PLAYER & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Meet the Instructors

   

Lauren Fesler

Lauren Fesler

San Fernando Valley

Lauren Fesler first started playing golf at 12 years old as an SCGA Junior program participant. She grew up playing at LA City golf courses and spent most of her time at Hansen Dam GC. She was an SCGA Junior Golf Foundation Scholar and played on the golf team at Cal Lutheran University. Lauren now serves as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams. Lauren is passionate about developing junior golfers on and beyond the course. Her philosophy is that everyone swings their own swing based on physical mobility. She finds it most important that her students understand the “why” behind swing mechanics.  

CREDENTIALS

  • LPGA Apprentice, LPGA TEP (Level 2 LGPA TEP in-progress)
  • Body-Swing Connection Level 1, Junior Level 2, Junior Level 3 and Golf Level 2 Certified, Titleist Performance Institute
  •  US Kids Certified Coach, US Kids Golf
  • Site Director, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf
  • Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED, American Red Cross
  • Assistant Golf Coach, Cal Lutheran University

    YEARS TEACHING: 4 years  

    AWARDS & NOMINATIONS 

    • 4x Scholar-Athlete Society, Cal Lutheran University  
    • 2x WGCA All-American Scholar  
    • Nominee SCIAC Student-Athlete of the Year  
    • 2x Nominee Sandy La Bauve Spirit Award, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf  
    • SCGA Junior Golf Foundation Scholar Alumni 

    COLLEGE: Cal Lutheran University

    ROLE IN COMMUNITY: Assistant Director

    • Oversees curriculum development, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programming, educational outings, conducts one-on-one lessons, emphasis on building intermediate/advanced players in community
    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
    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
        Hannah Ko

        Hannah Ko

        Orange County & Riverside

        Hannah graduated from Long Beach State in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Affairs and Marketing. She also obtained her Master’s Degree in Sport Management in Winter 2023. She played on the Long Beach State women’s golf team for 5 years. Hannah thrives to achieve all her goals and find success when she is on and off the golf course. She is passionate about developing junior golfers with the swing mechanics and the mental game as well. She is determined to become a mentor to these juniors and watch them succeed in their careers.

         Credentials

        Junior Level 1, Titleist Performance Institute

        CPR Certified, American Red Cross

         Years Teaching: 2 years

         College: Long Beach State University

         Awards & Nominations: 

        2x Golfer of the Month

        2019 Honorable Mention All-Big West

        2021 Second Team All-Big West

        2023 First Team All-Big West

        4x Academic All-Big West Selection

         Role In Community: Golf Instructor

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

         

          kendel abrams

          kendel abrams

          Southeast & Southwest Los Angeles

           A graduate of Howard University and member of its women’s golf team, Kendel brings a bevy of industry experience to this role. She worked as an assistant at CitySwing in Washington DC, where Kendel instructed guests on the rules and techniques of golf. She’s also gained relevant experience during a marketing internship with Callaway Golf and while volunteering with The First Tee in Baltimore, Md.  

            COLLEGE: Howard University 

            ROLE IN COMMUNITY: Golf Instructor (Southeast & Southwest Los Angeles)

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