PLAYER & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Eric is passionate about growing the game of golf through junior golf development. He started working in the golf industry in 2003 and began coaching in 2009. Over the years, Eric has had many PGA teaching professionals as mentors. These mentors have not only grown his golf knowledge but have also shown him the life skills that can be learned from playing the game. Eric has been teaching golf for 15 years and has given over 14,000 hours of instruction to adults and juniors. 

CREDENTIALS

• PGA Associate
• Junior Level 3 Certified, Titleist Performance Institute
• American Development Model Certified, PGA of America
• CPR Certified, American Red Cross 

YEARS TEACHING: 14 years

COLLEGE: Cal State Fullerton 

ROLE IN COMMUNITY: Senior Golf Instructor (Southeast Los Angeles)

• Develops curriculum and leads programming for levels 1-3, levels 4+ and the Advanced Player Program 
• Conducts one-on-one lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced juniors
• Creates competitive leagues for intermediate and advanced players
• Lead coach for PGA Jr League teams, travel teams and in-house teams
• Played an integral role in the relaunch of SCGA Junior programming at Don Knabe GC in 2017

Pratima Sherpa was born and raised in Nepal. Her first golf club was a tree branch fashioned into the shape of a club. She fell in love with the game, and it changed her life. She got the opportunity to pursue her bachelor’s degree while playing collegiate golf. She has a decade of experience playing competitive golf around the world, instructing, and mentoring junior players in a variety of programs. She has always followed two mottos in her life: “Hard work always pays off” and “Nothing is impossible”.

CREDENTIALS
• Body-Swing Connection Level 1, Titleist Performance Institute
• Site Director, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf
• CPR Certified, American Red Cross

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
• Subject of ESPN’s Sports Emmy-winning documentary “A Mountain to Climb” which documents her life in Nepal and showcases her passion for becoming Nepal’s first female professional golfer.
• Recognized as a member of Forbes 30 under 30- Asia- Entertainment and Sports 2020.
• Featured in Malala Fund’s “2020 Game Changers Series”
• Received “The President ‘s Volunteer Service Award” 2022.
• Named Women’s College Golfer of the 2020 SBCC
• Received Billie Jean King Sports Endowment Scholarship
• Awarded 2021-22 California Collegiate Athletic Association Academic honors.
• Awarded 2021-22 CCCA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
• Awarded 2022-2023 Academic All-District Honors
• Awarded 2022-2023 All-American Scholars
• First Nepali to be invited to play on the LPGA Symetra Tour
• Active member and scholarship recipient of Women’s Sports Foundation
• Received “The President Volunteer Service Award” 2022

COLLEGE: California State University Los Angeles

ROLE IN COMMUNITY: Program Coordinator
• Develops curriculum, oversees community development, conducts one-on-one lessons, leads classes as well as helps overall growth and development of youth coaches.