Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) Appoints Longtime Middle Atlantic PGA Member as Coach on the Heels of the Official Launch of Team Maryland, a New Initiative from the United States Golf Association (USGA) to Foster Junior Golf Excellence Throughout Maryland & District of Columbia
Stafford, Va. – The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America (MAPGA) is pleased to announce that Hall of Famer Bob Dolan has been named the inaugural coach of Team Maryland as part of the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP). The appointment comes on the heels of the official launch of Team Maryland, a new initiative through the United States Golf Association to foster junior golf excellence throughout Maryland; and the District of Columbia.
The Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA), which named Dolan Coach of Team Maryland, aims to identify, develop, and support the state’s brightest young golf talent by offering them elite training, coaching, and competitive experiences. The team, which will be named in late 2026, will comprise five boys and five girls. A selection committee will oversee the team selection criteria and the operation of Team Maryland, in accordance with guidelines provided by the USNDP.
According to the MSGA, as the coach of Team Maryland, Dolan will play a pivotal role in mentoring and guiding the state’s top junior golfers, focusing on competition readiness, course strategy, and personal growth. The coach will ensure that the athletes are equipped to compete at the highest levels while fostering a positive, competitive team culture.
A resident of Poolesville, Md., Dolan, 64, retired in 2023 after 28 years of service as the PGA Head Professional at Columbia Country Club, in Chevy Chase, Md. A longstanding MAPGA Member, Dolan served in all the Chapter and Section offices, culminating in his Presidency of the Section in 2002-2003.
A decorated PGA Professional, Dolan was selected as the recipient of the PGA’s National Youth Player Development Award in 2000 and the National Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2011. In fact, he is one of only 68 PGA Professionals to win more than one National Award. In Junior Golf, Dolan was the Chair when the MAPGA started its successful Junior Tour in 1998. On the employment side, Dolan started the first MAPGA Employment Summit, which has been highly successful and branched out to Section chapters.
In 2023, in honor of his lifetime dedication to the game and business golf, while showcasing the ideals of sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and the mission of the MAPGA, Dolan was elected to the Section’s Hall of Fame. He was also selected into the PGA of America Hall of Fame later that same year/
“The Middle Atlantic PGA congratulates PGA of America Member, and MAPGA/PGA Hall of Famer Bob Dolan on his appointment to coach Team Maryland as part of the new U.S. National Development Program,” said Jon Guhl, Executive Director, Middle Atlantic PGA. “Bob is a legend in the game and business of golf throughout the region, and his track record of excellence in representing the Middle Atlantic PGA is unmatched.”
For more information on the U.S. National Development Program visit Team Maryland.
About the Middle Atlantic PGA Section
The Middle Atlantic PGA Section (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Frisco, Texas. The MAPGA has been a part of The PGA since 1925 and consists of over 1,200 members and associates in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. There are over 900,000 golfers playing more than 16.5 million rounds of golf a season in the Middle Atlantic region. As player development remains a driving force in the golf industry, the MAPGA provides a wide variety of programs and assistance to support its members who teach the game, promote goodwill and share the game’s values to their golfing customers and their communities in general. Locally, MAPGA Professionals assist in raising over $6 million annually for charities.
