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2002 Camps, Schools and Academies - A Work of Heart
By Kelly Hill
Managing Editor

A small, handmade wooden sign hangs discreetly from a closet door in an urban classroom. Adorned with an apple in one corner, the sign reads: Teaching is a Work of Heart.

When the 2002 golf season finally arrives in Michigan, hundreds, if not thousands, of golf professionals will attest to the truth of the statement made on that small sign in a kindergarten classroom in Grand Rapids. This states golf professionals love to teach and this summer will be doing so at countless camps, schools and academies. The work of art that results from their work of heart is - hopefully - an improved swing, fewer strokes and a greater appreciation for the game.

A students options are numerous and as varied as the spring weather in Michigan, but know this, for Michigans teaching golf professionals It is a Work of Heart.

Here is a brief look at some of your options:

Academy Golf Schools
A Midwest-based school whose mission, for the last 15 years, has been to provide the finest instruction at affordable prices, Academy Golf Schools offers student to teacher ratios of 3:1 or 4:1 and that instructor is never anyone by school founder Rick Davenport.

The first Michigan stop of the season is slated for the week of April 29 at the Oaks and Park Inn International in St. Joseph. Three-day, two-night sessions with 10 hours of instruction range from $395-$550 while extended stays with up to 40 hours of instruction range from $650 to more than $1,000. The April week in St. Joseph will be available for $475.

Several schools of varying lengths, at various courses around the state, will be available this season.

Contact: (800) 677-2527.

Boyne
With properties such as Bay Harbor Golf Club, Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain and the Country Club of Boyne, Boyne USA has become a premier golf destination in Michigan. With its popular Super Five Golf Week, Golf Weeks for Women and Junior Golf Academy, Boyne also has become a premier learning center.

The Super Five Golf Weeks, which ranged from $745-$845 last year, afforded the opportunity to play any or all of the Boyne courses. The six-day Junior Golf Academy was $650 last year. Contact: (800) GO-BOYNE or www.boyne.com.

Crystal Mountain
The Crystal Mountain Golf School, recently named one of Americas Top 25 Golf Schools by Golf Magazine, has been directed since its 1994 creation by Brad Dean, a two-time Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year.

New to the school this year is the addition of LPGA Tour player and Michigan native Elaine Crosby to the teaching staff. Crosby will be offering a series of six three-day schools exclusively for women. Featuring over 16 hours of instruction on and off the golf course, as well as two nights lodging, meals, a cocktail reception with Crosby and unlimited golf, the schools will be offered in addition to the more than 70 other sessions Dean and his staff of seven PGA pros will offer at the Thompsonville resort.

The addition of Elaine to our teaching staff really fine tunes the instructional offerings that we have at The Crystal Mountain Golf School, Dean said. We will be drawing upon Crosbys experience and course management expertise that comes from her 16 years on the Tour. Women wanting to seriously improve their game will learn a tremendous amount from Elaine, particularly in course management.

Dates of the camp are: May 26-28, May 31-June 2, June 7-9, June 19-21, June 21-23 and July 26-28. The cost of the camp is $949 per person, double occupancy.

Contact: (231) 378-2000 or www.crystalmtn.com.

Garland
The Midwests only AAA Four-Diamond golf facility, Garland hosted three two-day Junior Golf Clinics last summer. This summers schedule of golf clinics and other instructional offerings, however, were not available at press time.

Contact: (877) 4GARLAND or www.garlandusa.com.

Georgian Bay Golf Academy
The Tees Please Golf Target Range is now the home of the Georgian Bay Golf Academy which is under the direction of Cameron Burechails, who also serves as the Director of Golf at Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario. The academy will offer private and group lessons, weekly instructional clinics and junior golf camps.

Short-game and on-course instruction will be offered at the resorts Monterra Golf Club. The two-day junior camps, which last year were offered for $99, included six hours of instruction, a Future Links handbook, a bag tag, range balls, refreshments and daily prizes.

Contact: (705) 445-0231 or www.bluemountain.ca.

Indiana Golf Academy
A graduate of Ferris State Universitys Professional Golf Management program, Steve Bonnell, the PGA pro and Director of the Indiana Golf Academy, has been teaching the game for 20 years. Once you arrive our professional staff will devote its complete attention to improving your game and making your golf more enjoyable, Bonnell said. Our instructors teach methods that allow you to quickly grasp the mechanics of the golf swing. We guarantee to help you develop a better golf game.

A year ago the academy, which utilizes Mystic Hills as well as Pine View and Pond View Golf Courses, offered four-day, three-night programs that included unlimited golf, daily instruction with a student to teacher ration no greater than 4:1, video analysis and on-course training. Located in Indiana, this academys programs have opened earlier in the season than most of its Michigan counterparts.

Contact: (800) 972-9636 or www.indianagolfacademy.com.

Jim McLean Golf School
Under the direction of Jason Jenkins, the Jim McLean Golf School has returned to Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Jenkins, who has now been with the school for four of its five years at the resort and spa, recently was nominated for Golf magazines list of the nations Top 100 Teachers. A graduate of Penn State University, Jenkins spends his winters at PGA West and his summers at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Bryan Lebedevitch, who played competitively at Loyola (Maryland) University and has served as McLeans personal assistant, is expected to join Jenkins as an instructor at the school. Lebedevitch also worked with four-time Michigan Open champion Scott Hebert prior to last years Open on The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

The Jim McLean Golf School, which will operate between May and September, offers private instruction; one- two- or three-day golf schools; corporate clinics and junior (12-17) golf weeks.

The Meadows at Grand Valley State University The site of last years NCAA Division II National Golf Championship and the site of this years NCAA womens finals, The Meadows has also hosted the renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy. At press time, however, the facility had not yet renewed its agreement with the Leadbetter academy and its senior instructor, Scott Holden.

The Lady Lakers golf coach, Lori Stinson, has two camps scheduled exclusively for women this summer. A Ladies Weekend is scheduled for June 8-9 while the Girls Golf Camp is slated for June 23-27.

Contact: (616) 895-1004, (616) 895-3082 or www4.gvsu.edu/meadows

Mulligans Golf Center
Home of the worlds largest golf dome, Mulligans in Auburn Hills features six teaching professionals. All of our instructors are friendly, courteous and knowledgeable regarding the intricacies of the golf swing, said Director of Instruction Marc White.

Private or group lessons are available at a cost ranging from $35 for a single lesson to $320 for a series of eight lessons.

Contact: (248) 332-4653 or www.mulligansgolfcenter.com.

Nike Golf Schools
Mike Hodgins, Kevin Tucci and Brad Bedortha, all of whom graduated from Ferris State Universitys Professional Golf Management program, now present the Nike Golf Schools at Ferris Katke Golf Course.

Our teaching priorities include golf as a game of fun, excitement and lifetime enjoyment, Hodgins said. We have designed the camps to be goal-oriented, which provides players of all ages and skill levels a positive learning environment.

Last years Nike Golf School schedule included week-long junior camps priced at $450 for commuters and $550 for residents. Adult weekend camps were priced at $395 or $495.

Contact: (800) 645-3226 or www.katkegolf.com/camps.

Jim Norgart Golf Academy
Available at three of southeast Michigans premier courses, Pine Trace Golf Club in Rochester Hill, Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township and Shepherds Hollow Golf Club in Clarkston, this academy is dedicated to being the regions best player development center. With more than 25 years of experience, Norgart has studied under teaching legends David Leadbetter and Hank Haney.

We will work with you to develop a personal plan to improve the flight of your golf ball, Norgart said. Well take you all the way up to the most critical moment of the swing impact.

A variety of sessions are available, at varying lengths and for players of any skill level.

Contact: (248) 343-3675 or www.jimnorgartgolfacademy.com.

Trevor Parkinson Golf School
Whether indoors in Rochester Hills or outdoors at Twin Lakes Golf Club in Oakland, this is the only golf school with seven Astar Systems in one facility. Every student at this schools uses an Astar System during personalized instruction and practice, so as to gain a greater visual understanding of their golf swing. Each student also receives a personalized vide tape of their swing, complete with graphics, drills and instruction and a voice-over that explains everything.

We educate our students so that they understand their golf swing and the golf swing in general, making it easy to learn and make changes, said Kevin Riley, the Director of Teaching at the Trevor Parkinson Golf School. We guarantee to improve their golf swing.

Contact: (248) 608-9634 or www.trevorparkinson.com.

Partridge Creek Golf Center
Located in Clinton Township, Partridge Creek provides 45 holes of golf. The facilitys premier course is The Hawk, with its bent grass tees, fairways and greens and multiple tee options.

Golf pro Chas Sarlund established a junior instruction program at The Hawk five years ago. In previous years it has met once each week for 10 weeks during the three summer months.

Contact: (810) 228-3030 or www.partridgecreek.com.

Red Fox Run
PGA Master Professional Frank Guastella and his staff of instructors offer three-day sessions at this Upper Peninsula destination. The Red Fox Run Golf Academy will strive to help you reach your maximum potential by improving your existing skills and by presenting a means to more completely unde stand your golf swing, Guastella said.

The academy offered at the course, located in Gwinn on the site of the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, will be offered this summer on July 17-19, July 31 August 2 which will be for women only, and Aug. 14-16. The cost of $225 per person includes daily instruction, 27 holes of golf, a continental breakfast each day, daily lunch, a personal video analysis and a gift package valued at $40.

Contact: (906) 346-7010 or www.redfoxrun.com.

Treetops
The Rick Smith Golf Academy also has been named one of Americas Top 25 Golf Schools by the editors of Golf magazine. Instruction at the Academy covers the full swing and short game, with features three instructors working with no more than six students. Players can commute to the sessions or take advantage of Treetops superior accommodations. The resorts four courses also are available for play.

Programs offered by the Rick Smith Golf Academy include: The Rick Smith Premier ($750), which is a four-hour session in which a players full swing is analyzed by Smith as well as Director of Instruction Henry Young; Personalized videos as well as a Rick Smith instruction video are included; the Henry Young Two Day Masters, the Henry Young Weekend Workshop and Three Day Classic. The Classic covers the full swing and aspects of the short game and provides on-course instruction.

Contact: (888) TREETOPS or www.treetops.com/ricksmith.

Tri-State University Golf Academy
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this summer, Tri-State University Golf Academy, located at the= schools Zollner Golf Course in northern Indiana, will offer weekend, three-day and five-day schools for adults in June. The academy also will offer specially designed boys sessions from June 23-26 and three- and five-day sessions in July.

The Tri-State Golf Academy is characterized by its commitment to personalized and individual instruction and care, said director Bill SanGiacomo. That commitment means limited enrollment, individual lessons following all clinics, catered meals, daily open play and a variety of amenities.

SanGiacomos staff includes four PGA pros, one LPGA pro, a sports psychologist and golf coaches. We regard our staff like family, SanGiacomo said. We invite our students to enjoy the dedication, friendliness and expert teaching which they possess.

Two weekend sessions, at a rate of $375, are scheduled for May 31-June 2 and June 28-30. Three day sessions, at $525, are slated for June 9-12 and June 16-19; and a five-day session, at $750, is scheduled for June 2-7. Boys pr grams, at a cost of $295 or $495, are scheduled for June 23-26, July 14-17, July 28-31 and July 7-12 and 21-26.

Contact: (219) 665-4203 or www.tristate.edu.

United States Golf Academy
In conjunction with the Swan Lake Resort, this academy offers two- and three-day programs ranging from $445-$895. Tuition includes lodging, lessons, meals, unlimited golf with carts and access to the driving range.

The course matter discussed by the academy includes but is not limited to grip, stance, posture, ball positioning, the short game, trouble shots and course management. Video Analysis is included.

Contact: (800) 582-7539 or www.usgolfacademy.com.


March/April 2002 Issue Table of Content
HomePage | Courses & Resorts | Course Reviews | Golf Architects | Golf Business | Destinations
Golf Travel | Lodging | Golf Guides | Michigan Golf History | Tournaments | Michigan Golf Real Estate
Golf Academies & Schools | Warm Weather & Out of State Golf | Calendar of Events

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