Golf Professionals at Tamarack

  


Michael Ballo Jr. 
PGA Head Golf Professional

    A Class-A member of the PGA of America, Ballo, Jr. comes to Tamarack with a highly respected reputation as both a champion golfer and an experienced club professional. He most recently spent four years as an assistant golf professional at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. Prior to that, Ballo Jr. began his club professional career on the assistant staff at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. He has also garnered numerous Met PGA titles, including the Met PGA Assistants Championship, the Silvercrest Cup, the New York State Open, and the Westchester Open. Ballo Jr. is currently the Met PGA Assistants Association president and serves on the Met PGA Tournament and Education Committees. Ballo Jr. played collegiate golf at St. John’s University, earning All-Big East honors, and was named to the PING All-Northeast Region Team. He also won two MGA Ike Championships and was twice named Westchester Amateur Player of the Year. Following college, he played seven years as a touring professional on the Canadian tour and Web.com Tour before transitioning into the club professional ranks.
     

Doris Zhao
Assistant Golf Professional

 		   Doris Zhao returns this season as Assistant Professional to lead merchandising and the Ladies’ golf program. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management at Xiamen University in Fujian, China, Doris pursued her passion for golf by earning a second Bachelor’s degree in PGA Golf Management from the University of Nebraska. She brings extensive tournament experience having previously worked on the PGA China Tour and at Quaker Ridge Golf Club during the 2018 Curtis Cup. Doris joined Tamarack from Liberty National Golf Club where she assisted in their Ladies golf program and merchandising and helped the club host the 2019 Northern Trust.  Doris is passionate about youth golf as well as advancing participation by and representation of women in the game and profession of golf.     
     

Matt Pogoreski
Assistant Golf Professional


  

Matt Pogoreski “Pogo” returns for his second season as one of our Lead Assistant Golf Professionals at Tamarack. Matt, originally from Hudson, Michigan, was introduced to golf through “Hook a Kid on Golf” when he was 8 years old. It’s safe to say, he’s been “hooked” ever since. Matt went to the Ferris State University where he acquired a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and Minor in sales. While at FSU, Matt spent three season working at Round Hill Club in Greenwich. After graduation, Matt worked at Shoal Creek Golf Club, Round Hill Club, and Delray Dunes Golf and Country Club. Matt brings extensive junior golf expertise to Tamarack, as he has spent time building some of the country’s finest programs. He credits this to the creative and outgoing mentors he’s had the privilege of working with throughout the years. Outside of golf, one of Matt’s passions is staying active, both mentally and physically, through extensive training. Matt is set to compete in his first ultra-marathon later this year. 
     
  

Alex Ruxer
Assistant Golf Professional

   Alex Ruxer was born and raised with two older brothers, and a younger sister in New Haven, Connecticut. Alex is a recent graduate of Campbell Universities’ Professional Golf Management program. In his time in the PGM program, Alex has worked most recently at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, and had served his 7 month internship at Tamarack in 2019. Alex has also been through several educational programs for golf equipment and club fittings. He has certifications from KBS, True Temper and Fujikura.  

     


Ken Kobayashi
Assistant Golf Professional

   Ken Kobayashi started playing golf at age 11 and has had a strong passion for the game ever since. He started working in the golf industry as an assistant golf professional at The King Kamehameha Golf Club back in 2014 in Maui, Hawaii. During his four years in the Aloha section, he taught individual lessons, conducted group clinics and ran junior events in conjunction with assisting in running the general golf operation. He moved back to CT in 2017 and worked as the first assistant golf professional at Brennan Golf Course in Stamford for two seasons. Ken started working at Tamarack in summer of 2020 as a PGA associate/outside guest service attendant and is working towards becoming a PGA Class A member by the end of the year.  Being an avid drummer, his hobby is to play out with his band ‘Sushi Funk’ on the weekends when his schedule allows him to.  



Born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland. Ted began playing competitive golf at age 13 and spent 4 years on the Varsity Golf Team.  Ted attended Campbell University in North Carolina and was enrolled in the PGM (Professional Golf Management) program. He received two degrees, a Bachelors in Business Administration and a MBA, he also earned his PGA membership.  In the summer of 2002, Ted interned at Sleepy Hollow Country Club and Southern Hills Country Club in 2003.  The last 6 years have been spent at Tamarack Country Club in the capacity of PGA Assistant Golf Professional.  He placed T16 in the 2015 CT Open and reached a playoff in the 2015 US Open local qualifier at Elmwood Country Club.