Riverside, Iowa – Waukee, Iowa native, Nicolaus Latcham has been selected as the 2018 Charlie Burkart Scholarship honoree by the Iowa PGA Foundation Charlie Burkart Scholarship committee.
“Receiving the Charlie Burkart Scholarship is a great honor,” said Latcham. “I am very excited to turn my passion for golf into my career.”
The Iowa PGA Foundation awards a college scholarship annually in memory of Charlie Burkart, PGA Member for 49 years, a 2018 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame inductee and Head PGA Professional at the Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids for 42 years. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students in furthering their education. At least one high school graduate a year will be the scholarship recipient in the amount of $1,500 per year for four years.
Latchman was introduced to the game of golf when he was six years old by his grandfather. His passion for the game of golf started at a young age when his grandfather took him to the driving range. Latchman instantly fell in love with the game of golf.
Throughout his childhood, Latchman’s passion for golf grew as he started playing competitively at the age of 10. He was a member of the Iowa PGA Junior Tour and played on the Waukee High School golf team for four years, where he was named Player of the Year twice (Freshman and Junior year). He marvels at the game of golf and all it has done for him, including the life less that the game has taught him. From playing the game, to working at Glen Oaks Country Club, to helping junior golfers learn the game, Latchman has made golf an integral part of his life.
Latchman will attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln in the fall to pursue a major in Professional Golf Management (PGM) and a business minor. Currently, Latchman is deciding between becoming a Teaching Professional, Sales Representative or a Golf Club Technician.
“This scholarship will help enable me to pursue my degree in PGA Golf Management at the University of Nebraska Lincoln,” said Latcham. “My hope is to grow the game by introducing children to golf and helping them grow their passion for the sport, as many people in my life have done for me.”