Coach Sobieck begins his first season at GRCC following a successful five-year tenure as the Assistant Men’s Golf Coach at Davenport University, where he helped elevate the team from the lower tier of NCAA Division II to as high as 33rd in the national rankings. His leadership played a pivotal role in guiding Davenport to its first-ever GLIAC Championship in 2022, along with producing the conference’s individual tournament champion and player of the year. That milestone also began a run of three consecutive NCAA Regional Championship appearances for the Panthers.
Before and during his time at Davenport, Sobieck coached boys and girls high school golf for seven years at Forest Hills Central, instilling fundamental skills and a passion for the game in young athletes.
Sobieck is a 28-year member of the PGA of America, and in 2021, he received the prestigious Bill Strausbaugh Award, which recognizes PGA professionals for exceptional mentoring, community service, integrity, and dedication to the growth of the sport.
Outside of coaching, Sobieck is a successful golf business owner. In 2021, he and his family purchased the Mines Golf Club and Gypsum Grill & Events in downtown Grand Rapids. Prior to that, he served as the General Manager and investor at Thornapple Pointe Golf Club, where he was instrumental in facility renovations and expansion.
A native of Walled Lake, Michigan, Sobieck was a standout high school golfer at Walled Lake Western, winning both league and regional championships, and earning first-team All-State honors. He began his collegiate career at Michigan State University before transferring to Eastern Michigan University, where he became a regular member of the golf team’s traveling squad. He left EMU in 1994 to pursue a professional career in golf.
Chris has been married to his wife, Keri, for nearly 31 years. Keri, a graduate of The Ohio State University, and Chris live in Cascade and have two adult children: Mackenzie, a former collegiate golfer at Davenport who now works in the golf industry, and Christopher, a full-time member of the Air National Guard currently deployed in Kuwait while attending Western Michigan University.
Coach Sobieck on Joining GRCC:
"I am extremely excited to be the new Head Coach at GRCC. Former coach John Forton did an exceptional job building the program and has left very big shoes to fill. My goal is to pick up from where John left off and utilize the experience I gained as a player at EMU and a coach at Davenport to continue and build on John and the program’s successes.
We are going to be leaders not only on the course but in the classroom and in the community. Our players can expect an experience very similar to what Division I and II programs provide in terms of development. Those that want to continue their golf careers will be prepared both athletically and academically."
