Tailored Teaching

Bio and Credentials

  • Grew up in New England as a Junior Golfer at Segregansett Country Club.
  • Graduated from Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management program.
  • Worked and studied under Jim McLean and the JMGS staff, completing the industry-leading JMGS Instructor Certification curriculum in 3 months.
  • Academy Instructor for Rick Smith Golf Academy and eventually became Rick’s personal assistant instructor and Director of Instruction at 3 facilities.
  • Have assisted or personally coached 15 PGA or European Tour Players.
  • Former Guest Teaching Professional at Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey England.
  • Certified Titleist Fittingworks club fitter
  • TrackMan Level 2 Certified
  • K-Coach Level 2 Certified
  • Recognized by Golf Digest as a “Best Young Teachers” in America (2016-2019)
  • Current Teaching Professional at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers, FL
  • Seasonal Assistant/Teaching Professional at Gardiner’s Bay Country Club; Shelter Island, NY
Teaching Philosophy

I have been very fortunate to train under and work for two of the most successful golf coaches in the world, Jim McLean & Rick Smith.  Both of them provided me all the tools I would need to help any golfer from beginner to tour pro.  They are both masters of swing technique and effective communication to get the best out of their players.  
In my business there are three titles that are often used interchangeably; teacher, coach, instructor.  I believe there are differences with teacher being the most broad title.  The best in the business use all three skills when appropriate.  Instruction will often times come first, a beginner golfer or someone that must make a technical change should be instructed.  Coaching is a life-long endeavour in a teacher:student relationship which includes more motivational techniques and good practice habits.  Another way to look at the two is that Instruction is driven by the Teacher... Coaching is driven by the Student.

Regarding swing philosophy, I do not believe in a "model swing" or specific method for myself or anybody.  I believe that the best golf is played with a variety of swings and skills.  There are, however, some preferences and even imperatives to good golf.
1) The ball should be struck in the center of the club face both vertically and horizontally.
2) The club face should be looking relatively straight at the target at impact.
3) The speed of the swing must relate to the club being used and length of the shot.

Beginner golfers should first learn the short game including the skills of controlling the length and pace of the swing/club, making solid contact, having the ball start on the intended direction, and the visualization of how to get the ball in the hole.  Mid-Handicap players need to minimize "big numbers" from their scorecards.  The best way to do that is to make good decisions on course management, drive the ball in play, and make the short putts.  Expert golfers should be versatile in their shotmaking to be able to handle as many circumstances as they may encounter in a round of golf.  They should be able to curve the ball both ways, alter their trajectory, know how to adjust when playing from different lies and surfaces, and have a "toolbox" of shots to use from around the green.

In my lessons, I almost always use my favorite technology, TrackMan ball and club radar.  TrackMan provides me specific information that is easy to understand and takes the guesswork out of the equation.  I also use K Motion's K-Coach (K-Vest) in order to better understand a players body motions.  Hackmotion wrist sensor is another tool I use to better understand and train a players hand and wrist action throughout the swing.  And since I started teaching golf with the Jim McLean Golf School, I have always used high speed video analysis.  "Video" is helpful in the communication process to the student, I find that there is a definite "aha" moment when I show a student something compared to explaining it.