THE COACHING TEAM

Ronald Coleman Jones

“Today you don’t have to play golf. Today you get to play golf!”

Coach Ron Jones grew up in Danville, Virginia. He started playing golf at the age of 4 when his father and grandfather introduced him to the game.

Ron comes from a family of PGA teaching professionals, with his dad, his brother and himself being PGA pros. He started his teaching career in 1996 but started teaching exclusively in 2003. He describes himself as a passionate, fun and relentless golf coach.

Before joining IJGA, he was the Director of Golf Instruction at the Golf Academy of America and his recognitions include PGA Member, Trackman Certification, V-1, TPI level one, Coutour Putter Fitter Certification and SAM Putt Lab certified.

Career Highlights: 5 holes in one

Grant Balcke

“Take a moment to close your eyes, prior to each shot then follow your routine with focus.”

Grant Balcke is a seasoned golf coach known for his honest and fair approach to golf training.
With over 15 years of experience, his golf career spans three continents.

Grant started his professional coaching career at the acclaimed National Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia as a part of the Australian PGA Education system. After 2 years, Grant moved to South East Asia to become the Junior Development Manager and eventually Owner of the Asian Golf Institute based at the Keppel Club in Singapore coaching players of all levels.

Prior to turning professional, Grant enjoyed a successful junior and amateur career and played NCAA DI golf at the University of Southern Mississippi. Coach Grant came to IJGA because he aspired to work with Elite Junior Players full time and aid them in developing as players and people. “Gary’s Coaching and the system of Training was something that I believed matched my goals and beliefs in the golf swing and game development, so it was a great fit to
join the coaching team.”

He enjoys the constant challenge and how the game blends numerous skill sets together all into onesport. Golf gives young players the opportunity, direction, knowledge, and assistance to work hard, stay on task and achieve their goals. Grant believes that in the development of junior athletes, there needs to be technical proficiency in order for strategy, mental and personal performance.

Grant has coached and mentored both national and international players to receive college golf
scholarships to Division 1 schools. He has also assisted and instructed professionals including Morgan Hoffman, Shanshan Feng, Ariya & Moriya Jutanugarn, Lydia Ko and Yani Tseng.

Kris Sirak
Master Club-Maker/Fitter and Assistant Coach

With IJGA Bishops Gate since 2013

Kris Sirak brings his strong passion for the art of Custom Club-Making and enjoyment of working with junior golfers to IJGA Bishops Gate. Kris has been named a Certified Custom Club-Fitter by all of the following companies: Titleist, Ping, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Callaway, Cobra, Fourteen, Tour Edge, OBAN, Fujikura, Matrix and PXG.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

• Certifications from:
• San Diego Golf Academy Golf Properties Management
• Trackman University (Certified Level 2 Professional)
• Flightscope Academy (Certified Professional)
• SAM Putt-lab Certified Instructor/Fitter
• Golfsmith International GCA (Certified Master Club-Maker)
• Certified Mitchell Club-Maker and Equipment Partner.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• Competed in Maxfli Junior PGA Championship at PGA National Golf Club

PROFESSIONALS WORKED WITH

• Morgan Hoffmann
• Yani Tseng
• Charles Howell III
• D.A. Points
• Suzann Pettersen
• Shanshan Feng
• Na Yeon Choi
• Amy Yang
• To name a few…

Dave Shenosky

“Focus on what is in front of you, because it is the only thing you can control.”

Dave Shenosky is a passionate and caring coach.

He joined the GGGA team in the fall of 2013. With his extensive background as a professional caddy on the LPGA and Symetra Tours and teaching professional at two different golf clubs, Dave brings a great deal of knowledge to coaching and tournaments from a player’s perspective.

Dave joined the academy team because of “the opportunity to learn and grow as a coach from Gary Gilchrist using his system of training and the ability to have an impact on young students.”
In his time here at GGGA, he has assisted Gary in the coaching of many professional players including Shanshan Feng, Fabrizio Zanotti, Paula Creamer, Haotong Li, Ssu-Chia Cheng, and China’s Guangdong National Team both here at the academy and in Guangzhou, China.

He is Level 4 certified in the Gary Gilchrist Training System, K-Vest certified and has completed the level one TPI Certification. Coach Dave keeps swing goals and game development simple for his students while developing a process and plan to reach their goals. “Your success in the game of golf is not about perfection, but the ability to respond and build resilience to situations and challenges.

Dave has represented GGGA all over the world. He has executed golf clinics in Chile, Taiwan, Colombia, and China. He was an integral part of developing and implementing golf programs and coaches training for the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy in Beijing, China.

He is motivated by his student’s drive to get better, their want for improved results and the opportunity to help them reach their goals. He believes in celebrating the small victories throughout the process.

“The lessons learned in golf help young athletes to be better equipped to have the mindset for successing anything they desire to accomplish.”

Drake Edmond
Senior Coach

Drake Edmond’s love for the game, competitive nature playing the game and commitment to self-improvement was something he wanted to share with golfers of all levels. Drake is proficient in utilizing Sam Putt Lab, Trackman, force plates and V1 analysis. Through his calm, supportive demeanor, Drake develops each player to have confidence in themselves and the resilience needed to be a top junior golfer.

EDUCATION/ACCREDITATION

• Golf Management degree, Professional Golfer’s Career College

EXPERIENCE

• Instructor, David Leadbetter Golf Academy
• Instructor, Nike Golf Camps

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• Rookie of the Year
• LaPorte Herald Argus Golfer of the Year
• 3x DAC All-conference Player of the Year
• 2x MVP
• State finalist

David Louys-Moroney
Senior Coach

David is the cosmopolitan of the IJGA Bishops Gate team with 16 years teaching experience from nine countries around the world. David brings his knowledge and unerring work ethic to IJGA Bishops Gate and these qualities have quickly established him as a popular and valued member of the team.

EDUCATION/ACCREDITATION

• New Zealand Professionals Golfers Apprecticeship, 1997

EXPERIENCE

• Professional, Australian Sunshine Circuit
• National Development Coach, Slovenia
• Director, David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Turkey and South Korea
• Senior Coach, England and Ireland

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

• 4 KLPGA wins
• Yun Ji ChO, won the 2010 KLPGA Rookie of the Year

Bryan Mulry

“Stick with your first decision and don’t be worried about making a mistake.”

Bryan Mulry’s is more than just a golf instructor, he is a coach to his students.
Coach Bryan started playing golf at the age of 9, attracted to the sport because it was one of the few that can you play individually. In 1995, Bryan graduated from the Professional Golf Management Program at Ferris State University.

Before joining the International Junior Golf Academy, Bryan spent 11 years as a Head PGA Golf
Professional managing two 18-hole private facilities. He oversaw golf operations, the on-course golf shop and performing all golf instructional programs for students and adults of all ages!

His experiences teaching the game of golf on the lesson tee and golf course have helped him improve golfers of all ages and skill levels throughout the world. He came to IJGA because “there isn’t a better program for any young aspiring golfers to attend. At the academy, I have an amazing opportunity to teach and coach juniors with goals, desires and drive to better their futures academically, personally and professionally.”

He truly believes in Gary Gilchrist’s system of training and the improvement and positive results of his students keep him motivated. Bryan is a dedicated coach who supports his students both on and off the course. “It’s amazing how golf and life’s challenges and stories blend so well together.”

As a golf clinic specialist, Bryan has traveled throughout many countries demonstrating and teaching golfers how to better their game using 5 main components of the training system, technical, physical, mental, strategy and personal development.

Carlos Pasarell

Carlos Pasarell was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and moved to Florida at the age of 16.

He attended the University of Central Florida and earned a golf scholarship as walk on. Then he moved to Norway where he coached golfers of all ages for 2 years.

After moving back to the United States, Carlos decided to pursue a professional career in golf. He played the Q school in 1998 and the Canadian Tour Q school in 2002. He also played at mini tours in Florida and South Carolina. A few years later, he found a passion for coaching junior golfers. As of today, Carlos has over 25 years of coaching experience.

His previous positions include Director of Golf at Alaqua Country Club and a coach at Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy.

Chris Landau
Golf Coach

Christian was raised in Novi, Michigan. His dad got him into golf when he was 3 years old and has been infatuated with the game ever since. His golf career started when he was in high school working as carts at Coyote Golf Club in New Hudson Michigan.

After graduating high school, he continued to work in golf shops/golf retail until he joined the United States Marine Corp. and was Active Duty from 2008-2011. His occupation while Active Duty was security forces/infantry. After being honorably discharged, he became the Director of Golf at Moose Ridge Golf Course in South Lyon Michigan.

Wanting to grow and learn more about the game, Christian enrolled in 2013 to The Golf Academy of America in Orlando where he studied Complex Golf Course Management (under current lead coach Ron Jones and housing director Brad Turner at IJGA) where he graduated with honors as well as his Golf Teaching Certificate. He received multiple short game awards and also won 3 tournaments. From there, he went on to become the Head Golf Professional at Zellwood Station Golf Club. While at Zellwood Station, he volunteered to become the swing coach/assistant coach to the Apopka High school Golf Team under coach Don Carey.

He became a PGA member in 2016 currently class B; however, working on his Class A. As a member of the PGA, he won a Sectional PGA event a PRO-AM at LPGA international where his team won and he was also the low pro. He has also placed top 5 in two other section events. Christian has easily given over 1000 individual lessons throughout his career as well as hosted many group clinics for men, women and children. Christian is proficient at Trackman and Sam Putt lab. His favorite part of the game from a early age was chipping, pitching and putting. He loves how creative players get to be with trying different shots, so naturally his favorite thing to teach is short game.

Gary Wise
Golf Coach

Gary has been a fully certified member of the Professional Golf Association of Australia since 1987, currently holding an Advanced Certification in Coaching. Throughout his career Gary has been very fortunate to have been entrusted with very diverse roles in public service leadership, professional golf, and athlete performance development.

During his 30 plus years coaching in many parts of the world, he has helped prepare players at every level of golf, from beginners to PGA Tour Major Champions. Today Gary’s goal is to share his experience, knowledge and passion learned over the years with the students at IJGA. As a golf performance coach and athlete, Gary embraces the simple philosophy of LEARN – PREPARE – PERFORM.

Partial Coaching Transcript:

• Australian Sports Medicine Foundation: Certified Sports Trainer. 1984
• Professional Golf Association of Australia: Certified Member.1987
• PGA Australia Long Drive Champion, 1989 – 1991
• International Sports Sciences Association: Certified Golf Fitness Instructor. 2000
• United States Golf Fitness Association: Certified Master Golf Fitness Instructor. 2002
• C.H.E.K Institute: Golf Biomechanics Certification 2003
• American Council on Exercise: Theory and Methodology of Training Certificate, 2009
• United States Sports Academy: Sports Psychology certified, 2010
• Australian Sports Commission: High Performance Coaching certified, 2014
• United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), National Youth Team, Manager / Coach.
• Authored the “Junior and Youth Lifesaving Learning Objectives”. Which was submitted and approved by the International Lifesaving Society (ILS) as the
  standard of expectation in order for USLA Junior Lifeguards to be eligible to compete in International competition.
• As a Master’s athlete, Gary has won International Lifesaving Society World Surfboat rowing championships; World Paddling Association paddleboard championships; and former Master’s indoor rowing world record holder.

Qiqi Wang
Golf Coach

Native from China, Qiqi started playing golf at the age of 13 when she joined the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy as a student. After graduating from High School, she committed to Appalachian State University to continue her career in collegiate golf.

Qiqi decided to become a golf coach because of her enthusiasm for this sport and her passion for helping people to achieve their best. She chose to be at IJGA because she shares the team’s vision and passion for coaching. She describes herself as committed, caring, professional

Nick McMillen

Coach Nick is a native from Marietta, Georgia. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia. After that, he received his Masters degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Before joining IJGA, Nick was the mental performance coach for Cooper Sports Performance in Tampa where he worked with numerous athletes from youth to professional. He was attracted to golf from a mental standpoint because it is a sport where the mental aspect is so prominent.

Nick describes himself as a nonjudgmental, empathetic, and passionate coach who wants student-athletes to use mental skills to improve not only their performance, but also other aspects of their lives.

For him, Mental Performance is a lifestyle that helps players to improve confidence and focus on and off the course.

Karen Harrison
Director of Health and Athletic Development

With IJGA Bishops Gate since 2015

Karen Harrison has an eye for detail and this is reflected in the meticulous fitness assessments and improvement plans created for IJGA Bishops Gate students. Originally trained as a podiatrist, Karen studied at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, then at the University of Queensland to obtain a Post-Graduate Degree in Exercise Science (majoring in Biomechanics). In 2004, Golf BioDynamics (GBD), the company jointly owned with husband Dr. Robert Neal, re-located to The Jim McLean Golf School in Miami, Florida (USA). Over the next decade, Karen further developed her golf skills, specializing in swing analysis, becoming proficient in BioFeedback Training and providing physical training programs for golfers of all abilities. In 2014/2015, Karen assumed the role as Director of Health and Athletic Development with the IJGA team in Hilton Head (SC) joining the IJGA Bishops Gate team in 2015. The fitness program delivered alongside Performance Specialist Justin Smith, is of the highest quality and challenges our students to reach their athletic potential. Karen also has extensive experience in managing overuse injuries and recently completed a prestigious qualification in Sports Nutrition through the International Olympic Committee.

Justin Smith
Strength and Conditioning Coach

With IJGA Bishops Gate since 2014

Justin Smith has been a Performance Specialist since 2009, working under world-renowned Strength and Conditioning coach Pat Etcheberry in the Orlando, Fla. area. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology at the University of Kentucky (UK), as well as completing an internship in the Strength and Conditioning Department. While at UK, Justin was a diver on the Men’s Swimming and Diving team and an SEC finalist on multiple occasions. Drawing from his own athletic career, Justin brings a wealth of experience, intensity and discipline to all of the athletes he coaches. He has worked with both developing and high-level athletes in multiple sports, including PGA Tour Pros and MLB All-Stars. A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Justin is certified through the NSCA.