Golf Channel Academy Goes Live

You've watched Brian Crowell, Michael Breed, and Martin Hall on Golf Channel Academy. Now you can get live in-person lessons from teaching professionals of their caliber nationwide.  Golf Channel Academy, a dedicated network of teaching facilities and a hands-on extension of Golf Channel’s Golf Channel Academy prime time instruction programming, will begin to roll out this week with an initial 57 locations in 26 states and Canada. Five of them are within (or near) the NY metro area.

Golf Channel Academy offers a chance to receive personalized instruction from some of the game’s finest coaches. Its primary mission is to bring these top teachers together and make it easier for avid amateur golfers to experience their high-quality instruction. Each location’s teaching philosophy will be based on that coach’s particular proven methods that elevated him or her to the top of the golf teaching profession, but all will be dedicated to the philosophy that learning takes place over a period of time, and the relationship between coach and student is an on-going one devoted to long-lasting improvement.

A directory of all Golf Channel Academy locations and additional information on the facilities, programs, PGA of America and LPGA teaching credentials, and the inaugural group of more than 190 lead and staff coaches can be found at GolfChannelAcademy.com.

“Golf Channel Academy is a natural brand extension of our popular, high-quality instructional programming,” says Mike McCarley, president, Golf Channel. “Our viewers will have the opportunity to interact with Golf Channel’s brand beyond traditional media platforms as Golf Channel Academy facilities open in markets across North America. Golf Channel works closely with PGA of America and LPGA teaching professionals and values their ability to enhance golfer’s enjoyment of the game, which ultimately encourages their students to play more golf. With this goal in mind, Golf Channel Academy coaches are committed to engaging golfers through instruction to make the game more accessible, inviting and fun.”

The inaugural group of Golf Channel Academy lead coaches in our area includes:

• Paul Ramee, Jr.Bull’s Bridge G.C., South Kent, CT

• Jason Birnbaum, New Jersey Golf Academy, Roseland, NJ

• Kelley Brooke, The Golf Academy of Randall’s Island, New York City

• Anders Mattson, Saratoga National G.C., Saratoga Springs, NY

• Mitchell Spearman, Mitchell Spearman Golf Academy at Doral Arrowwood, Rye Brook, NY

The Golf Channel Academy is yet another brand extension from the multimedia enterprise formed by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of the NBC Sports Group.  In addition to golf programming on television and various digital platforms, Golf Channel operates GolfNow, Golf Advisor.com, and the Golf Channel Am Tour.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Mitchell Spearman Joins Golf Channel Academy

Mitchell Spearman

The newly formed Golf Channel Academy has named another local facility and leading teacher to its lineup. Mitchell Spearman, founder and owner of the Mitchell Spearman Golf Academy with locations in New York, Virginia and Maryland, has been named one of the inaugural instructors.

“I’m very excited to be among the first teachers associated with the new, dynamic Golf Channel Academy,” said Spearman, member of GOLF magazine’s “Top 100 Teachers in America” list since its inception. “This is a chance for golf instructors to work together, learning from one another and adopting best practices in both teaching and the business of teaching. I think it’s going to propel the coaches and coaching forward in a big way.”

Golf Channel Academy is the first network of its kind devoted to efficiently growing the business of golf instruction. With 44 charter locations already committed, Golf Channel Academy will be inviting additional coaches to become part of the network as it officially launches in April 2015.

A native of Great Britain, Spearman has been teaching golf for 30 years. He was first exposed to the game by his aunt, two-time British Ladies’ Amateur champion Marley Spearman, and proved to be a fast learner, breaking par for the first time at age 12. By the time he was 18, he had also qualified for the British PGA Championship.

Mitchell decided to make his mark in teaching, however, and in 1988 traveled to America to become David Leadbetter’s chief lieutenant and Worldwide Director of Instruction, a position he held for 10 years. During that period, he worked with several major champions and World Golf Hall of Famers, including Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Tom Watson, and Nick Price. Other past and present students include Craig Parry, Laura Davies, Jan Stephenson and Billy Hurley III.

Golf Channel Academy will feature Spearman and his staff of instructors at the following locations: Doral Arrowwood Golf Club in Rye Brook, N.Y.; Belmont Country Club in Ashburn, Va.; Dominion Valley Country Club in Haymarket, Va.; and the Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Spearman and his coaches will benefit from a wide-spectrum of business consulting services and products addressing marketing, sales, technology and back-office solutions needs, as well as shared best practices across the network. Coaches also will have the opportunity to appear on instructional programming across Golf Channel’s television and digital platforms. Students at Golf Channel Academy locations will be able to track their progress using advanced software to measure specific goals under the direction of their personal coach.

“Golf Channel Academy will align the top coaches from across the country to run their business within a robust, collaborative operation,” said Todd Wilson, CEO of Golf Channel Academy. “Our members will have a unique opportunity to tap into best practices and proprietary data that will assist each member instructor and academy operation to grow their business while operating under one unified brand.”

A featured host and instructor on the international television show Golfing World, Spearman has written articles for such golf publications as GOLF and The Met Golfer, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal. He is the author of “AIM of Golf,” which uses visual imagery to help optimize performance, and was one of the first golf instructors to produce a mobile app (Golf Shot Fixes) to assist golfers who need instant help on the course.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Kelley Brooke to Help Inaugurate Golf Channel Academy

Kelley Brooke

Kelley Brooke, owner of The Golf Academy of Randall’s Island in New York City, has been named as one of the inaugural instructors of the newly formed Golf Channel Academy. Brooke is among the first thirty of the game’s most influential and recognizable teachers coming together to establish a dedicated network of instruction facilities with the active support of Golf Channel.

“I’m very excited to be among the first teachers associated with the new, dynamic Golf Channel Academy,” said Brooke, ranked a Top 50 Golf Instructor in the nation by Golf Range Magazine. “This is a chance for golf instructors to work together, learning from one another and adopting best practices in both teaching and the business of teaching. I think it’s going to propel the coaches and coaching forward in a big way.”

Golf Channel Academy is the first network of its kind devoted to efficiently growing the business of golf instruction. With thirty charter locations already committed, Golf Channel Academy will be inviting additional coaches to become part of the network as it officially launches in April 2015.

These coaches will receive a wide-spectrum of business consulting services and products addressing marketing, sales, technology and back-office solutions needs, as well as shared best practices across the network. Coaches also will have the opportunity to appear on instructional programming across Golf Channel’s television and digital platforms. Students at Golf Channel Academy locations will be able to track their progress using advanced software to measure specific goals under the direction of their personal coach.

“Golf Channel Academy will align the top coaches from across the country to run their business within a robust, collaborative operation,” said Todd Wilson, CEO of Golf Channel Academy. “Our members will have a unique opportunity to tap into best practices and proprietary data that will assist each member instructor and academy operation to grow their business while operating under one unified brand.”

During the past 23 years, Brooke has done much to change the face of youth and women’s golf in the New York City metropolitan area, forming the not-for-profit NYC Junior Golf Club, Inc., and Police Athletic League Golf Program, while conducting hundreds of Women’s Golf Clinics and Golf Schools.

She also developed a “Fit for Life” program for children with disabilities, providing thousands of children with disabilities throughout the five boroughs an opportunity to play the game.  In 2010, the NYC Mayor’s Office and Commission on Women’s Issues selected Brooke as a woman who has a made a difference during “Women in History Month.”

Golf Channel Academy in Manhattan will feature Brooke and her staff of five instructors: Leslie Andrews, the former Executive Director of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals; John Connelly, a TPI Certified instructor who specializes in identifying physical capabilities and limitations as relayed to the golf swing; Robert Craigmyle, who has 20 years of experience, as both a tournament player and instructor; James Field, an expert in equipment and clubfitting, as well as a member of the European Golf Teachers Federation; and Todd Bordonaro, a PGA certified instructor and sports nutritionist.

Brooke is a protégé of Butch Harmon as well as Craig Bunker at the John Jacobs’ Golf Schools. She has spent the last 37 years in the golf industry as a player, teaching professional and golf facility owner. Brooke has hosted several golf television shows on cable, most recently “Golfing NYC Style” and “The 19th Hole.” She’s also made guest appearances as a golf expert on The Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” and written for many golf periodicals, including Golf Digest and Junior Golf Magazine.

An accomplished player before joining the teaching ranks, Brooke won an individual state championship in high school (Iowa) and earned All-Big 10 honors at the University of Iowa. Kelley also represented the United States as a member of the University World Cup Team. As a high school student she qualified twice for the LPGA Rail Charity Classic. She also competed professionally on the former Futures Tour and Players West Tour.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Lesson Tee Live Debuts on Golf Channel

Set your alarm clock, online calendar, DVR, and whatever else you need to put you in front of the Golf Channel Wednesday, October 8 at 8 PM EDT.  That's when Lesson Tee Live, hosted by Brian Crowell and Annabel Rolley, will debut. Brian, as you may recall, is the author of Slice-Free Golf, a work in which I played a small role.  He's one of the most knowledgeable and expressive teachers in the game and a fine broadcaster as well, having provided commentary for the Masters and numerous national broadcasts in recent years.

Lesson Tee Live will draw heavily on viewer input, so sharpen up your twitter fingers and other social media channels during and shortly after the show.  Your feedback and questions will play a major factor in determining the show's success.  Here's how to get your message to the right people:

• Twitter: @GCA ...and use #lessonteelive 
• Facebook: facebook.com/golfchannelacademy
• Instagram: @lessonteelive

You can also e-mail your comments and golf swings for review to: lessonteelive@golfchannel.com

The more feedback it gets, the better the show, so don't be shy!

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf