About Earl, his family and life
Earl lives in Sedona, Arizona with his wife of 43 years. His daughter, Skye, is a Product Marketing Manager for Zodiac Pool Supply Company in Vista, California.
Earl was born in Brooklyn, New York to Erling and Klara Svenningsen, who were both born in Arendal, Norway. At age seven, his family moved to Long Beach, California, where he went to public school, college, and the first part of his golf career. His father got him started in golf when they moved to California. Earl played all sports when young, but baseball, swimming, and golf were his main interests. At age 9, he started competing in Southern California Junior Golf Association events. By age 11, he realized he had a talent for the game and devoted more time to improving. His family belonged to Candlewood Country Club. Candlewood had a wonderful junior golf program and his summers were spent playing golf with the other juniors, swimming, and playing tournaments. The Candlewood juniors produced five future PGA professionals, four of which played on the PGA Tour. Earl played Water Polo, Basketball, and Golf in high school. His high school team won the CIF championship his senior year with a record score that stood for 20 years. His record in junior tournaments and his 71.9 scoring average his senior year, earned him a scholarship to the University of Southern California.
At USC, Earl lettered all three years. They won the Pac 8 (now 12) title all three years and had a best finished of 3rd in NCAA Championship during Earl's first year on the team. Earl graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration (Finance) in 1967. Before going in to the Naval Reserve, Earl briefly worked in the Stock Brokerage field. After his service in the Navy, he decided to pursue a golfing career. He was very fortunate to work for very good golf professionals and at wonderful golf clubs. His goal was to play on the PGA Tour. His list of clubs, included San Gabriel Country Club, Rancho Park Golf Course, Hillcrest Country Club and Redlands Country Club. Earl turned pro in 1970, while working at Hillcrest CC. On September 22, 1973, he married Lynn Langermann, with which he has one child born in 1980.
He gained his PGA membership in the spring of 1974. In 1975, he joined the PGA Tour. This was the best of times and the worst of times. He fulfilled a time long dream of competing at this level, but unfortunately he didn't play to his potential. That was the era of Monday qualifying, and he ended up playing in five events that year. Having run out of money and unable to continue the next year, he returned to the golf business as first assistant at La Quinta Country Club. The following year, he became the Teaching Professional at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Among his regular students was Andy Williams.
In 1978, he was selected as head golf professional at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana. He served in that position for four years, until he accepted the head golf professional position at Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood, Colorado. He was head professional for 12 years and another two years as the teaching professional. Earl was the Education Chairman for 9 years for the Colorado PGA and serviced on the Board of Directors for eight years. He also was President of the Colorado Junior Golf Association for six years. When Earl turned 50, he tried to compete on the Senior PGA Tour.
In 1996, he started working with Brad Yates in setting up and expanding VIP Golf Academy. In 1998, he and Brad became partners in VIP Golf Academy. From only two locations, the golf academy has grown to 18 locations with many happy customers and students.
While Earl's life has centered around golf, he treasures his life with Lynn, an exceptionally wonderful woman, great mother, and friend. Skye has been a treasure all of her years. One couldn't ask for a better daughter. She graduated near the top of her high school class and graduated with honors from the Journalism School at the University of Southern California. Presently, she is the Product Manager for Robotic Pool Cleaners for Zodiac Pool Supplies and enjoys living in the San Diego area. Lynn and Earl are members of Christ Lutheran Church in Sedona. His hobbies are swimming, karate, and reading.
As much as Earl enjoys teaching the game, he enjoys competing equally as much. Competing on a regular basis makes you focus and pushes you mentally and physically.
Professional Record |
1st 2005 Southwest PGA Super Senior Champion 1st 2004 Colorado PGA Senior Match Play Championship 1st 2000 Colorado PGA Club Professional Championship Tournament 1st 1999 New Mexico Senior Open 1st 1998 Nevada Senior Open 1st 1995 Colorado PGA Senior Championship 1st 1995 Rocky Mountain Open - Senior Champion 1st 1984 Colorado PGA Pro Pro Championship 1st 1980 Indiana PGA Pro Pro Championship 1st 1987 Grand Lake 36 Hole Pro Am - Individual winner 2nd 2005 Rocky Mountain Open - Senior Division 2nd 1989 International Four Ball Championship, Gleneagles, Scotland -Ind. 2nd 1996 Rocky Mountain Open - Senior division 2nd 1997 Rocky Mountain Open - Senior division 3rd 2004 Colorado PGA Senior Championship 3rd 1997 Colorado PGA Senior Championship 3rd 2002 Conrad Hilton Senior Open 3rd 1974 New Mexico State Open 4th 1978 Indiana State Open 4th 1978 Indiana PGA Championship 4th 1979 Indiana PGA Championship 4th 1985 International Four Ball Championship, Gleneagles, Scotland -Ind. 4th 2000 New Mexico Senior Open 4th 2001 Nevada Senior Open 5th 1981 Indiana PGA Championship 5th 2000 Colorado PGA Senior Championship 5th 2001 Colorado PGA Senior Championship 6th 1985 Colorado PGA Championship Qualified for 1979, 81, 84, 86, and 94 National PGA Club Professional Championship. Qualified for 2000 Western PGA Club Professional Championship Qualified for 1995 ,1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2005 National PGA Senior Club Professional Championshi Advanced to Regional Qualifying for the U.S.G.A. Open Championship in 1966, 73, 82, 85, 86, 87, 89, 91, and 2003. Member of the Colorado PGA/CGA Governor's Cup team in 1985, 86, and 87. Member of Indiana Cup team in 1978 and 80. Member of Colorado Senior PGA Cup team in 1996, 97,98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03 and 04. Member of SWS PGA Goldwater Cup team 2005, 06, 11, 12, and 13. Played on the PGA Tour in 1975, the Rocky Mountain Tour the summers
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Amateur Record |
1st 1963 member - California High School (CIF) Team Champions - Millikan H.S., Long Beach, CA 1963 Course Record - El Dorado Golf Course - Long Beach, CA 1st 1962 & 63 three SCJGA junior titles 1963 to 67 scholarship golfer for University of Southern California 1st 1964 San Clemente City Champion 1st 1965 member - USC - Pac 8 conference champions 3rd 1965 member - USC - NCAA team championship 1966 member - SCGA amateur team vs. NCGA amateur team 1st 1967 member - USC - Pac 8 conference champions 8th 1967 individual - Pac 8 conference championship 12th 1967 member - USC - NCAA team championship 7th 1968 Southern California Golf Association Championship
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PGA Qualifications |
Class A PGA Member - since 1974 Colorado PGA Board of Director 1985, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 Vice president, Colorado PGA 85, 86 Sec./Treasurer, Colorado PGA 90, 91 Indiana PGA Board of Director, 1980, 81 Colorado PGA Horton Smith Award Recipient 1986, 87, 89, 90 Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year,1990 National Instructor, PGA Education Programs, Golf instruction and playing improvement, 1984 to 91 Featured speaker - 1992 and 1993 Colorado PGA Golf Academy along with David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Jim McLean, and Mike Hebron. Created own Golf Instructional Video - "Swing the Natural Way" for Video Professor, Inc. Colorado PGA National Golf Day award winner 1982, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 92 Chairman Colorado PGA- Education Committee - 1984, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
90, 91, 92. Member - National PGA Golf Day Committee - 1987
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Other Golf Activities |
President, Colorado Junior Golf Association
1988, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94
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Associations |
Member - Christ Lutheran Church, Sedona, AZ President, Village of Oakcreek Association 2016 - 17 Board Member, Village of Oakcreek Association 2015- 16
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