Accomplished instructor honored for leadership, service at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club
Coto de Caza, Ca. – Invited Clubs is pleased to announce that Blake Jirges, the director of player development at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, has been named the 2026 Professional of the Year by the Southern California PGA (SCPGA). Awarded to the region’s top professional for their leadership, service and promotion of the game of golf, it’s the latest accolade for Jirges who is one of the premier golf instructors in the country.
The SCPGA Section Awards celebrate PGA professionals who have excelled in their profession as well as those who have volunteered and given of themselves to serve the Section and the golf community.
It’s the latest honor for Jirges, who was named to the Golf Digest Best Young Teachers list in 2023 and 2024 and was named the SCPGA Teacher and Coach of the Year in 2022. He also has been listed as a Top 100 instructor by the Golf Range Association four times and is a member of the California Teaching and Coaching Hall of Fame.
Coto de Caza features 36 holes of championship golf across two distinct Robert Trent Jones Jr. courses, each thoughtfully designed to embrace the rolling hills and natural beauty of Coto de Caza. Together, they deliver a rewarding challenge and a memorable experience for golfers of every skill level.
About Invited Clubs
Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based Invited Clubs has operated with the central purpose of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. The leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs and city clubs in North America, Invited Clubs is relentless in its pursuit of providing extraordinary experiences, meaningful connections, shared passions, and memorable moments for its more than 414,000 members. With approximately 17,000 peak-season employees and a portfolio of over 200 owned or operated golf and country clubs, city clubs, sports clubs, and stadium clubs in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and two foreign countries, Invited Clubs creates communities and a lifestyle through its championship golf courses, workspaces, handcrafted cuisine, resort-style pools, tennis facilities, golf lounges, fitness centers, and robust programming.
Invited Clubs properties include Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); The Woodlands Country Club (The Woodlands, Texas); and The Metropolitan.
Media Contacts
Johnathan McGinty
On Behalf of Invited Clubs
johnathan@trestlecollective.com
706.338.2732
