Eva Rogers

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
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):
Illinois Section Player Development Award Recipient, Golf Digest Best Young Teachers, U.S. Kids Top 50 Coach

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 300
Female: 250
Junior: 300

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
125

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
This year, I introduced Operation 36 into our junior programming at Medinah Country Club. Operation 36 is a structured development model designed to help players learn the game from the hole out, while tracking progress through measurable milestones. What began as a junior initiative has quickly evolved into one of the most successful and engaging programs we’ve implemented.

From the start, the response from our junior players and families was incredible. The app-based platform allowed coaches and players to set goals, complete challenges, and measure improvement in a way that felt both fun and purposeful. Juniors were motivated not just by scores, but by seeing their progress through levels and earning on-course achievements! The program created consistency, accountability, and excitement across every age and skill level.

What’s been even more rewarding is seeing this momentum carry into our adults wanting to take part in the program! Many parents who watched their kids thrive in Operation 36 wanted to experience the same structure and sense of accomplishment for themselves. This natural transition has allowed us to create a seamless learning pathway for the entire family where adults and juniors share a common language for growth and development in the game.

The impact has been tremendous. We’ve seen increased engagement, on-course participation, and retention in both our junior and adult clinics. Operation 36 has strengthened our culture of learning at Medinah, giving players of all ages a roadmap to improvement, community connection, and long-term enjoyment of the game!

Adult/ Junior group programming: These programs give adults and juniors a structured, motivating environment to pursue improvement! In small groups of four, participants commit to scheduled sessions each week that focus on practice, accountability, and measurable progress. The model has generated strong momentum because it combines skill development with a community. It has been rewarding to see students embrace the mindset of an athlete, applying what they learn in practice and experiencing real breakthroughs in their game!

Drive, Chip, and Putt Practice Series was designed to give juniors an opportunity to practice and compete in a competitive format each week! The goal is to help juniors prepare for upcoming qualifiers while making skill development fun and motivating. What's been exciting is seeing how many kids plan to compete in the official qualifiers. The competitive atmosphere has brought great energy to our sessions and continues to build confidence, camaraderie, and excitement among all of our juniors.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
One of my key focuses as an instructor has been creating programming that keeps students and members consistently engaged throughout the season. By offering a variety of structured, goal-oriented programs, I've been able to provide meaningful opportunities for players to stay motivated, connected, and excited about their game!

Ladies Orientation, this is an opportunity for ladies, especially those new to the club or new to any of the 9- or 18-hole groups to walk into the club with confidence knowing what they need to do and where to go. We also go over basic golf instruction and show them around the course to learn how to navigate while out there. Many women lack the confidence of walking into the shop and getting a tee time; little obstacles like that can discourage someone from making the move to go out to the course. This is a confidence build-up program!

Medinah Junior Golf Program– Powered by Operation 36 is a squad-based program separated into three groups and includes kids ages 8-17. Juniors are placed into groups based on their age and skill level. We have the Rookie Squad – beginners, Pin Seekers – intermediate and Masters – advanced. The program runs for six weeks in the summer, and juniors have a designated clinic day and every Tuesday they go out on the course and play in 9 or 18 hole matches.

The Li’l Chippers program is designed for children ages 4 to 7 and represents the very start of their journey into golf. This program is gamified to keep the kiddos engaged, using fun, interactive activities to teach the basics of grip, stance, swing and putting. By introducing golf in a playful, structured environment, Li’l Chippers helps children develop coordination, focus and early interest in the game. The program’s effectiveness is seen in high retention rates and excitement among participants, many of whom transition naturally into Elite Chippers or other junior golf programs as their skills and confidence grow. Li’l Chippers ensures that the youngest players begin their golf journey with a positive experience, setting the stage for continued growth in both ability and passion for the game.

The Elite Chippers program serves as a critical feeder into the Medinah Junior Golf program for ages 6 to 8. I designed it for those who have outgrown the Li’l Chippers and not quite ready to take on what the junior program entails. This is the perfect opportunity to prepare the kids for more targeted instruction and learning how to play on the course. These juniors gradually gain the abilities and comfort level required to transition successfully to full on-course participation the following year. The effectiveness of the program is evident in the number of participants who, after a year in Elite Chippers, confidently join the main junior program, demonstrating measurable skill improvement and a stronger foundation for long-term development.

On-Course Player Development program has been taught to juniors and adults. This is the time we go on the golf course in a small group setting and walk a few holes to go over course management and the mental game. Week-after-week we pick up on the hole we ended on the previous week so everyone can learn about all of the holes on the course so they can have a better understanding of ways to play them.

High School Prep program was developed to prepare juniors for success in high school golf by providing targeted instruction on the skills and strategies necessary to perform at a competitive level. The program focuses on swing mechanics, short game, putting, course management and mental preparation, giving participants the tools they need to enter tryouts and the season ready to compete. This program has had a measurable impact on junior engagement in golf, with more students staying involved and committed to improving their game year-after-year. It serves as a bridge between recreational play and competitive high school golf, ensuring participants build a strong foundation that supports their continued growth. Developing this program has been rewarding because it allows me to provide a clear pathway for juniors to elevate their game and achieve their goals.

Elite Player Development program is a specialized, weekly program that runs every Friday during the summer, designed to give junior golfers an immersive and comprehensive learning experience. Each session consists of one hour of detailed golf instruction followed by 45 minutes of fitness training with a professional trainer, allowing participants to develop both the technical and physical aspects of their game. The program is structured to provide a holistic approach to player development.

During the instructional hour, juniors receive personalized coaching on swing mechanics, short game, putting and course management, with video analysis and other technology integrated to provide immediate feedback. The fitness portion focuses on building strength, flexibility and body awareness, which are critical for performance and injury prevention. By combining instruction and fitness in a single program, participants are able to see measurable improvements in both skill and athleticism over the course of the summer. This program has had a significant impact on the juniors who participate, giving them the tools, confidence and mindset necessary to compete at higher levels and continue developing their game year-round.