RICK SMITH GOLF PERFORMANCE CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Certified Golf Coach
- Master Elite Instructor
Armando Echeverria is a Titleist Performance Institute certified golf coach and philosophy revolve around the body swing connection and the Rick Smith compatible variations model.
His 20 years of experience include, swing instructor at GolfTEC Miami, Director of Jr Golf at the Biltmore Hotel and Rick Smith Golf Academy and 4 time Miami Herald High School Golf Coach of the Year. He has expertise in and is certified in jr. Development, swing speed development and ground force mechanics. He enjoys working with players of all abilities, ages, groups and individuals.
Job Titles:
- Master Elite Instructor ( Seasonal )
Bret Hartman is the PGA Head of Instruction for the Rick Smith Golf Academy in MI during the summer months and instructs at Doral in the winter months. He has been teaching over 20 years and is a certified club fittier and TrackMan Specialist. He also has a strong playing background with 8 professional victories. Bret's keen eye. demonstration, communication and motivation skills allow his students to see improvements with in the first lesson. Bret likes to work on all areas on the golf game including playing on the course with his students.
Job Titles:
- Master Elite Instructor ( Seasonal )
Charlie King, PGA has been teaching golf for 29 years. He is the author of three golf instruction books including "Golf's Red Zone Challenge". He has been on the Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher list and is a 13 year member of the Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers. He won the 2011 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year and has won the Horton Smith award for education twice. He has taught at prestigious facilities such as PGA National, Reynolds Lake Oconee, Maroon Creek Club and Nantucket Golf Club. Charlie believes all golfers are unique and need guidance through the process of becoming the best golfer they can become.
Our junior golf program has a great one in Drew and we are happy to have added him to our staff at the #rsgpc
Job Titles:
- Director of Instruction, Master Elite Instructor
Gayle Leslie, our Director of Instruction and Technology, is a Class A PGA professional and TPI certified golf instructor. Originally from Indiana, Gayle has been one of the most sought after golf instructors in Miami since moving to the area in 2005. Gayle was awarded Teacher of the Year for the southern chapter of the South Florida PGA Section in 2016 and Teacher of the Year for the South Florida Section in 2019. He has also been featured on Golf Digest's list for best golf instructors in the state of Florida. Gayle excels at teaching all skill levels from beginner to professional. He has the unique ability to adapt his teaching and coaching to all different types of learning styles and preferences utilizing all of our state of the art golf technology to help expedite the learning process.
Henry Young, PGA, has been teaching golf for almost 50 years, a career that began immediately upon graduation from Duke University, where he played on the golf team four years, and as captain as a senior. For more than 40 years Henry has been a colleague, partner, mentor and friend of Rick's. He has worked alongside Rick conducting corporate outings around the country and accompanies him on the PGA Tour. As teaching associates, their relationship is one of the longest ever in golf instruction. In 1990 Henry co-founded with Rick, the original Rick Smith Golf Academy which he continues to direct in the summer at Forest Dunes in Michigan. Under his leadership, Rick Smith Golf Academies have been consistently ranked as one of the best in America and Henry has received many accolades as an instructor, including Teacher of the Year in the Michigan PGA.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Master Elite Instructor
Intrducing Nick Zappin, a golf instructor of exceptional prowess, renowned for his ability to connect with players on a profound level. With 25+ years dedicated to the sport, Nick's passion for golf is infectious, creating an environment where students thrive.
A master at developing players who excel at the highest amateur levels, Nick's coaching goes beyond technique; it instills an enduring enthusiasm for the game and personal improvement. As a perpetual student of the game, he adapts his instruction to fit individual needs, simplifying intricate concepts or diving deep into analysis.
Nick's expertise spans swing mechanics, body dynamics, strategic player planning, and golf club technology. Certified in FlightScope & BodyTrack instruction and a level 3 Certified Putting Zone Instructor, he brings a holistic approach to teaching. His commitment to continuous learning mirrors his expectations of his students, embodying a lifelong passion for the game.
With Nick Zappin, golf becomes more than a sport; it's a journey of growth shared with an instructor whose fervor for the game is matched only by his dedication to nurturing it in others.
Jackson Fox grew up in Coral Gables, Florida. He attended College of Charleston where he studied political science.
Prior to joining our team, he competed on several local mini tours before turning his attention to golf instruction.
Jackson worked and taught at Granada golf course before joining the team. He studied biomechanics under Rick and has been teaching for over two years. He has accumulated over 500 hours of individual golf instruction since joining our staff.
Jackson enjoys developing players of all skill levels, corporate events, and structured group classes.
Jake has been playing since he was three years old. Played four years of varsity golf at Columbus High School.
Job Titles:
- Master Elite Instructor ( Seasonal )
Jim Schuman, PGA has established himself as an accomplished teacher, player, and coach and has been a member of Rick Smith's instructional team for over twenty years. He has twice been recognized as the Wisconsin PGA Teacher of the Year and is a member of the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame. He continues to work with three-time PGA Tour winner and three-time Champions Tour Winner Jerry Kelly. Jim also worked with Fred Funk helping him to a US Senior Open Championship in 2009.
Jim's competitive experience includes playing in multiple PGA Tour and Champions Tour events, along with Major Championships on both Tours. In his PGA section, Jim earned Wisconsin Player of the Year honors seven times. In 2017, Schuman won both the Member and Senior Player of the Year categories, a first in Section history.
Schuman graduated from the U. of Florida, and where he earned All-American Honors. He later served eight years as Head Coach for the U. of Wisconsin Men's Golf Program.
John has been a resident of South Florida since 1980 and a PGA Golf Professional since 1999. His professional career in the golf industry is well rounded and accomplished. While he has worked at two of the most prestigious golf clubs in town, John's true passion lies in helping our youth develop in a positive way through the game of golf. His passion for youth development is evident in the remarkable youth program he has developed over the last decade at The First Tee of Miami. The program impacts over 2,500 kids from all walks of life annually. In addition to the youth development program, John has worked in partnership with local Military Veterans through the PGA of America HOPE program This program facilitates access to golf instruction, equipment and to the golf course to over 100 local military veterans in an attempt to help them cope with PTSD and any physical ailment they may have sustained. John has been associated with Special Olympics of South Florida for the last decade. He coordinates two annual 9 -week programs that impact over 1,000 Special Olympic Golf Athletes. John has received numerous awards for his community efforts from the PGA of America, Special Olympics of South Florida to name a few. Currently, John is the Director of Junior Golf at the world renowned Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at the prestigious Trump Doral National Golf Club.
After competing full time as a professional golfer, over 10 years and in 25 countries, Johnny has turned his experience into a passion by helping others improve their game. Before joining the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center, Johnny was a Jim McLean Master Instructor and Director of the summer junior program. Johnny is also a Level II AimPoint Certified Instructor and teaches all aspects of the game. His experience as a competitor allows deep insight into what it truly takes to create lasting change in the physical and mental aspects. Johnny's teaching philosophy is to train golfers to become better athletes so they can truly feel and control the club face, club path, body movements and connection to the ball.
Job Titles:
- General Manager, Master Elite Instructor
- Professional Golfer and Golf Coach
Josh McCumber, professional golfer and golf coach has been playing golf almost all of his life. He has been around the game at the highest level, and has learned from the best players and instructors in the game. Josh was the Assistant to head golf coach Buddy Alexander at his Alma mater, the University of Florida, for two years, and while there coached PGA TOUR members Camilo Villegas and Matt Every and recruited 2013-2014 FedEx Cup Champion Billy Horschel.
Josh was a 3-year captain and 2-time All American at the University of Florida. As a professional Josh competed on the Korn Ferry Tour (Nationwide Tour) from 2006-2009. Josh also competed in the 2005 and 2009 United States Open.
Because of his experiences coaching and playing, he relates to his students on many levels, and his mind, body, golf approach will have you playing the best golf of your life. Golf is more than hitting good shots on the practice tee - golf is about playing the game on the course. Josh will teach you to cultivate the passion for playing the game of golf.
Josh runs the day to day operations at the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at Trump National Doral Miami as the General Manager. Josh also serves as a Master Elite Instructor is available for lessons and golf schools.
JP began playing golf at the age of three. He played seven years of varsity golf at @wcsmiami Westminster Christian School where he played on the varsity team as a sixth-grader. JP also founded the club golf team at Florida International University.
He played in the World Amateur Team Championships "Eisenhower Trophy" in 2016 at Mayakoba, Mexico, where at 15, he was the youngest player in the field. JP also competed in the World Amateur Team Championships in 2018 at Carton House, Ireland.
Originally from Maturin Venezuela, Julio has been involved with the game of golf for more than 25 years. As an amateur, Julio won at all levels: regional, national and international, most notably helping The University of Texas to win the 2012 NCAA National Championship.
Following his amateur career, Julio pursued his professional career playing in mini tours, @pgatourla and @kornferrytour . While competing, Julio trained extensively with the game's elite coaches and players, and it was during this time he developed an interest in teaching.
While specializes in long-term player development, Julio makes it a point to teach players of all levels and takes pride and joy in assisting someone who is new to the game or mentoring an aspiring tour professional.
Over last 10 years Kevin has coached Patrick Reed, Jhonattan Vegas, Graeme McDowell, and Lexi Thompson
As the first person in France to create a course to teach self-defense to women, Philip David Glikman has been featured in many reports on various national TV channels for his specialized work with women. Today he is in charge of the International development of the OIS Emeth KRAV MAGA System and the training of future instructors since September 2014, in Miami, Florida. He is the official Technical Director of the System for the United States of America.
Santos Caceres is a PGA of America certified professional in Teaching & Coaching from Argentina. He has 15 years of coaching experience along with 30 years playing the game of golf at the performance level. In 2018, Santos was given the "Golf Professional of the Year Award" by the PGA South Florida section, southern chapter. He is able to teach golf in English, Spanish and French.
Scot has built his reputation by helping golfers of all skill levels improve their technique, strategy, and lower their scores. He has helped golf's best players build consistent, repeatable swings; confident mental attitudes; imaginative reliable short games; and a better understanding of how to manage their games once they step off the practice range and onto the course.
Scot's commitment to excellence is no better demonstrated than by the world class Instructors he continues to learn from as well as some of the PGA Tour's top playing professionals.
Sebastian is a Class A PGA Professional from Gainesville, Florida and has been teaching golf in Miami since 1997. Prior to joining our team Sebastian had an extensive junior, collegiate, amateur and professional playing resume, both in the USA and Europe. He was mentored by top 50 Instructor's and former PGA Tour Professional's as a Junior and amateur player. He has received training using both video and motion analysis to help his students understand and learn more effectively. Sebastian has taught over 15,000 golf lessons in Miami working with both adults and juniors of all ages and skill levels.
Job Titles:
- Master Elite Instructor ( Seasonal )
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Stephen first arrived in the United States in 2005 to play NCAA Division 1 golf at UMKC and has since competed professionally on 4 Continents. Stephen is a student of the game of golf and has sought out, and been influenced by many of the top coaches in the game. Stephen has taught at several prestigious clubs including Westchester CC and Sunningdale CC in New York as well as John's Island and La Gorce CC in Florida, he currently teaches at Sebonack Golf Club in the Hamptons in the summer. Using state of the art technology including Trackman, BodiTrak, K-Vest, MySwing and Video Analysis, Stephen has provided top class coaching to all levels of players from beginners and juniors, to college players and fellow professionals, in an informative, comfortable, fun and friendly atmosphere.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Elite Instructor ( Seasonal )
Certified PGA Professional and Instructor Steven Cox, is known for demystifying golf mechanics through immersive 3D motion and launch monitor technologies.
As a Titleist National Staff Member and TPI Level 3 Golf Coach, Steven delivers long-term player development programs that have produced countless tournament wins and athletic scholarships. Due to these positive results, companies such as MySwing 3D Motion, HD Simulators, and Flightscope now look to Steven for his informative data and feedback.
As a putting coach, Steven is also an Aimpoint Green Reading Certified Instructor. These putting classes also include the integration of Quintic Ball Roll and Edel Putter Fittings. Having been certified in both systems, our goal is to perpetuate the athletes long-term progression from tee to green.
Thierry moved to Miami 5 years ago and is a Master Elite Instructor, for private, groups and juniors lessons at the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at Trump National Doral Miami. He is curious to see what he can do for the student taking a lesson with him.
Originally from Greenwich, CT, compliments the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center with 50 years of teaching experience @trumpdoral. Working with all levels of players, Tommie proudly joined Rick in January of 2018 as a full-time Master Instructor.
Before joining Rick, he was a Master Instructor for Jim McLean having worked with Rick Carillo, the past Mexican National Amateur Champion.
Tommie was the 1st assistant to Eddie Bush, Doral's Head Pro, who taught the LPGA's first million dollar winner and Hall of Fame inductee, Pat Bradley. Tommie assisted in all her lessons before becoming a PGA member in 1972. Tommie also studied under the tutelage of respected golf legend Harry "Lighthorse" Cooper for 3 winter here at Doral. Tommie was also influenced by a Top 100 Instructor, Jimmy Ballard and was a staff Instructor for the world famous, Jimmy Ballard Workshop at Doral from 1983 - 1989.
Favorite Mantra: "Keep it simple"