JEFFERSON TWP — Golf and Rob Voltz seem to belong together.

But it didn't start out that way.

“The Voltz family was all about baseball, basketball and football when I was a kid,” he said. “My dad (Hubert Voltz) played baseball through his 30's and was the first basketball coach at Knoch. All of my brothers played football and basketball.”

Rob only got started in golf as a means to be around his father and brothers.

“My brothers were much older than me,” he said. “When they'd come home, my dad and them would go play a round of golf. I figured if I wanted to see them, I better jump in the car and go play.”

A left-hander, Voltz's first set of golf clubs were his grandfather's from the 1940's. His first golf bag was a left-over laundry bag of one of his brothers.

Voltz began playing golf at age 9. Now 46, he still plays today. What he's accomplished in the sport in between is landing him in the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at the BCSHOF's annual banquet at 6 p.m. April 13 at the Butler Days Inn.

“I was surprised when (Butler County Community College golf coach) Bill Miller called me to tell me I was going in,” Voltz said. “I was shocked, actually.

“You never expect something like this. It made me very happy.”

Voltz remembers the first round of golf he ever played. He was 10 years old and played at Shamrock Golf Course in Slippery Rock.

“I was 11 when I broke 50 for nine holes for the first time,” he said. “I started playing local tournaments when I was 13. I quit baseball at age 16 to focus on golf.”

And he took off from there.

Voltz was a four-year letterman and captain of the Knoch High School golf team. He earned medalist honors at Conley's during the WPIAL team semifinals, shooting a 71, in 1990. He was also medalist in the WPIAL team finals, shooting a 75 as the Knights won the championship.

Voltz was part of three PSAC championship teams at Slippery Rock University. He was selected All-PSAC and became the first two-time all-academic athlete in SRU history.

“My dad taught at SRU. Between that and golf, I was able to get a free education there,” he said.

Among Voltz's golf honors are being named Tri-State PGA Junior Player of the Year and winning the Tri-State Junior PGA championship, both in 1987. He played in three NCAA Division II Championships and was selected as an All-American Scholar by the Golf Coaches of America.

After college, Voltz went on to win club championships at Oakview, Deer Run, St. Jude, Pittsburgh North, Pittsburgh National and Butler.

“The one I'm most proud of is the 2014 St. Jude championship,” he said. “It was the last club championship there and I beat Sean Knapp by four strokes in the 54-hole event.

“That was the best individual tournament of my life.”

Of the numerous golf tournaments he's won through the years, Voltz most treasures the Tri-State Father-Son tourney, which he's won the past two years with his son, Cory.

“That's the most important tournament I play every year,” he said.

Voltz is also a two-time Butler Eagle County Amateur tournament champion and has served on the committee of that tournament for many years.

He returned to his alma mater to coach the Knoch golf team in 2003. Other than a couple of seasons, he has been at the helm of that program ever since.

“Some of the kids who came through that program still come to me for help with their swing from time to time,” Voltz said. “That means a lot to me.”

He has to learned to appreciate the difficulty of the game — and the challenge it constantly presents.

“I still think I can get better,” Voltz said of golf. “Better golf still lies ahead for me, so I keep working at it.”

Tickets for the banquet are $40 in advance and are available at Moses Jewelers at the Clearview Mall, Butler Radio Network on Pillow St., Parker Appliance in Chicora, Snack n Pack in Butler and Saxonburg Drug. Tickets will be $45 at the door.