem of overload got in the way. He played three years at Long Beach City College and tried out here, but he had just moved out of his parents' house and was working two jobs.

"Golf became a very low priority," he says. These days, it is of the highest priority.