For the first time in more than 30 years, Rockport Golf Club has a PGA member serving as assistant golf professional.
Jamie Ethier steps into the role with more than two decades of experience—and a background that feels right at home here.
He learned the game on a nine-hole course in a small Massachusetts town where, as he put it, “everybody knows everybody.” It’s a setting that, in many ways, echoes Rockport: tight-knit, familiar, and a course that demands more than it first reveals.
He was 8 years old when he started playing, learning alongside his father on a course with small, unforgiving greens. Early on, he developed an appreciation for precision—something that carries through in how he sees the game today.
“This golf course has got teeth,” he said of Rockport. “You’ve got to hit a lot of good shots. If you’re hitting greens out here, you’re playing well.”
From Instructor to Coach
Ethier arrives at Rockport with more than two decades of experience, including two seasons as Assistant Golf Professional at Haverhill Country Club in 2024 and 2025, following a long tenure in instruction. Asked about teaching, and he’ll quickly reframe it.
“I used to think you give a lesson, and then you wait to hear back,” he said. “Now I think of it as coaching.”
For Ethier, that means staying engaged—on and off the course. He encourages players to follow up, send videos, ask questions. Improvement, he believes, is a shared responsibility.
“If you don’t improve, that’s on me,” he said. “Accountability goes both ways.”
His goal isn’t just to fix a swing in the moment—it’s to help players understand their own game well enough to fix it themselves.
“The toughest thing in golf is being able to self-diagnose,” he said. “But you can do it.”
Keeping It Simple
One of the most common misconceptions he sees? Distance.
“People think they hit it 280, 300,” he said, smiling. “Do you really know how far that is?”
Instead, he emphasizes consistency, control, and knowing your true yardages—especially on a course like Rockport, where precision matters.
“I’ll take 200 down the middle all day,” he said.
Building Community
For Ethier, a great golf experience starts with the people.
“The environment is the membership,” he said. “This is where you build friendships—and where those friendships turn into memories.”
At a club like Rockport—where a years-long waitlist reflects how much members value their time on the course—that sense of community matters. He plans to build on that with new programming, including beginner and intermediate clinics—particularly for women—as well as a PGA Junior League designed to bring younger players into the game.
“Juniors are the next golfer,” he said. “If we get a junior into golf, we get an adult golfer. And then we have a member.”
The Junior League, he hopes, will feel less like instruction and more like experience: team jerseys, friendly competition, and long summer evenings on the course. He’s also thoughtful about making the game more accessible—particularly for those who may feel intimidated starting out.
“Everybody was a beginner once,” he said. “I’ll go out there with you. We’ll get past that first step together.”
A Job Built on Stories
Asked what he enjoys most about being an assistant pro, his answer is immediate.
“The stories,” he said. “Everybody’s got one.”
He’s already begun diving into Rockport’s history, paging through club records and learning about figures like Marge Curtis, a 25-time club champion.
“Twenty-five times,” he said. “That’s incredible.”
Looking Ahead
Ethier is quick to credit Pro Steve Clayton for the foundation already in place.
“My first goal is to take a little off his plate,” he said. “He’s done an unbelievable job.”
From there, he sees opportunities to build—expanding instruction, refining tournaments, and continuing to elevate the member experience. And, perhaps most importantly, making himself available.
“My door is always open,” he said. “Come into the shop. Ask a question. Let’s talk.”
Off the course, it’s been a memorable year for Ethier—he got engaged to his fiancée, Tina, in February.
Because for Ethier, the role is about more than running operations or giving lessons. It’s about connection—to the game, to the club, and to the people who make it what it is.
“I feel blessed to be part of this,” he said. “To be part of Rockport.”