R.J. Ugolik

R.J. Ugolik joins us as a teaching professional with almost a decade of experience, and is a self-proclaimed “lifetime student of the game.” He is working on getting his PGA Certification. Currently a Level 1 PGA Apprentice, he’s spent the last two seasons as the Assistant Professional at Laurel View Country Club in Hamden, CT. 

Before ending up at Laurel View, his main focus was helping children get acquainted with the game. A stand-out golfer at Hamden High School and Trinity College, he spent his college summers running a junior golf camp in Old Saybrook, CT under CTPGA Hall of Famer Lindsey Hansen. 

Upon graduation from Trinity, he got a job at New Haven Country Club where he helped jumpstart the Junior PGA program. Additionally, R.J. gained Level 1 Instructor status with The First Tee, where they introduced the game and its inherent values to kids and teens through seasonal clinics and after school programs. He spent three years between CT and CA, teaching with TFT Connecticut at TPC River Highlands and with TFT Greater Pasadena at The Rose Bowl. 

He has experience in teaching the game to players of all ages and abilities, running clinics for both children and adults, and coaching golf course strategy. Whether it be working one-on-one with a low handicapper to shave those last couple strokes off their game, taking a beginner under his wing and building a swing from scratch, or working with the weekend warrior who wants to gain insight to why every other drive has a banana slice, no task is too small or large.