Stafford, VA – A city girl at heart, Erika (Zwetkow) Larkin, PGA grew up in the hustle and bustle of New York City where golf was not the first sport of choice. However, her parents, George and Janet, decided to escape the “concrete jungle” of the city and make a family trip to Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt Golf Course in Queens, New York when Erika was nine years old. From this point in her life, Erika never second guessed her decision to make golf her sport of choice and continued to excel despite the odds and adversity of city living.
In High School, Erika was asked by her mentor/teacher, Frank Darby, PGA to volunteer with a few junior golf clinics in the area. She loved teaching the game and this became a springboard for her future. Following a successful junior golf career, Erika went on to attend James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia on a golf scholarship. During her four years at JMU, Erika helped her team win a Conference Championship and also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. While in college, she would keep her interest in the golf business alive by working in the summertime for Mike Gilmore, PGA at Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston, New York.
Wasting no time after college to pursue her career in golf, Erika entered into the PGA of America’s Apprentice program immediately after passing her playing ability test. She spent only three years as an apprentice before earning her membership into the PGA. She then continued her studies to earn PGA Certification in Instruction and certification through the Titleist Performance Institute.
Today, Erika is the Director of Instruction at Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia where she provides full-service instruction for all skill levels. By utilizing the latest in golf swing technology and research, Erika strives to seek the knowledge and teach the lessons that will satisfy her mission of “creating confident, course-ready golfers.” For her passion and dedication to teaching the game of golf, she was recognized in April of 2011 by Washingtonian Magazine as the area’s “Top Golf Pro”.
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
Contact:
Stephanie Jennings, PGA
sjennings@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 116
