By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Rob Sedorcek, a Quarter Century PGA Member, is the PGA of America Director of Instruction at Sedorcek Swing Solutions at Fremont Hills Country Club in Nixa, Missouri. He is a 2022 and 2023 Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and a two-time Gateway PGA Section Teacher of the Year.
Sedorcek got his start in golf at age five playing with his parents at Victory Hills Country Club in Kansas City, Kansas. He quickly joined the club’s junior golf program and enjoyed group lessons with PGA of America Golf Professional Darrel Wilson and Assistant Professional Jay Lispi. With their instruction and his newfound love of the game, Sedorcek had early success and won several trophies and junior club championships. He credits playing in city, state and national youth golf events for aiding in his expedited progress and improvement in the game.
“My path to becoming a golf professional included teaching under Jeff Johnson and assisting with the junior program at Sunflower Hills Golf Course in nearby Bonner Springs when I was in high school,” Sedorcek says. “I then played and coached golf at Kansas State University, returning to Sunflower Hills each summer and later working full-time as an assistant.”
Sedorcek realized that teaching was his path and he became a teaching professional at Overland Park Golf Club. He felt that coaching others to improve and enjoy golf more was a way of giving back to the game that had provided him success, enjoyment and a career. That motivation and love of the game drove him to be the Director of Instruction at some great facilities, including Norwood Hills Country Club, WingHaven Country Club, The Country Club of St. Albans, Family Golf and Learning Center and now Fremont Hills Country Club.
“My biggest influences came from long-time friend and mentor Stan Thirsk,” he says, “however, I have continued to learn through other top instructors over the years.”
Sedorcek says the most successful program he has developed is his Competitive Junior Program. Through this monthly fee program, golfers get four 90-minute practice sessions per month and one private session with him. The program runs all year with a minimum three-month commitment.
“I have also recently added a five-week high school prep program that is limited to four golfers and includes four 90-minute practices and one on-course session,” he adds. “The practices are much like a college golf practice would be.”
With these programs in mind, Sedorcek says he sees the youth golfers not only trending in today’s game but being the heart of the future of golf. “We must continue to develop and foster our junior programs using Operation 36 or another homegrown development program,” he advises. “I see many 20-year-olds getting into the game at my current facility, a trend I first noticed during my time at Family Golf and Learning Center. I think they are starting to make money and realizing that business gets done on the course and afterward.”
For more information on Sedorcek Swing Solutions or to contact Rob directly, log on to his website today!
