Instructors
All of the Chicagoland Golf Academy’s lessons, clinics, and programs are taught by golf professionals with extensive experience teaching and playing the game. Read a quick biographical sketch on each of them below, and then click on the links to schedule a lesson with one of them. Their primary teaching locations are listed; however, if you would like to schedule a lesson at another location, please contact them directly to inquire.
JOHN McCARTIN, PGA – DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION
Primary Locations: Whisper Creek & Diversey Driving Range
John McCartin is a 14-year PGA Member, and in 2006 earned the distinct honor of PGA Certification in Teaching. He became only the third PGA Member in the Illinois Section with this designation. For the past 12 years he has been a Lead Instructor for the Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools and as a Head Instructor for the John Jacobs Golf Schools. During that time John has had the pleasure of working with all levels of players including new golfers, women, seniors and juniors. He has also instructed touring professionals including KJ Choi, Rocco Mediate and LPGA Hall of Fame Member Pat Bradley. He has been mentored by five Top 100 instructors including Dave Pelz, Bruce Patterson and Donald Crawley.
John’s teaching philosophy is to have each of his students become their own best teacher and to create a partnership with them to help achieve their goals for their golf games. Each golfer is viewed as an individual with their own set of experiences, strengths, weaknesses and desires for their golfing experience. The approach John takes with each of his students will be unique to them and will contain just the right amount of instruction, feedback, effective practice plans and most importantly fun. One of John’s favorite expressions is that if your next mortgage payment does not depend directly on how low your next score is, relax, smile and have fun with the game of golf.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with John at Diversey
PAT DORGAN – PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Diversey Driving Range
Pat Dorgan has the knowledge and ability to further develop your swing. With almost 40 years of experience, including 20 as a PGA Professional, Pat’s golf qualifications are certainly in order. Pat will bring his strong communication skills to your lesson and have your game improving in no time. Pat’s experience runs the gamut from Head Golf Coach at major Division I Universities to playing on several professional golf tours.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Pat at Diversey
Click Here to Contact Pat or Schedule a Playing Lesson
SCOTT SZYBOWICZ – PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Diversey Driving Range
Scott Szybowicz is an accomplished instructor with 25 years teaching experience who has worked with players of all levels of the game. He was an Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year nominee in 2004 and 2005, member of the PGA President's Council, Adjunct Professor at DePaul University, and on the instructional staff of NBC Sports/Golf.com.
Scott's strength is diagnosing and correcting the cause of a swing fault which enables the player to maximize their golfing potential. He holds 3 course records and was a regional finalist in the Chrysler Long Drive contest.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Scott at Diversey
Click Here to Contact Scott or Schedule a Playing Lesson
ED OLDFIELD, JR. – PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Harry Semrow Driving Range
As a PGA member, Ed Oldfield Jr. has been teaching golf for over 35 years. His father, Ed Sr., a well respected instructor himself has been his life long mentor. Ed, Jr. has held Head Professional positions at The Los Angeles C.C., Bryn Mawr C.C. in Lincolnwood and The Glen Club in Glenview. Among his prized students was former president Ronald Reagan. In addition to his teaching abilities he is also a former Illinois PGA Player of the Year and participated in 3 Western Opens.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Ed at Harry Semrow
Click Here to Contact Ed or Schedule a Playing Lesson
BOB AUGUSTINE – PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary Location: Orchard Valley
Bob August
ine is both an outstanding teacher and player, having won almost every major amateur tournament in Illinois, and taught as Head Instructor at the John Jacobs Golf Schools for nearly three decades. As a former member of the PGA TOUR, Bob has played in the U.S., Asia, Europe, New Zeland, Australia and South Africa, and has won tournaments in numerous states. Born and raised in Chicago, he is the former teaching professional at Twin Orchard, Knollwood, Lake Shore, and Harborside International.
His teaching philosophy is to learn from the impact and the balls flight, how and what to repair the golf swing, and to make the golf ball behave.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Bob at Orchard Valley
Click Here to Contact Bob or Schedule a Playing Lesson
MIKE HARRIGAN – PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Diversey Driving Range
As a former head professional at storied Medinah, Mike Harrigan had the opportunity to be part of the 1990 US Open and the 1999 PGA Championship. As an instructor, Mike hold’s many accolades - Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year (1995), Illinois Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year (1995), and Golf Digest Top 20 Illinois Golf Teacher (2001-05). In addition, Mike competed in eight Western Open Championships and won five Illinois Section Senior major tournaments. He knows how to get your game going.
Click Here to Contact Mike or Schedule a Playing Lesson
FRED REEDER - PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary Location - George W. Dunne National
Fred Reeder was the Head Golf Professional at one of America's top 100 Golf Courses, Point O Woods Country Club, for 18 years. Acknowledged as a top golf instructor in today's golf industry, Fred has been the playing and teaching instructor for numerous PGA of America Golf Workshops. His clientele include PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and NCAA players. Fred has also taught state high school boys and girls champions, junior champions, and has had tremendous success will all ages and levels of men, women, and junior golfers during his 31 years as a PGA Golf Professional.
Fred is regarded as a competitive player and was a contestant in the 2005 U.S. Senior Open, along with numerous PGA Tour events during his career. Fred uses his excellent knowledge of the golf swing, combined with a coaches approach for each individual's ability, to maximize his students golf potential. He enjoys providing quality golf instruction with the mental awareness it takes to improve your game.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Fred at George W. Dunne
Click Here To Contact Fred or Scheduled a Playing Lesson
Hiromune Takamura - PGA Professional
Primary Locations - Harry Semrow & Highland Woods
T.P.I CGFI
Bio-mechanics Golf Instructor
Philosophy/Approach
I believe golf swing is no longer subjective art, but it became a quantifiable science which can be controlled and measured. It is based on fundamentals from physics, bio-mechanics, and kinetics. Lean to create speed and power and to transfer momentum from body to arms and club. With this method applied you will learn much faster than other methods like teaching a style.
I do 3-D bio-mechanical analysis (K-vest) and multi-angle swing analysis (JC Video), club fitting.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Hiromune at Harry Semrow
Click Here To Contact Hiromune or Scheduled a Playing Lesson
Steve Thompson, PGA Teaching Professional
Primary Location: Highland Woods
Steve Thompson is a 32-year Life-Member of the PGA of America. Following an accomplished competitive playing record, Steve has dedicated his career to teaching the golf swing as a head professional and teaching professional at a diversity of golf facilities in the Chicagoland area and Colorado. Nationally known instructors that have influenced his teaching and game improvement methods are Jim Hardy, John Jacobs, Dave Pelz, and Labron Harris Sr.
Steve teaches the full golf swing to all skill levels of golfers in an informative, reassuring manner that fits each students capabilities and comfort zone. Focus will also be given to the students wedge game, pitching, chipping and putting. Emphasis will also be placed on golf course management which is critical for the transition from the practice tee to the golf course. Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished player, schedule a lesson today and begin the progression to a lower scoring and a more enjoyable game.
Steve Thompson is an Oklahoma State University graduate that was a scholarship member of the varsity golf team and is always looking for future NCAA All-Americans.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Steve at Highland Woods
Click Here to Contact Steve or Schedule a Playing Lesson
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RICK BELL - PGA Teaching Professional
Primary Location - Water's Edge
PGA member Rick Bell teaches not only the ball striking aspect of the game to all levels of students, but is also a certified Sport Psychology Instructor and teaches Transcendental Meditation. His mentors, among others, are former PGA Tour player Ralph Johnston, Master Professional Mike Hebron, PGA Hall of Fame member Bill Strausbaugh, and Dr. Robert Smith. He likes to say that “a good teacher has a method but a great one has many.” As such, he is well prepared to instruct all individuals no matter what their goals and objectives might be; just for fun or to prepare for tournament golf.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Rick at Water's Edge
Click Here to Contact Rick or Schedule a Playing Lesson
ROBIN AIKENS - LPGA Member Professional
Primary Location - Jackson Park
Robin Aikens is one of 6 African American women on the planet that hold membership in the LPGA. She has won two awards for her teaching ability: 2001 Hook a Kid on Golf "New Program of the Year Award" for teaching inner city youth through her non-profit, Inner City Youth Development, Inc.; and
2009 Outstanding Leader of Golf Award given at the 2009 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida by the African American Golfers Digest. Robin Aikens is a former Division I Head Women's Golf Coach at Chicago State University.
Robin's Teaching Philosophy is rooted in her students embracing strong fundamentals. She believes that when this is done, her students will be able to "Self-Correct", which leads to better scores on the golf course.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Robin at Jackson Park
Click Here to Contact Robin or Schedule a Playing Lesson
JAKE SANDUSKY - PGA PROFESSIONAL
Primary location - Highland Woods
As a Class A - PGA Teaching Professional since 2005 Jake has devoted his career to teaching golf to all ages and levels of players. His career began at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton working as the 1st Assistant and Teaching Professional for two years. In 2007 he took a position with Todd Sones and the Impact Golf Staff at White Deer Run in Vernon Hills where his time was spent training and perfecting his craft with one of the best teachers in the Midwest. The winter months Jake dedicates to traveling, observing and studying the styles and theories of the country’s most recognized instructors: Dr. Jim Suttie, Dr. Gary Wiren, Craig Shankland, Bob Toski, Tom Patri, Jim Hardy, Chris O’Connell, Martin Hall, Mike LaBauve, Sandy LaBauve, E.J. Pfister, Rick Martino, Laird Small, Peter Krause, and Mike Adams.
In Janurary 2010 Jake started a teaching business and founded Sandusky Golf. We're very excited about the future of this new business and its potential to reach many students. Jake is constantly searching for knowledge and better, faster ways to help his students. It is his belief that it should not be a long, painstaking process towards more consistent golf shots. Each individual has their tendencies and remaining flexible allows him to produce great results with everyone. The shape or "look" of your swing is irrelevant. Look at all the different and successful swings on all 3 tours. Some of them are extremely different. There is no one way to build a golf swing. Jake is only interested in correct and consistent results. The impact and ballflight are his guide to teaching. Let impact and ballflight be your guide to better golf as well. The perfect "looking" swing is not necessarily an effective one.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Jake at Highland Woods
Click Here To Contact Jake or Scheduled a Playing Lesson
LLOYD HIGLEY – TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Diversey Driving Range
As an avid student of the game, Lloyd Higley’s knowledge and understanding of swing fundamentals will make the game easy to learn and more fun to play. Lloyd gained a great deal of invaluable teaching experience under the guidance of Fred Shoemaker of Extraordinary Golf; John Toppel, a PGA Tour player for many years; and John Jacobs. “My philosophy as a teacher is to teach my students to become their own best teacher by getting them to understand the flight of the golf ball and how it relates to the swing.”
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Lloyd at Diversey
Click Here to Contact Lloyd or Schedule a Playing Lesson
CHRIS OTIS – TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Diversey Driving Range
With 30 years of teaching experience, 26 at Diversey, Chris Otis knows the ins and outs of turning people into golfers, and golfers into successful low handicap players. Chris focuses on optimal mechanics and how to practice properly, the goal in mind is to have you become your own best teacher. “You play like you practice.”
Click Here to Contact Chris or Schedule a Playing Lesson
EMANUEL WORLEY – TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
Primary Locations: Jackson Park
The basis of Emanuel Worley's teaching comes from the many years of playing competitive golf at every level - Junior Tournaments, Amateur Tournaments and professional events. Working with top teaching professionals in the industry, Emanuel has developed a sound understanding of golf swing mechanics and the mental aspects of learning and teaching.
He has dedicated himself to learning and teaching the golf swing in a simple and effective manner, His teaching involves the use of drills, visual pictures, and video. In addition to teaching the mechanics of the golf swing, he adds insight into other areas of the golf game, such as the importance of short game, course management, the inner game, and areas of physical fitness.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Emanuel at Jackson Park
Click Here to Contact Emanuel or Schedule a Playing Lesson
MONROE HART
Primary Locations: George W. Dunne National
Monroe Hart, revered by his students throughout America as a unique and innovative golf teacher. Some even say he is the best teacher that ever taught the game. For over three decades Monroe has continually provided golfers with a level of golf instruction that few teachers can match.
Monroe is special because of his unique approaches to making the golf swing and putting techniques appear much easier than they really are. He is most proud of his understanding that it takes much more than just telling a student what to do. He understands that if you are really going to help a student you will not only need to be a teacher, you’ll need to be an innovator, a demonstrator, a researcher, a psychologist, an inventor, a comedian, and a host of other things.
Click Here to Contact Monroe or Schedule a Playing Lesson
Tony Malatesta, PGA Teaching Professional
Primary Location - Whisper Creek
Tony Malatesta has been in the golf industry for over 22 years and a PGA Professional since 1993. During that time, Tony has provided instruction to players of all levels of ability including women, seniors and juniors. Tony was mentored by Golf Digest Top 100 teacher and prominent LPGA instructor Ed Oldfield Sr., PGA Master Professional Reggie Starzyk, and long time club professional Don Habjan. He was an instructor at the Motorola Western Open Clinics from 1995-1999, and the Chicago Golf Show from 1999-2004. Tony regularly participates in Illinois PGA Section tournaments where he has had many high finishes, and has qualified to play in the Illinois Open on 7 occasions.
Tony’s teaching philosophy revolves around teaching the golf swing in a simple and effective, yet fun manner. He understands that people learn in different ways, so he uses a combination of verbal, feel, and visual methods to correct his pupil’s swing flaws. In addition to teaching the mechanics of the golf swing, Tony stresses the importance of the short game, and he adds insight into other areas of the game such as course management, etiquette, and physical fitness.
Click Here to Schedule an Individual Lesson with Tony at Whisper Creek
Click Here to Contact Tony or Schedule a Playing Lesson
GIL DAVIS – TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
Primary Location: Marquette Park
Gil Davis has been teaching in Chicago for over 10 years, most recently at East Bank Club. Prior to East Bank Club Gil taught for ESPN golf Schools as their Midwest regional instructor. While with ESPN Gil was mentored by Hank Haney and Ed Bowe.
Gil also worked for the Nicklaus-Flick Golf Schools based at Harborside Golf Course. Gil’s teaching philosophy is building solid fundamentals of the golf swing. He believes that with a good foundation you can eliminate the majority of the flaws in the swing. Gil feels that while everyone doesn’t swing the same way that they should have a clear understanding of what they are learning and what the cause and effect it has on their swing.
