Stafford, VA – Meredith Loosse, the PGA/LPGA Director of the Robins Junior Program at Independence Golf Club (Midlothian, Va.) was selected as the Middle Atlantic PGA’s 2013 Junior Golf Leader. This award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional who is a leader in junior golf, reflects the image and qualities that juniors can emulate, and provides opportunities for juniors to learn and play golf. Loosse will be recognized in front of her peers at the MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet to be held on March 9, 2013 at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Md.
A resident of Ruckersville, Va., Loosse spent much of her childhood in Northern California. At the age of seven, she welcomed golf into her life and played so well as an amateur that she earned a third place ranking amongst all the northern California girl golfers. Her talents continued on to the University of Kentucky where she played on the women’s golf team and earned a degree in business.
Loosse’s professional career began immediately after college graduation when she decided to play golf for a living and spent some time on the Players West Tour as well as the LPGA’s Futures Tour. Her first golf job as a professional was working under one of her mentors, Brad Lozares, PGA at Palo Alto Golf Course in Palo Alto, Cal. Lozares mentored Loosse through all aspects of the golf operation starting with merchandising in the golf shop. When it came to teaching junior golfers, she learned from Brad that it was always important to keep the learning experience fun which would, in turn, keep the children’s attention.
In the summer of 2002, Loosse made her way across the country to the Middle Atlantic Section and has remained here ever since. In early 2012, she accepted her current position as the Director of the Robins Junior Programs at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, Virginia.
As the Robins Junior Program Director, Loosse increased an already growing program by 47% and serviced over 3,000 children during the 2012 season. However, she made her biggest impact with the program when she offered opportunities to the at-risk communities of Richmond, Va. She worked with the Police Athletic League (PAL) and every Tuesday and Wednesday 80 children were bussed to Independence for golf classes that lasted eight weeks. Loosse also held classes for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at two Richmond area elementary schools. At the conclusion of these classes, Loosse, along with the VSGA Scholarship Committee, offered two full scholarships for students at the elementary school to attend the Robins Summer Program.
Loosse enjoys playing in MAPGA and LPGA T&CP Division tournaments and recalls the times when her father, Ken, would fly from Tucson, Az. to Va. to caddy for her. Mr. Loosse passed away in 2011 and she committed to herself that she would make the Robins Junior Golf Program bigger and better in honor of her father. Playing golf with her dad or having him carrying her bag were some of her proudest days.
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, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 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
