Blake Jirges

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
PGA Section Teacher of the Year, GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Golf Digest Best in State, Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
US Kids Top 50 Master Teacher, CA Hall of Fame Member, Golf Digest Top Teachers under 40

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 200
Female: 100
Junior: 200

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
350

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
– PGA Hope – 5 sessions – 90 veterans served
– PGA Junior League – 10 teams all year
– PGA Junior League All Star Play Days – went to District 12 Regional Tournament
– PGA Family Golf – 3 events
– Game Changer Scoring Challenge – 24 students for 12 week commitment
– 10 Shots in 10 Weeks Program
– Bad Moms Golf Club – new ladies playing golf
– Social Golf Events – Traps and Tequila, Rookies and Rose, Wedges and Whiskey
– Garmany Golf – Northern Ireland Week Long Trip –
– TPI (Titliest Performance Institute) – Professional Titleist Fitting Experiences
– Crush it Junior Golf – All year round junior program – 5 levels – beginner to advanced program 13U
– Summer Golf Camps – 300 kids
– College Pathway Junior Program

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
At Coto de Caza, we have had many different programs we have started at our club that continue to keep members engaged. In the previous question, I listed out the number of programs we offer throughout the year, engaging hundreds of adults and juniors. One of my favorites was beginning the Game Changer Scoring Challenge. In that program, students receive weekly coaching, private lessons, and on course experiences/tournaments over a 12 week period. It’s a more intensive program but what I found was the students just loved being together in the group and becoming friends with one another. In January 2024, we had 16 new players sign up. Out of those 16, I had 9 players join me for a trip to Northern Ireland for an 8 day experience. We were able to play Royal County Downs twice, Portrush and Portstewart. This is the community I have enjoyed working with to provide an experience that they will remember forever.