A jovial group of golfing alumni met via Zoom recently as a part of Storm King’s 2020-2021 Alumni Speaker Series. Six alums and past SKS staff member Micah Brownstein (Associate Dean of Students and lacrosse coach, 2000-2007) joined the virtual get-together to reminisce about their time on the Mountain and share tales and techniques from their golfing lives.

The discussion was led by pros Jennifer Hudson ’02 and Steven Wooten ’04 who gave the group tips on stance, speed, and distance as the participants debated their “golf genetics” (or lack thereof), various types of tees and irons, and everything else golf-related.

“I fondly remember my predecessor Jennifer and biology teacher Mr. Jones who helped kick off Storm King’s first golf team,” explained Steven. “We managed to pull together six people. The team consisted of myself, some members of the basketball team, and several students from South Korea. It was an important experience for me, and now, I really want to help reinstate the golf team at SKS. I believe the sport is instrumental in a student’s development and a little golf equips the kids in this generation for success.”

Fellow alumnae and pro Jennifer smiled as she spoke of her time at SKS and her professional golfing career: “My true passion is growing the game through teaching and coaching. I am so happy to be here to help answer your questions and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you to help you in your own personal golf journeys.” Jennifer also held up a jar full of golf tees and asked everyone to guess the number inside. Bob Docherty ’72 guessed the correct number, winning the “door prize”– an SKS Alumni t-shirt.

The virtual hour passed quickly highlighted by lively dialogue mixed with golfing expertise. By the end of the discussion, the participants spanning several decades bonded to become a small SKS golfing family. All of the alums expressed their desire to continue the conversation and Richard Epstein ’59 concluded the meeting by inviting everyone to visit him and play golf together in Boynton Beach, Florida.

First row: From top left- Jennifer Hudson ’02, Lynn Crevling ’72, Jim Perlberg ’70, Henry Hudson ‘73; Second row: Steven Wooten ’04, Bob Docherty ’72, Roy Sijthoff ’72, Micah Brownstein (past staff 2000-2007); Third row: Richard Epstein ’59; Not shown: Henry Hudson Jr. ‘04

About Jennifer Hudson ’02 and Steven Wooten ’04

Jennifer Hudson ‘02 is the PGA/LPA Director of Instruction at Sankaty Head Golf Club on Nantucket Island and Owner/Founder of LifeLong Golf (www.lifelonggolf.com). She was recently the 2019 New England PGA Teaching Professional of the Year and 2019 GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional. In addition to teaching at Sankaty Head and hosting LifeLong Golf schools across the country, Jennifer is a featured instructor with Titleist and serves on the Titleist Leadership Advisory Staff.

Steve Wooten ‘04 is the First Assistant Golf Professional at Laurel Springs Golf Club in Atlanta, GA. He is currently completing his PGA Class A certification and, in addition to teaching golf, Steven manages Laurel Springs’ golf operations including tournaments and merchandising.