Our Coaching Philosophy
Our passion is developing confident, lifelong golf enthusiasts. The PGA of Canada certified coaches at McCleery Golf Academy help students improve their golf skills and enjoy each learning experience.
We Listen.
Coaches listen carefully and work collaboratively with students to identify goals and create achievable skill development plans. We use a broad-based approach, using technology, tools, and techniques, to customize the best plan for each student, drawing upon and enhancing their natural skill.
We Teach.
Students learn the complexity of the golf swing in simple terms and develop solid fundamentals in order to advance to mastery. From fundamentals, to club control and ball control, we support each student in growing their physical, technical and mental golf skills.
We Share Expertise.
Our PGA of Canada certified instructors are accomplished players, passionate learners and skilled communicators who have coached hundreds to thousands of students. Collectively, our team has more than 60 years of experience in helping players - from first-time beginners, to elite-level amateurs and tour-playing professionals. Our coaching team is comfortable sharing and collaborating with one another when assessing student's swings and game improvement goals. Read what students say about us here.
Our greatest satisfaction is seeing students improve their skills while enjoying the many social connections and positive health benefits golf brings.
We Listen.
Coaches listen carefully and work collaboratively with students to identify goals and create achievable skill development plans. We use a broad-based approach, using technology, tools, and techniques, to customize the best plan for each student, drawing upon and enhancing their natural skill.
We Teach.
Students learn the complexity of the golf swing in simple terms and develop solid fundamentals in order to advance to mastery. From fundamentals, to club control and ball control, we support each student in growing their physical, technical and mental golf skills.
We Share Expertise.
Our PGA of Canada certified instructors are accomplished players, passionate learners and skilled communicators who have coached hundreds to thousands of students. Collectively, our team has more than 60 years of experience in helping players - from first-time beginners, to elite-level amateurs and tour-playing professionals. Our coaching team is comfortable sharing and collaborating with one another when assessing student's swings and game improvement goals. Read what students say about us here.
Our greatest satisfaction is seeing students improve their skills while enjoying the many social connections and positive health benefits golf brings.
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Derek Thornley - PGA Director of Instruction
Derek is a Class ‘A’ Level 5 Teaching Professional with more than 30 years of experience in teaching, coaching, managing golf operations and competing professionally. He is a long-time student of the game, receiving much of his guidance from PGA of Canada Hall of Fame members Alvin Thompson and Stan Leonard, and PGA of America member Stan Utley. He recently served as the technical swing coach for the UBC Men’s and Women's Golf Teams and has coached players on the RCGA National Junior Team and National Women’s Team. He has participated as an assistant coach at the RCGA Western Canada Player Development Camp and currently works with several university level team members. As a player, Derek competed on the Canadian PGA Tour and the Australia / New Zealand PGA Tour. He has also played in Canadian Open qualifying events and reached second stage qualifying for the U.S. Open. Before turning professional, Derek competed in the U.S. Amateur (Chicago, Illinois), several Canadian and BC Amateur Championships and finished 7th in the Canadian Junior Championship. A graduate of Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, Oklahoma), and member of the ORU NCAA Division 1 Golf Team, Derek has coached more than two dozen students that have gone on to receive university scholarships for golf. |
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Gordon Jarvis - PGA Academy Coach
Gordon is a Class “A” Professional with the PGA of Canada. Hailing from Langley BC, Gordon has coached golfers who've played on the PGA Tour, the Canadian Tour, and the Vancouver Golf Tour. He's also "Putting Zone" trained, and has the Miyahira Biomechanics Certification. Gordon has experienced working with a golfer that now has full PGA Tour status. Previously, he worked at GOLFTEC and Hazelmere Golf Course. Accruing over 4000 hours of instruction, Gordon has also taught juniors and high-school aged golfers in BC and the USA, helping them to develop their games and acquire golf scholarships at both college and university. Gordon has just as much passion for helping a beginner develop their game from learning the fundamentals through to advanced scoring techniques. Gordon has acquired both knowledge and experience from prominent instructors, trainers and players and aims to share these strategies, theories and mindset goals with students of all ages and skills. Read what his students have to say here. |
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Kyle Roszmann - PGA Academy Coach
Kyle has taught over 3000 lessons and delivered over 400 club fittings to students of every age, demographic, and playing ability. He believes that establishing a strong foundation of fundamentals and understanding how the ball flies from the swing provides tremendous insight into game improvement. In his approach to juniors, Kyle believes that starting with a solid base of fundamentals and "getting the ball in the hole" with an emphasis on fun will engage young golfers and keep them coming back. Read what his students have to say here. |
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Ryan Kao - PGA Academy Coach
Ryan is a Golf Instructor and past competitive player who was raised in both Taiwan and Vancouver. Fluent in English and Mandarin, Ryan teaches speakers of either language. From winning his first Junior Linkster tournament at age 5, Ryan competed year-round as a youth traveling to China, Indonesia and the Philippines, often placing in the top 3. Ryan was fortunate enough to receive coaching and mentorship of BC Golf Hall of Fame player, Phil Jonas. Ryan is an Apprentice Professional with the PGA of Canada and boasts a handicap under par. In 2021, Ryan graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology. Previously he instructed at indoor facility Elite Golf Club and was an Assistant Golf Pro at McCleery Golf Course. Ryan's teaching philosophy focuses on acquiring simple technical skills such as swing mechanics. Visualization is a large part of his coaching philosophy with an emphasis on transferring visualization into feels. From scratch adults to new juniors, Ryan believes that golf offers skills for life as a whole. Read what his students have to say here. |
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Kat Kennedy - PGA Academy Coach
Kat Kennedy is a skilled and experienced Class "A" golf professional from Okotoks, AB. As an active member of the PGA of BC, Kat's previous work experience includes Point Grey Golf & Country Club, Kelowna Golf & Country Club, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, and as the Assistant Golf Coach at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC). Kat is further certified in additional golf performance disciplines, such as the Titleist Performance Institution, Boditrak Golf Ground Mechanics, Scott Cowx, Forces & Motion, and Science & Motion Golf Putting. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia and has been a member of the PGA of Canada since 2018. During her time at UBC, Kat played with the UBC Thunderbirds Women's Golf Team (2013 to 2017) and won 11 individual titles and helped her team win 15 times. In 2018, she was awarded UBC’s Top Female Athlete. After graduation, she won the 2018 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2021 PGA of BC Women’s Championship. Kat brings her competitive playing experience to her coaching, with a philosophy that centres on a commitment to lifelong learning and continuous improvement. She's passionate about guiding her students to unlock their full potential in golf, fostering both technical skill development and a love for the game. Read what her students have to say here. |
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Rie Komoto - Weekend Range Assistant
Rie is a lifelong athlete who played competitive baseball and softball before moving away from her native Japan to Canada to play ice hockey at the age of 16. When a friend took her to McCleery to introduce her to golf, she was instantly hooked, and with tutelage from her coaches, now plays in tournaments. As the McCleery Range Assistant, Rie loves giving guidance on our lesson programs, meeting lots of people who also love golf and discussing the game with other passionate players. You’ll see her every weekend at the Range. |
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Katrina Johnson - Administrative Assistant
Katrina is the Administrative Assistant for the Academy. Her background in the golf industry began in Edmonton (AB) as Food & Beverage Manager, then later as the Director of Golf at the Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club in Vernon (BC). In addition to working with the Fraserview and McCleery Golf Academies, Katrina volunteers with the food programme at her children’s school and operates a Bed & Breakfast in Vernon. She is also a competitive runner. |
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