Stafford, VA – Born in Bethesda, Maryland, Bernard “Bernie” Najar was one of seven children from Andre and Bernadette Najar. Needless to say he found it very comfortable doing things on his own and initially discovered an interest in tennis. His dad, Andre, was a very accomplished tennis player representing the Egyptian Davis Cup team, and playing in six Wimbledon Championships and one U.S. Open. However, tennis would soon fade with Bernie and golf would take center stage in his life.
Bernie’s interest in golf started at the age of thirteen when he decided to skip tennis camp and attend his first junior golf clinic taught by PGA Professional Rod Thompson at Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. This clinic proved to be effective as it catapulted Bernie into a successful junior golf career. He was selected to the All-Metropolitan Golf Team for 1988-1990 and then attended the American University on a golf scholarship, graduating with a degree in Finance.
Immediately following college, Bernie entered into the PGA of America’s Apprentice program under the tutelage of Mark Helffrich, PGA at the Suburban Club in Baltimore, Maryland. He developed a passion for teaching the game and taught for one year at Montclair Golf, Tennis, and Swim Club in Montclair, Virginia before securing a teaching position with Woodholme Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland.
Today, as the Director of Instruction at Woodholme, Bernie thrives as a student of the game and unselfishly shares his knowledge and teaching techniques with fellow PGA Professionals through various education seminars. In addition, he is passionate about providing his peers with unique opportunities to learn from other instructors and currently is the Education Chair for the MAPGA’s Northern Chapter. Since 2000, Bernie has been recognized by Golf Digest as being a top instructor in Maryland, as well as Golf Magazine since 2007. Additionally, he has been honored by his peers in the Middle Atlantic Section with several awards that include: 2004 Teacher of the Year and the Horton Smith Award in 2011.
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
