Meet the Pros

Mark Lemon ("Lemonski") Mark Lemon, age 53, moved to Ankeny, Iowa, at age 13 and began working on the golf course at the Ankeny Golf and Country Club at age 16 under Carl Fleming and teaching the junior lessons there as well. Mark graduated as the fourth best scholar in his Class of 1973 at Ankeny High School, before attending the University of Iowa and graduating with a B.B.A. in business in 1977. Lemon was a multiple letter winner on the golf teams at Ankeny High School and the University of Iowa. Mark turned Professional in the spring of 1979 and began his Golf Apprenticeship at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, host site of the 1999

U.S. Senior Open; and then joined Head Professional Jack Webb at the prestigious Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa, as an Assistant Golf Professional for the 1980 and 1981 golf seasons. Mark moved to Waterloo, Iowa, long famous for its high quality public golf facilities and programming; and spent twelve years as the Head Golf Professional at beautiful Byrnes Park Golf Course; home of the Greater Jaycee Waterloo Open from 1986 through 1997. Lemon was recognized as the Junior Golf Leader in Iowa by the Iowa PGA, for his past outstanding contributions to kids golf in 1991. Lemon has had numerous Iowa PGA wins in his playing career and has participated as a playing Professional in the National Oldsmobile Scramble, the National Club Professional Championship and the Hardees Golf Classic, formerly known as the Quad City Open. Mark also founded and was Co-Chairperson of the 1999 & 2000 McLeodUSA Greater Cedar Rapids Open for the “benefit of the Boys and Girls Club;” now the one of the biggest golf tournaments in Iowa in only its fifth year! Mark is recognized as a high quality PGA Teaching Professional as well; and has taken personal lessons and studied instruction under such world renowned teaching greats including: David Leadbetter, Dave Pelz, Jack Webb, Jimmy Ballard, Stan Thirsk and Don Narveson. Mark worked with partner and PGA Golf Professional, Greg Mason, at Byrnes Park in Waterloo in 1991 and 1992; before they put together a small group of investors and built the Airport National Public Golf Complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; in 1993, where he joined the Staff full time in 1998. Mark is married to wife Judi, and has three grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy entertaining family and friends together, while being active at the First Methodist Church of Solon. Mark and Judi reside near beautiful Lake Macbride in Solon, Iowa. Judi is active with her physical fitness and in volunteer work. Mark still enjoys small competitive professional golf tournaments as well as occasional bass fishing, quail and pheasant hunting and yard landscaping. 

Matt Erger ("The Ergler") Matt Erger, age 33, is one of our cheerful and talented Golf Professionals at Airport National. Affectionately called “The Ergler” by his Co-Workers, Matt has been on Staff at Airport National since it opened in 1994. Matt was also employed two winters at the beautiful Eagles Club in sunny Tampa, Florida, in 1998 & 1999, while honing his already excellent game. Matt graduated from local Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in 1993 and was a two year letterman in golf and was voted to the 2nd Team All Metro his Senior year. He then attended nearby Kirkwood Community College and was a consistent performer on their college golf team where he received All Conference honors. In addition, he qualified and participated in consecutive National Junior College Golf Championships in North Carolina in 1995 and 1996. “The Ergler” then transferred to Mt. Mercy College where he received his B.B.A. in Business Management in the spring of 1998. Matt sees himself being a Golf Professional for life as he says, “It’s great to be able to make a living as an extension of my favorite hobby!” In 2004 as an assistant Matt was awarded Assistant of the Year for the Iowa Section P.G.A.  This prestigious award is for outstanding overall performance, leadership and promotion of the game.  Matt was elected into the P.G.A. of America 2007.  Matt also was quoted, “I enjoy the diversity of people that I deal with daily at Airport National and I’ve always enjoyed making new friends. Overall it’s a pretty fun work environment to deal with most days!” Matt is very passionite about teaching golf.  From Adults to kids, beginners to advanced golfers, Matt enjoys seeing the smiles on peoples faces as they hit shot they didn't know they had in them.  Click HERE for Matt's teaching philosophy.  “Team Erger” includes avid golfer Father Steve, as well as his Mother Sharon in addition to younger brother Sam. Matt also enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Becky, who received her double major in Elementary Education and Psychology at Mount Mercy College and is teaching early child special education locally. Matt and Becky now have two daughters.  Savannah is soon to be four years old and Ava just turned one.  Matt’s loves spending time with his kids and playing in golf tournaments and variety of sports spectating and occasional fishing. Matt is determined to be a successful Head Professional in the years ahead and has a very bright future in this business according to PGA Professional Owner Mark Lemon!!