Meet The Pros

Matt Erger

Matt Erger, age 49 is one of our cheerful and talented PGA Golf Professional/Owners at Airport National. Matt has been on Staff at Airport National since it opened in 1994, where he started out being a "Range-Boy." Matt was also employed two winters at the beautiful Eagles Club in sunny Tampa, Florida, in 1998 & 1999, while honing his already excellent golf 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 1993 and 1994.

“Ergler” then transferred to Mt. Mercy College where he received his B.B.A. in Business Management in the spring of 1998. Matt through his excellent play thoughout the Iowa PGA Section Golf Season and qualified several times for the prestigeous Iowa Cup Matches, where the top Iowa PGA Professionals play the best Iowa Golf Association Amateurs, in Iowa's own version of the real Ryder Cup Matches!

Matt sees himself being a PGA 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 Professional, 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 of golf. Matt was elected into the P.G.A. of America 2007. Matt also was quoted, “I enjoy the interacting with our freinds (customers) that I deal with daily at Airport National and I’ve always enjoyed making new friends. Overall it’s a very fun work environment to deal with most days!”

Matt is very passionite and experienced as a PGA Golf Teaching Professional. 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.

“Team Erger” includes avid golfer Steve, his Father, 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 has been teaching locally for over 20 years. Matt and Becky have two daughters and a son. Savannah is 20 years old in college, Ava is 17 and Levi will be 14 in August. Matt loves spending time with his kids and playing in local professional golf tournaments and variety of sports spectating. Matt is looking forward to being a successful Head PGA Professional/Owner in the years ahead and has a very bright future, as a "Young Golf Business, PGA Golf Professional Superstar" in this business according to PGA Professional/Owner Mark Lemon for many years to come!!

Ben Montgomery

Ben Montgomery, age 33 is one of our energetic PGA Golf Professionals. In his first year at Airport National, Ben brings over a decade of Golf Professional experience with him.

Ben was first introduced to golf at age 9 when his mom brought home a garage sale set of clubs. Soon after he was hooked. Ben graduated from Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School in 2006 and was a four-year letterman in golf. After high school he attended Kirkwood Community College on a golf scholarship. While at Kirkwood Ben only missed one tournament and qualified in the 2007 and 2008 National Junior College Golf Championships in Alabama and Arizona. Upon receiving his Associates degree at Kirkwood, Ben transferred to Mount Mercy College on a golf scholarship where he studied History.

Ben took a job in 2010 as an Assistant Golf Professional with the City of Cedar Rapids. Over the next decade he worked at Jones G.C., Ellis G.C., and Twin Pines G.C. Ben was elected to PGA Membership in 2017. Ben has continued his playing career in the Iowa PGA Section. Notably he won the 2012 Iowa PGA Assistants Match Play, 2017 Iowa PGA Assistants Championship. Ben was also the 2017 and 2018 Iowa PGA Assistant Player of the year as well as qualifying for the Iowa Cup Matches four consecutive seasons (2016-2019).

Ben is a very passionate and dedicated golf instructor and sees himself being a PGA Professional for life stating, “It is a great feeling when you see someone hit the golf ball, the way they wanted to for the first time or make that first putt. It is was one of the greatest feelings in the world to me as a Golf Professional.”

When Ben is not in the pro shop, on the lesson tee, or playing in a tournament he can be found spending time with his wife, Jennie, who is NICU/PICU/Peds RN at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Ben and Jennie have two kids, Mason who is 5 years old and Kendal who is 2 years old.

Tom Knoke

Tom Knoke, age 23 Tom Knoke, age 23 is our new highly motivated Assistant Golf Professional. Tom is a native of Decorah, Iowa and a recent graduate of the University of Iowa.

Tom picked up his first golf clubs at the age of 7 and never looked back. Tom graduated in 2018 from Decorah High School where he was a 4-year letter winner in golf. Tom graduated University of Iowa with a degree in Sport & Recreation Management.

After graduating from Iowa, Tom interned with the Minnesota Golf Association. Tom is excited to continue his career in golf here at Airport National Golf Course.

Justin Valde, age 20 grew up in Shueyville, IA. Justin has been coming to Airport National for as long as he can remember. Justin first started working here the day he turned 16 and has worked his way up. He graduated from Cedar Rapids Prairie in 2021. In high school he was on the golf team all 4 years and played Varsity his Junior and Senior year. His senior year they qualified for state and at State he was low man for the team. Justin Started as an Assistant Golf Professional in May of 2023 When Justin is not working at the golf course he is out playing a round with his friends, hunting or spending time with family. Justin has a twin sister Alyssa (He is 3 minutes older) and a little brother Eric (Smalls) who also Just started in the Fall of 2023 working in the Pro Shop.