Golf pro returns home to Mission Valley greens
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RONAN - The new PGA golf professional and General Manager for the Mission Mountain Golf Course in Ronan has found his way back to a “familiar area.”
Joey Esh graduated from Polson High School in 1988 and since then has been building a career in golf. Esh has been the Head Golf Pro in
Lewiston, Idaho for the last 13 years; however, he has never lost the desire to return to his roots.
“My wife and I have been trying to get back here for six or eight years now,” Esh said. “We know the area and are happy to have this opportunity to finally get back to where we are from.”
Esh has a list of achievements that has helped build his golf resume. For example, he won the Northwest PGA Junior leader award twice, which goes to the golf pro that does the most to promote junior golf. He received Golf Professional of the Year in Western Montana and was also elected to the golf board in Western Montana and Spokane area by his peers. Esh holds a job with Under Armour as a Regional Territory Sales Manager, which he will continue doing while working at the Mission Mountain Golf Course.
“I have been a golf pro for 23 years and really the main reason they hired me here is because they are a big believer in brand,” Esh said, referring to marketing. “They think bringing my brand to the area will help the course succeed.”
Esh is looking forward to developing younger golfers by creating a golf-in-schools program in Ronan and Pablo that would be implemented into the physical education curriculum. By developing players and becoming involved with the community, Esh hopes to “generate more traffic” for the golf course.
“People now a days are not just going to come and play your golf course,” Esh said. “You have to give them reasons to come play, so we are going to be doing more couple nights, family fun nights to get the whole family out here, and beginner’s clinicals.”
Esh has already made the move from Idaho, but his wife and two daughters will be joining him at the beginning of June. Esh feels that this is the place to be for him and his family.
“As a head golf pro, your job is only as good as the people you work for, and I have a good feeling that this will be the best job I have ever had because of the people around here and the atmosphere,” Esh said.
The Mission Mountain Golf Course is open for the season and Esh is “excited to meet the people that enjoy our golf course.”
