Ventana Canyon Golf Academy
Historically Ventana Canyon has offered quality individual golf instruction for Members and guests. We are introducing the Ventana Canyon Golf Academy created to take golf instruction at Ventana Canyon to a new level. We are dedicated to providing our Members and guests outstanding golf instruction everyday with innovative programs and personalized coaching for players of all abilities. Our objective to establish Ventana Canyon as a premier golf school destination will be positively impacted by the talent and experience of our instructional staff. The following PGA Professionals are extremely dedicated to working with their students and the development of the Ventana Canyon Golf Academy.
Dave Simm, PGA - Academy Instructor
Dave Simm began teaching golf at Ventana Canyon as an assistant golf professional in 1988. He has been a member of the PGA for 15 years serving as President of the Southwest PGA Southern Chapter from 2003 – 2005 and twice named Teacher of the Year in 2004 and 2007. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Management and serves as a Lead Instructor for the Arizona Women’s Golf Association Ambassador Program. Dave has the ability to work with players at all levels, he has written numerous articles for the Southern Arizona Tee Time magazine, has been named as a PGA Junior Golf Leader and recognized as a Top 50 Junior Instructor by US Kids Golf.
John Basden, PGA - Academy Instructor
John Basden has been in the golf industry since 1987 and has been a member of the PGA for 12 years. He has coached high school and college golf teams and has had success at the state and national level. He was named the Southwest PGA Southern Chapter Teacher of the Year in 2006. He has extensive training in The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelly and M.O.R.A.D. by Mac O’Grady. John has personally worked with top golf instructors such as Hank Haney, Mac O’Grady, Jimmy Ballard, Mike Bender and Scott Sackett. John has written articles and/or been a contributing editor for Southern AZ Tee Time and Performance Management Magazines. He is a graduate of Arizona State University where he studied Educational Psychology and utilizes this background along with video technology to help his students learn and understand what they are doing in their golf swing.
Susie Meyers, PGA -Teaching Professional
Susie Meyers has been a golf instructor / coach at Ventana Canyon since 1993 and a member of the PGA for 15 years. She is a former All American at the University of Arizona, played on the LPGA Tour and has been named Golf for Women Magazine Top 50 Instructor. She has been a guest speaker for the Gateway PGA in St. Louis, the Golf Federation of Chile, the Italian PGA and at the PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit. Susie, along with Mike Hebron, co-created Neurogolf Learning; Brain Compatible Improvement, which is a brain-based approach for improving ones golf game. Susie provides and supports a learning and developing environment; she believes golfers are not broken in need of fixing but simply on a journey of development.
Brandon Smith, PGA - Head Professional
Since joining the PGA, Brandon Smith has had great success both on and off the golf course. As a member of the University of Arizona’s golf team, Brandon was a PAC10 Academic All-American. His Playing success has continued in the Southwest Section PGA, winning numerous Section and Chapter events including the Southern Chapter Match Play Championship and the PGA Dell Urich Award for low stroke average. He has qualified to compete in the PGA Professional National Championship in 2010, the major championship for club professionals. Brandon coaches all aspects of the game simplifying the mechanics so that you can become a complete player on the golf course.
Staff Instructors
- Jason Lucas
- Pat McNew, PGA
- Aaron Aguilar
- Carl Ward-Allen
