PLAYER & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Meet the Instructors

   

Eric Koscielak

Eric Koscielak

Southeast Los Angeles

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
Shani Waite

Shani Waite

Southwest Los Angeles

As a junior golfer, Shani grew up in SCGA Junior programming, using her Youth on Course membership and eventually became a SCGA Junior Golf Foundation Scholar.  She went on to play collegiate golf at Texas Prairie View A&M University where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Juvenile Justice. 

CREDENTIALS

  • Level 1 Certified, Titleist Performance Institute
  • Level 1 Certified, US Kids
  • CPR Certified, American Red Cross 

YEARS TEACHING: 3 years

COLLEGE: Texas Prairie View A&M University

ROLE IN COMMUNITY: Coordinator

  • 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
  • Leads the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Chapter in Southwest Los Angeles
PRATIMA SHERPA

PRATIMA SHERPA

San Fernando Valley

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.

    Natalie BRUGLER

    Natalie BRUGLER

    San Fernando Valley

    Natalie most recently worked in the SCGA’s Championships & Golf Operations department as a Championships Associate, where she administered qualifiers, One-Day Series events and supported various SCGA-affiliated championships. 

    Additionally, Natalie has previously worked at the Northern California Golf Association as its USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. intern and Foxtail GC in the pro shop. She is a recent graduate of Sonoma State University, where she competed on the women’s golf team. 

    COLLEGE: College of the Desert, Sonoma State University 

    ROLE IN COMMUNITY: Golf Instructor (San Fernando Valley)

    • Conducts one-on-one lessons
    • Lead coach for programming classes
    • Develops curriculum