Jonah Rouse was introduced to golf in 2015. A family friend, Soroya Waite, whose daughter Shani Waite is a golfer, encouraged Jonah to try golf. She was actually the second person to make the suggestion, Janet Nelson, was the first – both Golf Moms. However, Soroya suggested that he sign up for an 8-week session through the First Tee of Los Angeles where it was cost efficient and he could borrow clubs for the lesson. Jonah enrolled in the Big Linksters (Age 6) at The Lakes at El Segundo. The very first time Jonah swung the club, he hit the ball. Making sure it wasn’t a fluke, the instructor asked him if he could hit it again. Ready to swing the club again, he replied with excitement, “Yes!” And that is what he did.

After a short break from classes, Jonah asked to sign up for golf again and has had various coaches and instructors throughout his short time playing the sport. However, he would tag along with Coach Gary Patterson and his son, Kourey Patterson practically every evening until the lights went out on the course. Sometimes, Coach Rafael and his daughter, Carolina, would join them along with a few more regulars.

Jonah began to take more of an interest in golf and was accepted into the Tiger Woods Learning Lab where he received coaching from the staff there, led by PGA Professional Roman Gonzales and the coaching staff through programs offered by the Tiger Woods Foundation. He then began taking individual lessons with PGA Professional Instructor Carlos Rodriguez with the LA Golf Academy and more group lessons through the First Tee, SCGA Junior, SCPGA Junior and the PGA Junior League.

At the age of 9, Jonah asked his PGA Professional Instructor, Carlos Rodriguez, for his official PGA ball. Carlos informed Jonah that he would give him the ball if he promised to make a hole-in-one with it. Carlos informed Jonah that he made his first hole-in-one at Alondra Park Golf Course, the home course for Jonah’s PGA Junior League team. A few days later, Jonah made his first hole-in-one with Carlos’ PGA ball on the same hole that Carlos aced his first.

After a field trip to the formerly Genesis Open in 2017 with the First Tee of LA, Jonah was hooked. He has volunteered with the Genesis Invitational every year since 2018 and hopes to participate as a player one day.

Jonah has earned several medals for golfing. He currently works with his personal Coach Dave McNally and continues to be a student at the Tiger Woods Learning Lab, SCGA Junior and practices almost daily with Coach Gary, Coach Rafael and a group of golfers that work hard on their golf skills daily. He receives his fitness training from Mike Hansen, named one of the 50 best golf-fitness trainers in America by Golf Digest, at Hansen Fitness for Golf. He is mentored by former collegiate golfer and Asian Tour professional golfer, Sam Kim, and current collegiate golfers, Cameron Henry and Shani Waite.

Besides becoming a PGA Golfer, Jonah’s goals are to play in the First Tee Pure Insurance tournament at Pebble Beach, play in a Celebrity Pro-Am and win trophies. His immediate goal is to lower his score to a consistent under Par.

Jonah states that there is not just one person who has helped him with golf over the years, but several. He would like to thank all the coaches and mentors that continue to play an instrumental role in his development as a golfer: