Meet The Staff:

Dane Bohrer, Facility Manager  
dbohrer@empiregolf.com

Dane Bohrer is the Facility Manager of both the Ancil Hoffman and Cherry Island golf courses. Dane got his start with Empire Golf in 2001, when he assumed a management position as the merchandiser at Cherry Island Golf Course. There he increased sales over 200% in two years.  Since that time, Dane has been promoted to positions of increased responsibility within Empire Golf, including Head Golf Professional at Cherry Island, and later Head Golf Professional at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course. As the Facility Manager at both Cherry Island and Ancil Hoffman, Dane oversees all aspects of the both course's operations. He is in charge of customer service, staff development, merchandising and retail sales, marketing and advertising, golf car and range functions, as well as the instructional programs at both facilities.

Dane's philosophy of success is centered upon building relationships with our customers. It is this "above and beyond" approach to operations, along with his outstanding work ethic, that have made Dane an invaluable member of Empire Golf's Management Team.

Dane is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a degree in business. He learned the golf business from the ground up, "in the trenches", if you will. During the golf explosion of the 80's and 90's Dane owned two golf retail stores in the Sacramento area. His genuine approach to sales and customer service is refreshing when you consider the amount of misinformation the shopper is faced with in today's competitive market. Dane is a native of Dayton Ohio and currently resides in Sacramento with his wife, Lisa. If you're looking for Dane and don't find him at the golf course ... read the Sacramento Bee's fishing report. The odds are that Dane has hitched up the bass boat and headed out fishing.

Joel Baker, Operations Manager
jbaker@empiregolf.com

As a native of Carmichael, California Joel Baker played his first round of golf at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course at the age of twelve. He was hired at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course five years ago as a driving range assistant, and now is the newest member of the Empire Golf’s Management Team.

Joel became a Golf Professional in September of 2004 after passing the Playing Ability Test with the Northern California Professional Golfers Association. He possesses strong club repair skills and been in charge of the club repair center at Ancil Hoffman since turning professional. Now as Operations Manager he will be in charge of maintaining the highest level of customers service, booking tournaments, and keeping the pro shop up to date with the latest golfing equipment.

When Joel is not at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, he enjoys snowboarding down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. During the summer months you might catch him playing a skins game with his friends.

Eric Pollard, Director of Instruction
epollard@empiregolf.com

Eric Pollard's career in the golf industry spans more than 27 years and has taken him from a nationally recognized college golf team (Cal State Long Beach '73) to Ancil Hoffman Golf Course. His stops along the way include Bel Air Country Club, Riviera Country Club, The La Costa Resort, Haggin Oaks Golf Course and El Macero Country Club.

Eric earned his class A status with the PGA of America in 1977 and credits his vast teaching skills and knowledge of the game to Olin Dutra ('32 PGA Champion, '34 US Open Champion), LaBron Harris (Oklahoma State golf coach), Eddie Merrins (Bel Air CC) and Carl Welty (Jim McLean Golf School). Eric's strong background in swing mechanics, short game techniques and simply playing the game make him one of the most sought after and respected teaching professionals in the state. Lasting and significant game improvement is the hallmark of Eric's teaching philosophy.