'Wandering Golfer' lands at Monroe country club

MONROE - Golf enthusiasts may recognize Gia Bocra, the new instructor at Forsgate Country Club.

After all, she's spent the past year crisscrossing the globe, accompanied by television cameras all along the way, and has been featured in numerous golf magazines and programs over the years.

After a yearlong stint as the first female host of the Fine Living Network's golf travel show "The Wandering Golfer," Bocra has returned to her hometown of Monroe to provide lessons to Forsgate members and institute new instructional programs at the club, which was recently named "Course of the Year" by the New Jersey Golf Course Owners Association.

"It feels terrific to be back at Forsgate," Bocra said. "There are so many faces and it's the same warm and welcoming place that I remember so fondly."

Bocra, 31, worked at the club during the summers while earning a degree in journalism at Rutgers University, where she served as the captain of the university's women's golf team.

Prior to her stint as "The Wandering Golfer," Bocra served as the LPGA teaching professional at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, where she began the instructional women's and juniors' programs. In the past, she served as a golf instructor at the Academy of Golf at Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, where she worked alongside renowned director of instruction Mike Adams, one of America's 50 greatest teachers, as named by Golf Digest magazine.

Bocra has also worked with nationally ranked golf instructor Todd Anderson at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., and her mentor, Krista Dunton, the 2002 LPGA Teacher of the Year, who previously taught at Forsgate.

"Golf can be a frustrating sport for many, so the most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is when a student walks away with a positive, more confident understanding of the game," Bocra said.

As teaching professional at Forsgate, Bocra, who has been featured in magazines including Golf for Women, Links, and Golf Week, will offer new programs for members including ladies day clinics, one-day golf schools and junior summer camps.

"Gia is an excellent instructor with a great attitude and personality, and will be an excellent addition to help build the junior and women's programs at Forsgate," said Jim Woods, Forsgate's director of golf. "Keeping families involved in the game for years to come is one of my many objectives, and Gia seems to be the perfect fit to accomplish those goals."

Bocra will also assist Woods with the development of a golf academy.

She now resides in Princeton with her boyfriend, who is currently training with the U.S. National Rowing Team with hopes of making this year's Olympic squad.