DALLAS – Blake Jirges, director of player development at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, has been named winner of the 2022 Southern California PGA section Teacher of the Year award. This award is based on a professional’s overall performance in teaching – promotion of golf, use of teaching aids, involvement in junior golf activities, teaching techniques, and articles published are some of the criteria considered.
“Blake has transformed the Player Development Program at Coto de Caza,” said Kevitt Sale, general manager at Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club. “He has been instrumental in engaging members who had not taken lessons in years and has also attracted new members. Overall, he has been a superstar for the club.”
Jirges is an integral part of the player development program at Coto de Caza, including launching the first golf academy at the facility. He specializes in building and leading students through customized, long-term development plans
“Teaching and coaching the game of golf has been a big part of my life ever since I was a teenager. To be able to make a difference in someone’s journey through golf is my passion and keeps me driven every single day,” Jirges said. “Being the SCPGA Teacher and Coach of the Year and being named among Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers is a team award for me, for all the teachers and mentors I have had in my life that have provided direction so I could be the best coach and version of myself. I still have more to learn as I continue to grow and develop into the best PGA Professional I can be.”
Prior to joining Coto de Caza in 2020, Jirges served as second assistant professional at La Rinconada Country Club and director of junior golf at Henry Brunton Golf Academy. Jirges is a Top 100 GRAA Teacher in America, Top 50 US Kids Master Teacher and serves on the Southern California PGA Teaching Committee and Player Development Committee.
Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club is one of over 200 properties operated by Invited, the World Leader in Private Clubs®.
About Invited (formerly ClubCorp)
Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based Invited has operated with the mission of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. The leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs, city, and stadium clubs in North America, Invited is relentless in its pursuit of providing extraordinary experiences, meaningful connections, shared passions, and memorable moments for its more than 400,000 members. The company’s mission is supported by 20,000 peak-season employees and a portfolio of 200 owned or operated golf and country clubs, city clubs, sports clubs, stadium clubs in 29 states, and seven BigShots Golf locations. Invited creates communities and a lifestyle through its championship golf courses, workspaces, handcrafted cuisine, resort-style pools, tennis and pickleball facilities, golf lounges, fitness centers, and pioneering programming.
Marquee Invited properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); The Woodlands Country Club (Houston, Texas); and The Metropolitan Club (Chicago, Illinois).
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Reimer, 904-806-6614, Reimer@CRPRGroup.com
