By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Brian Rogish is the PGA of America Director of Instruction at The Golf Club at Lansdowne in Virginia, a role he’s had for more than seven years. He was the Tri-State PGA Section Teacher of the Year in 2014 while working at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and was named to Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America just last month. As a Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Elite Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, we feature Brian in this month’s Five Questions feature. Congrats to Brian for his success and thank you for sharing some of your background and insights with us.
Golf Range Magazine: When and where did you get your start in golf? How old were you, and who got you into the game?
Rogish: I started playing golf later in life as a sophomore at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I was playing competitive baseball up to that point, but as injuries and burnout took their toll, I needed a new outlet for my competitiveness. Fortunately, some friends got me into the game of golf.
Golf Range Magazine: When did you know you wanted to be a PGA of America Golf Professional?
Rogish: I was studying communications at King’s College and was on track for a career in broadcast communications when I decided to pivot to a career in golf. This was late into my senior year – May 2007. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about pursuing PGA membership as much as I was not wanting to work in a newsroom from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. I also really loved the game and was obsessed with the idea of getting better and the journey I would take to improve. That desire and competitiveness ultimately led me down a path of teaching and helping others with the same journey. It’s hard to believe that I’m approaching 20 years since that decision was made.
Golf Range Magazine: What’s trending in your programming and instruction at your facility?
Rogish: Our facility is a junior golf powerhouse. We routinely see upwards of 150 juniors in our program every year. This year we carved out a niche for those 10-13 year olds who are looking to follow a competitive track. This track provides them with a distinctly different experience compared to that of the average program we offer. We offer this as a year-round program that includes all aspects of preparing them to play in college, including golf skills, strength training, mental training and recruiting preparation. This program is based on invitation and is something we recruit golfers into.
Golf Range Magazine: What is your favorite part of the game of golf? The business of golf?
Rogish: My favorite part of golf is the travel. I really appreciate the opportunity to travel to new places with people and get to know them on a different level – it’s a huge passion of mine.
Golf Range Magazine: What does the future hold in golf for you? What’s on the horizon in teaching and mentorship as a proven leader in golf coaching and instruction?
Rogish: We have a number of things in the oven at the moment, but at the core, we are always trying to improve the quality and efficiency of our coaching. To me, this is the essence of what we do. Every success that I have ever had has been tied to being a versatile, effective coach.
For more information about Brian or to contact him, check out his PGA Coach page here.
