Blake Jirges

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

Other awards won (if provided):
SCPGA Golf Professional of the Year , Golf Digest Top Young Teachers

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 50
Female: 50
Junior: 300

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
500

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
At Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, we continue to grow the game through programs designed for golfers of all ages and abilities. Our Crush It! Junior Golf Program provides a pathway for young golfers to learn and develop their skills, while our PGA Junior League had over 60 participants this spring. Our All-Star team advanced to the Regional Championship in Maui, which was an incredible experience for our junior golfers and families. Throughout the season, we bring the kids together for team practices, competitions, and matches to help them improve their skills, build friendships, and develop a love for the game.

We have also expanded our College Prep and Elite High School Golf programs to help competitive junior golfers prepare for high school, collegiate golf, and beyond. Additionally, we coach the Santa Margarita Catholic High School girls JV teams, helping players develop their skills, confidence, and competitive experience. We are also proud to be involved with the U.S. National Development Program, hosting a mini camp at our facility for 20 of the top junior golfers in Southern California.

Our women’s programs, including Bad Moms Golf Club and It’s Ladies Time, continue to introduce more women to the game while creating a fun and welcoming community. We also offer adult development programs such as 10 Shots in 10 Weeks and the Transformation Challenge, focusing on improving skills, building confidence, and lowering scores. We launched PGA HOPE to provide 20 veterans with six weeks of golf instruction and an opportunity to connect through the game. Our overall goal is to create meaningful experiences, build lasting relationships, and provide opportunities for golfers at every level to enjoy the game for a lifetime.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
We focus on keeping our students engaged through consistent coaching, measurable improvement, and creating a strong sense of community. Our programs include supervised practice, on-course coaching, skills challenges, and friendly competitions to make learning fun and rewarding. We utilize TrackMan, CoachNow, TPI, and other technologies to track progress and provide personalized practice plans. Our junior programs offer a clear pathway for development, while our adult and women’s programs create opportunities to improve and build friendships. We also communicate regularly through monthly newsletters, program updates, and personal follow-ups. Our goal is to build long-term relationships with our students and create an environment where they enjoy learning, improving, and playing more golf.