November 9, 2015–Lehi, Utah
Mark Whetzel has been hired as the coach of the men’s and women’s golf teams at Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah. The school will open in August 2016.
Coach Whetzel is the CEO and Founder of Vanguard Golf Management Group, and was elected to PGA Membership in 1999. He joins the Skyridge athletic team with nearly 25 years of management experience in the golf business, including director of golf course operations, head professional, tournament director, and director of instruction. Vanguard Golf Management and their partners manage and own the Ranches Golf Course in Eagle Mountain, Coral Canyon Golf Course in Washington, and Falcon Ridge Golf Course in Mesquite, Nevada. In addition to these properties, Vanguard holds golf course management, lease, and operational agreements with Sky Mountain Golf Course in Hurricane, Utah, and with Thanksgiving Point Golf Club located in Lehi, Utah.
Whetzel started his coaching career teaching golf classes at the University of Utah. During his tenure at the University of Utah, he taught hundreds of classes while completing most of his internship studies to become a PGA Member. Following his time at the University of Utah, he helped open the golf course at Thanksgiving Point as the Tournament Director in 1997. He has coached and mentored many notable students, several of whom are currently playing collegiately and professionally. Some of his most famous students as juniors are current PGA Tour sensation Tony Finau and his brother Gipper Finau. He helped start the Tony Finau Foundation and remains active with the foundation today.
Whetzel has a passion for business and sports. He says, “In golf and coaching any sport, I’ve always had the philosophy of patience, enthusiasm, and support. Persistence and determination alone are the keys to success. As I say to my students and to my children, to be the best you have to work the hardest. Working hard and pressing on will always be the key to success in anything you do in business, sports, or life.”
Skyridge Principal Joel Perkins is looking forward to working with Coach Whetzel. He says, “Mark is an established PGA professional and has been very supportive of high school golf for many years. His knowledge and talents as a coach will be a welcome addition to our athletic department and he will provide our student athletes with extremely positive experiences. He is passionate about coaching our students and instilling in them a love for the game of golf.”
Athletic Director Mark Clinton says, “We are excited to have Mark as part of our team. He is extremely experienced, understands player development and strategy of the game, and has the ability to use those things to make our golf teams competitive.”
Coach Whetzel is the current Tournament Director of the PGA Tour Web.com Utah Championship, Utah’s only PGA Tour event, and was influential in helping the PGA Tour move the tournament to Thanksgiving Point. He and his wife Kristen have four children and have lived in Lehi for the past 12 years. His youngest two children will attend Skyridge High School.