The United States Golf Association (USGA) created the National Development Program to help amateur golfers succeed by delivering competitive opportunities, plus support and training to develop American golf talent and reduce financial burdens. The program provides education, experiences and mentorship to help athletes achieve success at every level and is committed to fostering a positive pathway for American golfers to follow their dreams and reach the pinnacle of the sport.
The USGA recently named Pepperdine Associate Head Coach Chris Zambri as the first head coach in the history of the United States National Development Program (USNDP).
Zambri will be tasked with leading the overall direction of the USNDP’s program, as well as providing support and guidance to the elite golfers selected to represent their country in international competition as part of national teams.
He will lead the day-to-day coaching operations, including playing a key role in developing a network of qualified coaches at the regional and state levels to support the USNDP’s mission of identifying and developing American golf talent. Zambri will also work closely with Senior Player Development Advisor Dr. Beth Brown to create an elite golf program designed to expose athletes to the physical, technical and mental loads required to compete successfully at the highest levels of the sport.
Prior to joining the USGA, Zambri served as an Associate Head Coach at Pepperdine. He played a huge role in guiding the Waves to the 2021 NCAA national championship and their semifinal appearance in 2022. Before joining Pepperdine, he spent 14 years on the coaching staff at USC, including being their head coach. The Trojans won 33 events, including three conference titles (2007, 2011, 2018) and three NCAA Regional titles (2008, 2012, 2017). His 2015 squad was the runner-up at the NCAA national championship. Seven different golfers earned All-American first, second or third team honors a total of 13 times under his tutelage. Zambri also served as the head coach of the victorious United States squad at the 2010 Palmer Cup.
As a player, Zambri spent nearly seven years on the Korn Ferry Tour and was an active teaching professional, when not competing. He competed in the 1995 and 1999 U.S. Opens, as well as four PGA Tour events. A 1993 USC graduate, Zambri was a two-time All-Pac-10 second team selection in 1991 and 1993.
“It is an honor to be named as the first head coach in the history of the U.S. National Development Program,” said Zambri. “This country boasts an incredible depth of golfing talent, and I look forward to playing a key role in developing and supporting the next generation of truly great American players.”
Announced in February, the U.S. National Development Program is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. Next year, the program will launch a Junior National Team, coached by Zambri, with both an amateur national team and young professional national team to follow over the coming years.
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