Jonah Dohrer is a golf academy specialist at Sanford Sports Academy. He started in 2026.
Dohrer has been playing golf since 8th grade, starting with the Aberdeen Central varsity team. He continued playing at South Dakota State University where he graduated with a degree in economic business and spent a year as a member of the All-Summit League team.
After graduating, he joined Moccasin Creek Country Club as an assistant golf professional and played on the Dakotas Tour part-time. He served as a coach for the PGA Jr. League teams and ran the First Tee Program. Dohrer also spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Aberdeen Central boys golf team. He is a level 2 PGA Associate.
Dohrer believes the best way to help athletes develop is to help them fully understand their own mechanics, tendencies and mistakes. Together, they can maximize performance through course management strategy, or as Dohrer likes to say, “conservative targets, aggressive swings.” Finally, he emphasizes improving their short game and explaining how many shots can be saved or lost around the greens. “Drive for show, putt for dough,” is another one of his mottos.
Sanford Sports Academy already feels like home for Dohrer as he works alongside his former college teammate, fellow academy specialist Jacob Otta. Dohrer is excited about the opportunity to work every day in an environment full of athletes and coaches who are self-driven to improve.
