Troon Cares

SUPPORTING THOSE WHO SERVE

Monarch Beach General Manager Eric Lohman Honors by Giving Back

By David Weiss

Eric Lohman wears so many hats, he might well open a haberdashery — but he simply doesn’t have the time! He currently serves as president of the Southern California PGA, is general manager at Monarch Beach Golf Links, and founding board member of the SoCal chapter of Folds of Honor, a charity well-known for its support of veterans and their families. The organization has funded more than 20,000 scholarships for military families since its founding in 2007.

Lohman started playing golf at the age of eight in Victorville (Calif.) and has been in the golf industry since he was 15, starting out as a range attendant and tirelessly working banquets at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. A proud member of a military family, he has always made charitable efforts for that community a priority throughout his storied career.

“I grew up in a Navy household — my dad was a captain who inspired me to value those who protect our rights and keep us safe,” Lohman said in a recent sit-down. “Since then, I’ve done my best to support those in uniform — and I have always urged my staff and membership to do the same.”

Over the years, Lohman has used Monarch Beach as a launching pad for such charitable efforts, raising millions of dollars for first responders and military families. “For the past 10 years, we have hosted an event in the fall that directly benefits Folds of Honor,” he said. “And all that money goes to help educate the children of those who have been injured in training, combat, or while on duty. It is deeply satisfying and an important part of my work.”

Lohman also pays it forward in his duties as SCPGA president, spearheading what he calls an “amazing junior golf program with around 5,000 annual participants. We support high schools who wish to have a golf program but lack the proper funding — providing free clubs and balls and hosting complimentary clinics in areas where golf is not as accessible. In addition, I serve on committees that prioritize diversity and inclusion as well as mentorship and special events. It is a wonderful experience that I’ll cherish forever.”

As if all those efforts weren’t exhausting enough, this year Monarch Beach created and hosted the 1^st annual PGA Hope SCPGA Foundation tournament and will repeat the event in 2025. PGA Hope is a charity designed to fund free golf clinics for active and retired military. Lohman has started hosting such clinics at Monarch on a regular basis and will continue the program through the fall and winter.

“Giving back is a right and privilege,” he said of his efforts, “granted to us by those who have put their lives at risk without hesitation. Freedom isn’t free and we are just doing our part to protect it.”