08/17/2026
💛⛳ MEET OUR FOUNDING PRESIDENT — JAN WATTS ⛳💙
How does a girl who grew up in Michigan surrounded by cows and cornfields, riding motorcycles and horses, end up as the Founding President of an LPGA Amateurs Chapter?
Apparently, by spending several decades taking the scenic route. 😂
Jan Watts grew up in Michigan, where riding horses helped begin her lifelong love of four-legged creatures. In the 1980s, she moved to Florida and, for a brief time, worked at a country club collecting membership payments.
There was just one problem.
Jan couldn't understand why these people were paying so much money to chase a little white ball around a field. 😂
Oh, Jan. If only you knew.
About eight years later, she returned to Michigan, earned her bachelor’s degree in Business, and became a single mom to what she will proudly tell you is “the most wonderful son ever.” ❤️
In 2015, life brought Jan to Georgia to help care for her critically ill mother—and Georgia eventually became home.
Today, Jan is the Assistant Manager at the Front Desk of Valhalla Resort, a job she loves, and golf has become such a huge part of her life that she somehow ended up founding the LPGA Amateurs Northeast Georgia Chapter.
So how did the woman who once questioned the sanity of golfers become one herself?
Golf was actually in the family. Jan's grandparents were avid golfers, her father was a weekend golfer and years later, when she was looking for exercise and a good outlet for stress, she decided to give golf a try.
“Who knew golf was NOT stress relief?” 😂
⛳ HER FAVORITE COURSES
Valhalla is, of course, Jan's first love.
“The sheer beauty of the course is breathtaking—and most of my friends play there!”
She also loves Bear’s Best in Buford because of its holes inspired by famous courses from around the world.
“It’s educational and fun at the same time!”
😂 MOST MEMORABLE OR FUNNIEST GOLF MOMENT?
“Nothing I can repeat in mixed company.”
We decided it was best not to ask follow-up questions.
🏌️♀️ HER GO-TO CLUB?
“I love my driver. But if we're ever in a situation where I HAVE to make the shot… we're all gonna die.”
Good to know. 😂
❤️ ROOTS & WINGS
When asked who has influenced her golf journey the most, Jan's answer became a little more serious.
She loves the saying about giving someone roots and wings.
Jason Cochran, PGA Professional, was Jan's first golf coach. He taught her the mechanics of the golf swing and, as Jan puts it, gave her the roots.
Mike McCall, PGA Professional, gave her the wings, helping her see golf as fun, relatable and something that works in the real world.
She credits both with helping shape the golfer she is today. ❤️
Although, to be fair to Jason and Mike, neither one of them would probably want to take credit for the crappy golf game she produces today. 😂⛳
Some things even excellent coaching can't fix.
💙💛 SO WHY START AN LPGA AMATEURS CHAPTER IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA?
According to Jan:
“Totally selfish reasons!” 😂
She wanted to play golf closer to home.
And while she loves playing with her guy friends, she also wanted more opportunities to golf with women.
As she talked with other women throughout the area, she kept hearing the same thing: they wanted to play too, but traveling long distances to participate made the time commitment difficult.
That's when Jan realized this wasn't just something she wanted.
Northeast Georgia genuinely needed a chapter of its own.
And the LPGA Amateurs Northeast Georgia Chapter was born. ⛳💙💛
🌟 WHAT DOES JAN DO WHEN SHE'S NOT GOLFING?
“I work and I golf. Is there anything else?”
Fair enough. 😂
🎁 SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT JAN
She's an avid sweepstaker—and apparently a pretty darn good one!
Over the years, Jan has won trips to Mexico, Disney, cash, gift cards and some pretty incredible prizes.
One particularly meaningful win was an Xbox for her son at a time when she couldn't afford to buy him one. ❤️
And one of the craziest?
She won an experience that took 12 family members to New York to visit the NFL Commissioner's headquarters and hold their own fantasy football draft.
So the next time you see one of those sweepstakes and think, “Nobody actually wins these things…”
Apparently Jan does. 😂
🏆 HOW DOES SHE CELEBRATE A GREAT ROUND OF GOLF?
“I'm still waiting to have a great round, so I'll let you know when it happens!” 😂
And finally, we asked Jan what she would tell a woman who's thinking about trying golf for the first time.
Her answer probably explains better than anything else why she's leading this chapter:
“Enjoy it! Golf is a game, and games are supposed to be fun. It has allowed me to meet some really amazing people, led me to my current job that I love, and has taken over my life in ways I never would have imagined a few short years ago.”
From wondering why anyone would pay money to chase a little white ball around…
…to building a community so more women can chase that same little white ball around together.
Funny how life works. ❤️⛳
And if you play a round with her, remember:
Don't put her in a situation where she HAS to make the shot.
We have all been warned. 😅🤣😂
