"What started as a few hours out of the house, on a City Park golf course, has turned into a state championship and an NCAA career. Kyle Traub, a 2024 Brother Martin graduate and LHSAA State Champion, recently made his NCAA college debut at Squire Creek golf course in Choudrant, LA in the Louisiana Tech Argent Financial Classic. Kyle’s hard work, dedication, drive and work ethic over the past 8 years has propelled him into the player he is today. Along with a lot of help from his parents, Kurt and Jena Traub.
In the Spring of 2016, Kyle was a typical 10 year old playing multiple sports at his local playground. Kyle played tackle football, basketball and baseball at Cleary playground in Metairie. During that time, Kyle’s dad, Kurt Traub, took him out to City Park golf course a few times just to get out the house and enjoy some father and son time. Kurt quickly realized that something was different about Kyle and the sport of golf. Kyle quickly showed passion, excitement and a strong desire to want to play and get better. Much stronger than the other three sports he was playing at the time. Kyle was persistent in his desire for golf and after a couple of family discussions, Kurt and Jena agreed to make Kyle’s main focus on the sport he fell in love with, golf.
For the rest of 2016 and early part of 2017, Kyle spent a lot of time learning his golf swing with Coach Jimmy Headrick. He also spent countless hours on the driving range, on the putting greens and on the chipping greens. He was working to get himself ready to play at a competitive level and not embarrass himself. In June of 2017, Kyle played in his first competitive tournament at Money Hill golf course in Abita Springs, LA. Kyle shot a 60 in 9 holes and finished in 5th place, but he got a taste of the competition and was fueled to improve his game and compete.
After 1 year of competition and practice, Kyle took his score from over 100 in 18 holes to scoring an 88 and getting his first tournament win in July of 2018 in a USKids tournament at Diamondhead, MS. After that the Traub family was off and running, playing in tournaments almost every weekend in various junior golf organizations (USKids, Kelly Gibson, SJGA, LJGT). For the next 3 years, Kyle would play in over 100 golf events and gradually improved his game and started consistently shooting in the upper 70s. Kyle won numerous tournaments, and his love for the game and desire to play continued. Throughout those formative years, Kyle’s dad was typically his caddie and mom would ride in the cart to support Kyle and provide him with drinks and food.
Kyle’s parents, Kurt and Jena Traub, had their work cut out for them and mastered the divide and conquer. Kyle is not an only child, and Kyle’s sister Hayden Traub is also an athlete in the family. Hayden is two years younger than Kyle and is a strong softball player for Louisiana Voodoo and Mount Carmel Academy. She was named to the 2024 LHSAA All-State, All-Metro and All-District teams. From 2018-2024, the Traubs spent many weekends separated with one parent/child combination going to softball tournaments and the other going to golf tournaments. However, Kurt and Jena knew that the work ethic, accountability, teamwork and dedication that their kids were learning was worth every minute and every dollar of theirs.
In 2022, Kyle’s career at Brother Martin was blooming. He eventually led the Crusaders to 3 district titles and led the team to qualify for regionals and state for 3 years. During this time Kyle stressed a strong desire to continue his golf career into college."
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