As the Director of Instruction at the Country Club of Maryland, I didn't take the traditional route to my current position. I was introduced to the game at an early age by my Dad, who was a great golfer in his day. As a young kid living in the country, golf wasn't exactly on the top of my list of fun things to do nor was it easily accessible. Activities like riding motorcycles, building tree forts and earning my Eagle Scout badge were more appealing to me at the time. I also fell in love with bicycle road racing when I was 16, so that became my obsession for the next 5 years. I was fortunate enough to spend a month at the Colorado Olympic Training Center for cycling, with hopes of making it a career someday. After a few unforeseen knee surgeries, golf began to look more appealing to me. I played in golf tournaments on a local level and spent a few years working seasonally in Florida at PGA National Resort & Spa and other South Florida courses. Observing the PGA Academy Instructors in my spare time ultimately started me on the path to a career in golf instruction. I've had the privilege to observe some great teachers over the years, here are a few:Wayne DeFrancesco - Lakewood CC, Md, Mike Bender - Magnolia Plantations, Fl, Dr. Jim Suttie - Twin Eagles CC, Naples, Fl, Bernie Najar -Caves Valley, Md, Bill Davis - Jupiter Hills, Fl, Mike Shannon - Sea Island, Ga, Gail Peterson - Sea Island, Ga, Jack Lumpkin - Sea Island, Ga , Cheryl Anderson - Magnolia Plantations, Fl, Rick Smith Academy - Tiberon, Fl, Mike Adams - Hamilton Farms GC, NJ, James Leitz, John Dunigan - White Manor CC, Pa, Trilliam Rose - Woodmont CC, Md