Cedar Point Golf Course at Naval Air Station Patuxent River is a fantastic destination for golfers, due in no small part to the experience and professionalism of its general manager, PGA pro John Malinowski. Malinowski has decades of experience in working on and managing golf courses, and since he began his work at Cedar Point in 2022, he has streamlined the golfing experience and created a welcoming and fun environment for experienced players and newcomers alike.

Malinowski was born in 1971 in Philadelphia to a military family; his father served in the Marine Corps for twenty-eight years. Due to his father’s service, the family moved frequently, and his father was often away from home for weeks or months at a time. Wanting to become more involved in the military culture, Malinowski took his first job as a cart attendant at Medal of Honor Golf Course at the Quantico, Virginia Marine Corps base. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Lenoir-Rhyne College, Malinowski worked on a few golf courses before being elected a member of PGA in 1998.

As a PGA pro, Malinowski soon occupied high positions at golf courses in North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, DC, before accepting a position as Head PGA Professional at River Run Golf Club in Berlin, Maryland in 2003. Over the years, he achieved specialty certifications from PGA in a wide range of areas, including teaching, golf operations, executive management, and food & beverage management. In 2012, he was chosen as the Mid-Atlantic PGA pro of the year. After twenty years at River Run, Malinowski took his current position as general manager of golf at Cedar Point, which he has thoroughly enjoyed: “It’s been a blast to be part of,” as he put it. He manages all aspects of the course, including the golf itself, as well as food & beverage services and the retail shop, which offers golf equipment as well as clothing and other souvenirs.

Prior to his tenure at Cedar Point, most of the staff on the course did not play golf and saw it as “just another job,” according to Malinowski. He changed this for the better, hiring staff that not only played golf, but fostered a deep respect for the sport and its players. In his words, “When I came in, there was some instability with staff, but I was able to build a brand-new customer-oriented staff… My staff feels lucky to have this opportunity.” Malinowski places great emphasis on hiring staff who are “reliable, dependable, and friendly,” understanding the importance of staff who get along well with both new and returning players.

Malinowski especially enjoys the opportunity to work with members of the military and their families. As he put it, “I love the ideals and culture of the military… I can relate to the families, because I know what it’s like to have your family gone for weeks or months at a time.” He is proud to have the opportunity to introduce younger service members to golf, saying, “It’s really fun seeing some of the junior enlisted getting into golf for the first time.” Malinowski’s wife, Julie, who is a Marketing Specialist with the US Navy, spoke highly of her husband’s work with military golfers: “Golfing at Cedar Point is like a great equalizer. Everyone is going out there to have a good time, whether you’re an admiral or a junior enlisted.”

Malinowski also offers personalized golf coaching in both individual and group settings. Lessons are available for golfers of all ages and skill levels, from absolute beginners to aspiring pros. His coaching promises to help players up their game, have more fun on the course, and achieve their goals as golfers. He even offers specialized coaching for golfers preparing for tournament play. All in all, Malinowski has excelled in this latest phase of his long and successful career: as he put it, “I feel honored to be given the chance to run this golf program for the Sailors, Marines, and other patrons.”