Ranch golf academy links talent, opportunity

There’s not a day that goes by that Ian Segneri isn’t out on the golf course having fun.

As the co-owner of the Missing Link Golf Academy at Legacy Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch, Segneri spends his days training some of the area’s most promising junior golfers — a job he says is far from actual work.

“I hung out with a bunch of kids today,” Segneri said. “It’s so much fun. My wife would say I’m immature, but it keeps me young. It’s fun to see them come out at a young age and the next thing you know they’re doing a good job and going on to college. It’s pretty rewarding.”

Segneri, along with co-owners John Hulbert and Kevin Conley, started Missing Link nearly 10 years ago as a way to bring junior golf instruction to Lakewood Ranch.

After working at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy for several years, the trio decided to venture out on its own and create its own junior golf academy.

“We wanted to keep things small and keep the quality high,” Segneri said. “We wanted to provide a different option for people in the area.”

Since then, Missing Link has trained dozens of up-and-coming junior golfers, including this year’s Class 2A individual state champion Danny Walker and district champion Ramsey Touchberry, with the goal of getting them into college.

“We’re a junior golf academy that specializes in serious junior golf with the purpose of trying to get them into college,” Segneri said.

Missing Link is a small private academy that offers small group instruction for serious junior golfers, ranging in age from 10-18. Segneri, Hulbert and Conley, who have close to 35 years of junior golf instruction among them, train six to 10 junior golfers at any given time throughout the year.

“We focus more on private individual instruction rather than mass numbers,” Segneri said. “We’ve got better players now then we’ve ever had.”

Missing Link is a golf academy with instruction from 9 a.m. to noon throughout the summer and after-school instruction during the school year.

For more information about the Missing Link Golf Academy or the junior golf clinics visit www.missinglinkga.com or contact Ian Segneri at [email protected].

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

OFF THE COURSE
In addition to the academy, Ian Segneri is also hosting a series of junior golf clinics to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Segneri launched the series two weeks ago with the help of Lakewood Ranch boys golf coach Dave Frantz, who helped kick start the fundraising efforts.

The clinics will be held from 9-11 a.m. Saturdays at Legacy Golf Club, 8255 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. The cost is $30 per session and all proceeds will benefit JDRF.

Segneri, who first learned about JDRF from Legacy Golf Club employee Tim Kelly’s son, Sean, a collegiate golfer who has juvenile diabetes, hopes to raise $3,500 for the cause by the start of the New York City Marathon Nov. 6.

“It hit close to home with us,” Segneri said. “It’s something in house and it’s for kids, which is what we do. So to be able to help kids — it’s pretty awesome.”

Segneri also plans to run the NYC Marathon for the first time this winter.

Segneri began running after having back surgery a few years ago.

“After my back got better I thought ‘This is like a new life,’” said Segneri, who trains six days a week. “I went crazy and decided to start taking advantage of feeling good while I can. It’s my hobby. I enjoy doing it in my free time. It’s good for me.”