JOANN DOST . . . a brief biographical journey

Joann Dost has practiced the art of golf photography since the late 1970's, traveling across America, the British Isles, the Far East and Australia to capture the essence of golf course architecture and the spirit of the game with her camera.

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Vienna, Virginia, Joann grew up in a family who loved the outdoors and sports. A competitive atmosphere existed in the Dost household with Joann's father a former Olympic speed skater and a brother who grew up to play professional baseball for the New York Mets.

Little wonder that, when introduced to the game of golf at the age of 15, Joann pursued it with a passion. PGA Professional, Morgan Tiller, along with her father, nurtured Joann's love and mastery of the game. In 1968, drawing on a mere two years of experience, Joann was playing like a seasoned champion, winning the Maryland State Junior Girls' Championship, the DC Junior Girls' Championship and the Tournament of Junior Champions.

Joann became a teaching professional after marrying a golf pro in 1970. By 1973, Joann's competitive juices were stirring and she began pursuing the life of a playing professional. In 1974, she was off to Australia to play the Australian Tour for a year. Returning back to the USA, Joann played the West Coast Group Fore Tour and then placed a respectable third in the LPGA Qualifying School. 1976 was the year in which Joann achieved what few have and many dream of - she became a Touring Professional on the LPGA circuit. During Joann's five years on the LPGA Tour, she had several top-ten finishes, shot a low round of 66 and finished third at the Ping Championship in Portland, Oregon.

Moving to Pebble Beach in 1977 turned out to be a major turning point in Joann's life. The magnificence of the Monterey Peninsula heightened Joann's love of the game in a different way, as she discovered another way to shoot the golf course. After purchasing a Mamiya Sekor camera, it was through the eye of the lens that Joann staked her future. Through a combination of self-instruction, practice and classes from such photography masters as Ansel Adams and John Woods, her skills increased and her photographic vision was revealed to the world.

Over the years, Joann has received many awards for her photography. Her work can be seen in national and international magazines and her fine art is available through better galleries worldwide. Joann currently resides in Pebble Beach, by the links, with her cat "MacKenzie."