'Wandering Golfer' lands at Monroe country club
Golf enthusiasts may recognize Gia Bocra, the new instructor at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township.

Gia Bocra

After all, she has spent the past year crisscrossing the globe, accompanied by television cameras all along the way, and has been featured in numerous golfmagazines and programs over the years.

After a yearlong stint as the first female host of the Fine Living Network's golf travel show "The Wandering Golfer," Bocra has returned to her hometown of Monroe to provide lessons to Forsgate members and institute new instructional programs at the club, which was recently named "Course of the Year" by the New Jersey Golf Course Owners Association.

"It feels terrific to be back at Forsgate," Bocra said. "There are so many faces and it's the same warm and welcoming place that I remember so fondly."

Bocra, 31, worked at the club during the summer while earning a degree in journalism at Rutgers University, where she captained the women's golf team.

Prior to her stint as "The Wandering Golfer," Bocra served as the LPGAteaching professional at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, where she began the instructional women's and juniors programs.

In the past, she served as a golf instructor at the Academy of Golf at Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, where she worked alongside renowned director of instruction Mike Adams, one of America's 50 greatest teachers, as named by "Golf Digest" magazine.

Bocra has also worked with nationally ranked golf instructor Todd Anderson at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla., and her mentor, Krista Dunton, the 2002 LPGA Teacher of the Year, who previously taught at Forsgate.

"Golf can be a frustrating sport for many, so the most rewarding aspect of teaching for me is when a student walks away with a positive,more confident understanding of the game," Bocra said.

As the teaching professional at Forsgate, Bocra, who has been featured inmagazines such as "Golf forWomen," "Links" and "Golf Week," will offer new programs for members, including ladies day clinics, one-day golf schools and junior summer camps.

"Gia is an excellent instructor with a great attitude and personality, and will be an excellent addition to help build the junior and women's programs at Forsgate," said Jim Woods, Forsgate's director of golf. "Keeping families involved in the game for years to come is one ofmymany objectives, and Gia seems to be the perfect fit to accomplish those goals."

Bocra will also assistWoods with the development of a golf academy.

She now resides in Princeton with her boyfriend, who is currently training with the U.S. National Rowing Teamwith hopes of making this year's Olympic squad.