At Emerald Isle Golf Course, player development is not a side initiative — it’s a central pillar of our operation. Over the years, we’ve found that meaningful growth in the game happens when facilities make a deliberate commitment to both space and structure.
One of the most impactful decisions we’ve made recently was the addition of a dedicated short game practice area adjacent to our all-grass driving range. This space was designed specifically with instruction in mind. It allows our students to move seamlessly from lesson to application — whether that’s participating in a clinic or completing structured “homework” that reinforces what they’ve just learned.
We’ve always believed that if you’re serious about developing players, you need to protect the environment where that development happens. That’s why we maintain dedicated instructional space and are willing to fully close the range when necessary to support player development programming. These moments send a clear message to our team and our customers: improvement and learning are priorities here!
Equally important is leadership. We are fortunate to have 2023 Southern California PGA Section Player Development Award winner, Heather King, serving as our PGA of America Director of Instruction.
Our role as owners is to support, not control the process. We intentionally stay in the background and empower Heather to lead all aspects of programming, scheduling and the supervision of our associate instructors. This structure creates clarity, consistency and credibility. Students know they are part of a well-organized pathway, and our staff understands that instruction is being led with purpose and expertise.
A well-rounded player development program also extends beyond the practice tee. On-course instruction is an important component of how players truly learn to score, manage their game and build confidence. We intentionally create opportunities for that transition from practice to play, reinforcing that development doesn’t stop on the range.
These efforts also align with our broader commitment at Emerald Isle to growing the game through initiatives like our Emerald Golf Development Pathway (EGDP), which we are excited to launch this spring in partnership with the San Diego Junior Golf Association. Focused on creating inclusive and accessible pathways for players of all ages and abilities, the EGDP provides juniors with opportunities to learn, develop and progress into competitive play within a supportive and structured environment.
A key component of this effort is the creation of the Emerald Golf Development Scholarship Fund, supported by our commitment of a $20,000 annual gift. Scholarship recipients will be selected by the SDJGA, ensuring access to competitive opportunities remains available to a broad and diverse group of junior golfers. Emerald will host a series of free junior golf events to further expand access and introduce new players to the game, and we have also committed to underwriting player fees for Junior World Qualifiers hosted at Emerald Isle and conducted by the SDJGA.
Ultimately, successful player development comes down to three things:
Dedicated space that prioritizes learning
Structured programming that extends beyond the lesson tee
Empowered leadership that drives consistency and results
When those elements align, improvement becomes part of the culture — not just an occasional outcome. Above all, our mission at Emerald Isle is to create an environment where every golfer feels they belong. In fact, our tagline at Emerald is “A Golf Course for Everyone.” In that spirit, we have intentionally designed our programs to meet players wherever they are in their golf journey, whether they are picking up a club for the first time, returning to the game after years away or striving to compete at a higher level.
By creating clear pathways for development, supportive learning environments and opportunities for continued growth, we hope to foster not only better golfers, but a lifelong connection to the game itself.
Holly Kennedy, the 2010 Southern California PGA Section Youth Player Development Award winner, 2015 Section Player Development Award winner and 2025 Section Golf Professional of the Year, is a Quarter Century PGA Member and the PGA Owner/Operator at Emerald Isle Golf Course in Oceanside, California.