“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER – ERIC SLOSEK

By Eric Slosek

My teaching career started as a volunteer graduate assistant at Castleton University in Vermont in 2012, following a four-year collegiate career which included three individual medalist wins and still among the top 10 in scoring average. I was also was a runner-up in my first-ever professional event at the 2023 United States Golf Teachers Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I began my teaching career by taking a more unusual path in public school physical education, which included stops in Fair Haven, Vermont, and Baltimore City, Maryland, for over 12 years. After ending my public school teaching career in 2021, I am now the owner of TGA of Howard County, a franchise in Howard County, Maryland, that provides golf and tennis lessons, classes, summer camps after-school clinics, as well as a junior golf academy at Willow Springs Golf Course. During that first year in business, I became a fully-certified golf instructor with the USGTF in January 2023.

I have been on the golf staff at Willow Spring since the fall of 2022 and now serve as the head golf professional and junior golf development coordinator. One of the highlights of my young career is mentoring and teaching recently-graduated high school student Luke Curlett. Luke was my amateur partner in the 2023 U.S. Cup pro-am division, where we finished third overall. Luke has now also completed his associate teacher certification and works as an assistant to myself, as he works to complete getting fully certified.

My philosophy is to teach the game with a unique style that focuses on connecting with the golfer, just as much as the golfer is connecting with the golf ball, by simplifying the approach, starting the game from the green back to the tee box. I focus heavily on proper grip, stance, and posture. I employ using connections/comparisons from their everyday lives to help them to understand their movements and responsibilities as a golfer, and it only enhances their excitement and joy to play and learn the game.

Over the course of two years, I have provided lessons to over 300 different students and adults aging from 3 years old to 90 years old. TGA has serviced over 20 summer camps, a golf academy that has served over 200 golfers and families, and nearly 500 lessons and afterschool programs to the local community, with the goal and mission to grow the game by teaching student independence in their own training and practice routines. I love the game of golf and want every student to love playing, no matter the level of golfer they are or want to be.