Mark Toscano is the Head Golf Professional here at Emerald Lakes Golf Course. He brings extensive knowledge through working under great coaches such as Jim Flick, Eddie Merrins, and Jamie Mulligan and Mark also brings a player’s mindset when it comes to teaching the game of golf. This background over time has given Mark the tools to become the successful golf coach he is today. He was raised in San Clemente, California where he began his golfing career at the age of 13. He competed at the highest ranks of amateur golf and he later attended and graduated from the University of California Irvine in 2009. Mark’s competitive playing background stems from years of playing golf from amateur, college, several mini tours and competing on the Nationwide Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour) and now current professional events locally and nationally.
After stepping away from playing competitive golf full time in 2014, Mark wanted to continue to grow the game of golf. He has taught all skill levels from beginners to high school, college and professional players. The golf ball doesn’t lie. Mark believes that ball flight tells you a lot about what is happening in a golfers swing. Mark uses his knowledge and simple explanations to correct issues and/or errors in the golf swing. He looks forward to working with you and sharing his knowledge, passion and love for the game.
Has coached and is still coaching multiple students playing at the high school, college, and professional level.
Some of Mark’s accomplishments include:
U.S. Amateur Championship: ’06, ’07, ‘09
California State Am: ’05-‘07
The Memorial Am: ’06, ‘07
California State Open: ’07, ‘12
Qualified for U.S. Open Sectionals: ’10, ’12-‘13
Golden State Tour Member: 2009-2014
PGA Canadian Tour Participant
Nationwide Tour Participant (now Korn Ferry Tour)
2021 NCPGA Team Club Championship winner
2021 NCPGA Assistant Professional National Championship Participant
Has accumulated over 12 professional wins
Experience could be the best word to describe Don Thames with regard to understanding how to play and teach the game. As a player with a strong playing career, Don knows how to put process for performance ahead of outcome. In this way, he has a solid grasp of what players need to learn to play their best. “The player that puts winning on the top of their mind often succumbs to over-trying. Over-trying in golf leads to poor performance”. Golf is best played with a quiet mind-a mind that stays focused on a simple process.
With this process-based approach, Don encourages his students to play for the fun and challenge of the game vs. grinding over major swing changes. Every player has a unique swing that he or she owns. Don works within the framework of the student’s swing and teaches skills that can be applied to all phases of the game.
Fun. Smart. Fit. Golf… Learn what you will need to enjoy the game more. Learn a strong mental game to enhance performance. Learn skills that Don has used as a player that has played in 6 Major National and International Golf Championships. Get fit for golf through TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) training principles that improve stability, mobility, power, speed and balance. You will improve your game and have fun doing so.
Don enjoys dancing and working with his wife Carole as a Licensed Real Estate Agent. Carole Thames is active with Don in all of Don’s Professional pursuits including her role as a Caddie, Business Manager and as an extraordinary chef and friend. Daughters, Makayla (former Sac State Women’s Golf Team Member) and Katie are the lights of Don and Carole’s lives.
I’ve been teaching here at Emerald lakes for 4 years. I started as a volunteer with the 1st Tee and PGA Jr. League. I was hired as an instructor in 2020 and have been teaching the Op36 group classes at Emerald Lakes ever since. I am a 1st Tee Level III coach as well as an Operation 36 top 50 coach. While I am now an avid golfer, I grew up thinking golf was a boring sport. I played baseball and football from childhood, as a university student, and well into adulthood. Sports injuries suffered in my 40s forced me to find a new sport. A trip to the driving range to hit a few tiny balls that didn’t even move should have been pretty easy for me. Wrong! Golf was hard, and having a competitive spirit meant I would not let this sport get the best of me. I appreciate the challenge of learning the game of golf as an adult. I’ve spent the last 14 years studying and learning the rules of the game, the nuances of the swing, the tricks to tackle a challenging course and how to try to conquer the mental side of the sport. I look forward to helping others on their own journey with the game of golf.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Coached Consumnes High School Girls Golf Team for 4 seasons
Coached Bay Area Girls Softball Travel Team for 6 seasons
Coached Boys Baseball at Laguna Creek & Florin High
AFFILIATIONS
Active with Saturday Golf Nuts
Alumni- President – Dry Creek Golf Course Men’s Golf Club
Natalie started playing golf on her thirteenth birthday which happened to be her first day of golf class through The First Tee of Greater Sacramento at Diamond Oaks. She completed all levels as a participant as well as playing all four years on Roseville High School’s golf team. Natalie was an assistant coach for the Saint Rose Catholic Church team and had the pleasure of attending the Stanford University golf camp twice.
After graduating, Natalie continued her love for the game at The Golf Academy of America in Carlsbad, California where she received her Associate of Applied Business Degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management. While going to school she had the opportunity to continue teaching through the SCPGA Golf in Schools Program.
Natalie moved back to the Sacramento area and has been at Emerald Lakes GC since January of 2016 and proud to say she continues to grow the game day by day. She is The First Tee Level III Coach, The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site Coordinator, and a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach. Natalie looks forward to meeting all of you and to inspire your child to love golf one swing at a time!
I’ve been around golf my whole life, but it wasn’t until after graduating from Elk Grove High School that I truly fell in love with the game. Emerald Lakes quickly became home for me, and I played every chance I got. I was hooked, golf became more than just a hobby, it became a passion. After spending the past few years dedicated to improving my own game, I successfully passed my Player Ability Test in August of 2023. And I am now nearing the end of Level 1 in the PGA PGM program. Each step in this journey has strengthened my desire to share what I’ve learned and help others enjoy the game as much as I do.
When it comes to teaching, I believe that strong fundamentals are the foundation of every great golf swing. From grip and posture to tempo and balance, getting the basics right builds consistency and confidence. But golf is also a mental game, so I focus on helping players develop pre-shot routines, practice positive self-talk, and use visualization to improve focus, consistency, and emotional control on the course.
Whether someone’s picking up a club for the first time or trying to shave a few strokes off their handicap, my goal is to make learning enjoyable, approachable, and rewarding because when you build good habits and a good mindset, great golf follows.
