PGA Golf Professional Jeff Rupert has joined the staff at I 85 Golf Shop & Range as a full time Teaching Professional.  Mr. Rupert began as an assistant golf professional, in 1979, at the private membership Clinton Country Club in Lock Haven, PA after a stint playing on the Northeast Autumn Golf Tour and the Space Coast mini-tour.  He then moved into the position as General Manager/Head Golf Professional at the same club and served for two years.

During that time he also served as the Head Golf Coach at Lock Haven University when during one of his years he guided the Bald Eagles to their best dual meet season ever with a 12–1 record.

He then moved on to nearby Belles Springs Golf Course, in Mackeyville, PA a daily fee public course to serve as the Head Golf Professional. During that time he was elected to full membership in the PGA, after completing the required education and training, as well as employment requirements.  

Rupert then moved on to the bright lights of New York City where he joined the staff of instructors at the Richard Metz Golf Studio in Manhattan.  During his time there he served as a golf instructor and was involved  in the teaching for the “Caddyshack” movies.  He also was instructor for many celebrity clients such as Maury Povich, Bryant Gumble, Jerry Ohrbach and several members of the  New York Mets, New York Yankees, New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

There he developed a reputation as being one of the best instructors of the game.  He then moved on to the position of General Manager/Head Golf Professional at the Port Jervis Country Club in Port Jervis, N.Y.  Port Jervis Country Club was an original design of one of the outstanding architects in golf, A.W. Tillinghast.  The architect responsible for such noted courses like Baltusrol, Winged Foot and Beth Page Black.

After a six year stint at Port Jervis, Rupert took a position at the Tyoga Country Club in Wellsboro, PA.  He served as the Head Golf Professional for six years and also served as the Head Golf Coach at Wellsboro High School as well as Head Wrestling Coach.  He then moved on to the position of Head Golf Professional for Dick’s Sporting Goods in Horseheads, NY.  After a nine year stint there he joined fellow PGA Professional Chris Ames at the Indian Hills Golf Club in Painted Post, NY.  The two were responsible for resurrecting the facility into a vibrant operation after years of neglect. After 13 years he ventured south to Greensboro, NC where he became the Teaching Professional at the upscale Grandover Resort.

He has been nominated 6 times for PGA Teacher of the Year and has been a member of the President’s Council for Growth of the Game since 2007 as well as being involved with the PGA Reach program.  Mr. Rupert was recognized in 2010 for the distinction as a Quarter Century Member in the PGA bestowed upon him for his 25 years of service.

Mr. Rupert’s teaching has reached everyone from junior golfers, beginners and highly skilled golfers including PGA tour players.

His playing career began in college at Lock Haven University as a four year captain and he established virtually every playing record that still stand.   

His professional career started with time on the Northeast Autumn Golf Tour in Cape Cod, Mass. and the Space Coast mini-tour in Florida. In 1983 he qualified for the Ben Hogan Tour which later became the Nike Tour. He also qualified for the U. S. Open played at Oakmont CC in 1983.  He has since experienced success in events in the Philadelphia, Metropolitan, Central New York and Western New York PGA Sections.

He attended Lock Haven University from 1975-1979 majoring in Psychology.