For more than four decades, Bob Hopkins has been a fixture in high school sports, particularly in the game of golf. His experience, passion, and dedication to the sport have shaped the programs he has led, first in South Dakota and now at Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS). As the head coach for PVHS boys’ golf, Hopkins has seen highs and lows, but he remains optimistic that this year’s team has what it takes to make a strong push toward the top.
Hopkins’ journey in golf coaching began in 1980 in South Dakota, where he took over both the girls’ and boys’ programs. The challenge of leading two teams simultaneously—especially when both played during the spring season—didn’t deter him. Under his leadership, the girls’ team won state championships in 1984, 1985, and 1986, while the boys’ team clinched a state title in 1985 and another in 1988. Even with success on the course, Hopkins’ coaching philosophy has always been about more than just winning.
“There’s no better sport that relates to life than golf,” Hopkins said. “It’s just you and the little white ball. It’s the best sport the high school offers because it’s something you can do at any age. My kids all played it, and while they were aggressive in other sports, they found golf to be relaxing. There might not be a more frustrating yet relaxing sport in the world.”
His belief in the life lessons golf offers is reflected in his approach to coaching. The sport requires self-discipline, patience, and the ability to recover from setbacks—traits that serve young athletes well beyond high school. Unlike team sports where mistakes can be attributed to others, golf is deeply personal. “You can’t blame a bad pass or somebody missing a catch. It’s just you,” Hopkins said.
After his early career in South Dakota, Hopkins moved to Pahrump, where he initially assisted in coaching before taking over the boys’ golf program in 2001. Since then, he has guided his teams to multiple league championships, though they’ve fallen just short of a state title. “We’ve been close,” he said, “but we haven’t gotten over the hump. This year, we’ve got a good group of boys. We were league champs for quite a few years in a row, but the last two seasons, Boulder City has beaten us. We hope to turn that around.”
One constant presence alongside Hopkins is assistant coach Steve Nygaard. The two have worked together in some capacity since 1998, and their consistency has been a pillar of the PVHS golf program. As for training and coaching methods, Hopkins doesn’t plan to make any major changes this season. The focus remains on getting players as much course time as possible. “We have a tournament on the 27th and 28th, so Steve’s had the boys out playing for the past couple of weeks,” Hopkins said. “We’ll play a lot early on, then settle into the season.”
That tournament, the Pahrump Valley Invitational, is a premier event now in its 37th year. Organized by Larry Goins, the tournament has drawn top-tier talent, including current PGA Tour professionals. Taylor Montgomery, now a PGA Tour player, won the Pahrump Valley Invitational one or two times, while another well-known pro, Scott Piercy, competed but didn’t win. The event has hosted teams from California, Arizona, and Nevada, making it one of the strongest competitions PVHS golfers face each season.
Looking ahead to the season, Hopkins is counting on key returning athletes to lead the way. Carter Nygaard, Matt Lopez, Travis Floyd, and Samson Wagner are all experienced lettermen expected to make significant contributions. “We’ve got some promising new players too,” Hopkins said. “Kelsen Cross-Smith is looking good, Cayden Cowley is playing, and we’ve got six freshmen that came out. We have a total of 15 kids on the team, which is a strong number for us.”
Natalie Soto has joined the program as the team’s student manager, a role Hopkins believes is invaluable, particularly when it comes to organizing tournaments. “She wanted to be the student manager, and I told her, ‘Yeah, you can come out and play a little bit. We always need help running the tournament.’ I’ll put her to work next Thursday and Friday,” Hopkins said with a chuckle.
For younger players, the transition to high school golf presents some challenges, especially given the longer rounds. “The only way to get used to playing 18 holes is to play 18 holes,” Hopkins said. “During practice, we’re lucky if we can get in more than nine holes, but we try to push them when we can. Carrying your bag for 18 holes in 100-degree heat isn’t easy. But when it’s 75 degrees, it’s about perfect.”
The PVHS golf program benefits from strong community support, particularly from Mountain Falls Golf Course, where the team practices and plays home matches. PVHS Alum, Elliott Owens, now the course pro, ensures the team has the resources they need. Additionally, the junior golf program, once led by a group including Hopkins, has been revitalized by David Wilson and Tori Peers. “We want to get more young players involved, especially girls,” Hopkins said. “It’s hard to ask a girl to start golf in high school if she’s never played before. If they start young, they’ll be more likely to stick with it.”
In terms of competition, PVHS has four league matches and the Pahrump Valley Invitational, but Hopkins also arranges extra matches, including a home-and-away series with Boulder City. “Sometimes we’ll do a Ryder Cup format for a change of pace,” Hopkins explained. “We also have a match at Casablanca, which is a good warm-up because it prepares us for playoffs.”
While there won’t be huge changes this season, next season will bring a new challenge for state qualifying. Currently, teams take six players to matches and count the best four scores. Next year, the format will shift to bringing four players and counting the top three scores. “That’s going to change things a lot,” Hopkins said. “For us, maybe not as much, but for teams that have 10 or 12 strong players, deciding who makes the cut will be tough.”
Despite the competitive nature of high school golf, Hopkins’ message to his players remains simple: “Have fun.” He encourages them to enjoy the experience and make the most of their four years on the team. “I always tell my athletes, no matter the sport, to enjoy and have fun. Because before you know it, four years are gone, and you’ll miss it.”
With a strong group of returning players, an influx of promising newcomers, and an experienced coaching staff, the PVHS boys’ golf team is poised for an exciting season. If they can build on their past successes and navigate the challenges ahead, this could be the year they finally get over the hump and capture that elusive state title.
