U.S. Kids Golf Foundation recently announced that Zach Martin has joined Longleaf Golf & Family Club as the Head Golf Professional, effective Jan. 18, 2022. The announcement was made by Chris Vonderkall, Vice President for the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation.
Martin will be responsible for the day-to-day golf operations and will oversee all member and guest events. In addition, he will be active with the U.S. Kids Golf Academy as an instructor for junior golfers, members and club guests.
“We are pleased to welcome Zach to the Longleaf Golf & Family Club team,” said Vonderkall. “Zach has a long history with U.S. Kids Golf since playing in our World Championship in 2003, and his knowledge and passion for the game are great assets for our club. He will have an integral role is growing our membership and interacting with our club members and guests.”
Martin is a North Carolina native from Wilson and relocated with his family to the Pinehurst area in 2009. He and his brother Josh had illustrious junior golf careers, with both finishing at the top tier of a multitude of junior competitions. His local coaches and golf mentors included Eric Alpenfels and Kelly Mitchum of the Pinehurst Golf Academy, and Gus Ulrich and Hugh Matthis from Forest Creek Golf Club. He graduated from Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, where he played on the golf team that won the 2013 North Carolina High School State Championship in his senior year. He was the recipient of the U.S. Kids Golf Scholarship as a Pinecrest senior.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned ACC Honor Roll honors for the four years that he played on the golf team. He was the champion of the 2015 Oglethorpe Invitational, in Savannah, Georgia’s premier amateur championship. Zach graduated from UNC in 2017 with a degree in Economics.
Prior to accepting the Longleaf position, Martin was an Assistant Golf Professional at Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst, where he achieved his Class A PGA Of America classification in 2021.
“It is an honor to be part of the Longleaf Golf & Family Club and to be named Head Golf Professional for the facility,” said Martin. “I grew up playing in U.S. Kids Golf Championships, so I feel like I have been part of family for several years. I look forward to working with the club leadership and staff to enhance the club operations, both for the membership and all guests who play there.”
Longleaf’s General Manager, Stephen Cryan, who led the search for the Head Professional position was pleased that Zach accepted the opportunity to be part of the “Living Laboratory for Golf” at Longleaf.
“Zach has a unique background in golf, both as a player and as a golf professional, which makes him the perfect choice for Longleaf’s new Head Professional. His dedication to growing the game and high energy are a perfect combination for the future of our club,” stated Cryan. “We look forward to welcoming him home.”
Courtesy photo of Zach Martin /Contributed.
