Stephanie Malone has been involved in the region’s golf community since she was 10 years old. Joining her two older brothers in competing in Washington Junior Golf Association tournaments during the summers, Malone would win two titles in the 11-and-under division, one in the 12-14 division, and another in the 15-17 division.
She competed on the boys’ golf team at Bainbridge High School (there was no girls’ team at the time), and at age 17 won the PNGA Junior Girls’ Amateur and the individual honors at the Girls’ Junior Americas Cup in Mexico City.
Malone also won the 1988 PNGA Women’s Amateur, and finished runner-up in the 1990 championship. She attended Stanford on a golf scholarship. In the 1990 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Malone made it to the championship’s final match, finishing runner-up to future LPGA Tour star Pat Hurst on the 37th hole.
She then went to work at Hayden Lake Country Club in Idaho, and with the support of Hayden Lake’s PGA head professional Dan Hill, Malone entered the PGA apprentice program, earning her Class A certification in 1997.
She began as an assistant pro at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., and when Hill went to Broadmoor to become their PGA head professional in 1999, he convinced Malone to join his staff at Broadmoor in 2000. She’s been there ever since.
“Golf really shaped my childhood, and my life,” she says. “It has meant so much to me and my family. After my run in the 1990 U.S. Women’s Amateur, I really got interested in somehow being in the golf industry, to give something back to it.”
Malone estimates she gives 20 lessons each week during the golf season, in her role as PGA assistant pro at Broadmoor, and is also available to give lessons to non-members. The club recently opened a gleaming new covered Performance Lab on the driving range, which will enable lessons during the winter months as well.
For the preparation and implementation of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, held at Broadmoor Golf Club in late September, Malone stepped up to fulfill the role of player advocacy for the national championship.
“For these senior women players, this is the pinnacle of amateur golf,” Malone says. “I played junior golf with Ned Sander, who is the current president of Broadmoor, and now here we are. It’s amazing what golf can do in your life.”
For her role in preparing for the championship, Malone says she was the third leg of the stool, to assist championship Co-Chairs Dan Hill and Marylou Brannan. “It was very natural for me to know what to expect from a players’ perspective, what the USGA expects from us in providing services and being available to address any needs the competitors may need, as they prepared for the championship.”
Seems like there’s nobody better to have on your side.
Stephanie can be reached at golfsteph@aol.com.
