Cliff Lawson, PGA
Vice President and Director of Instruction

As Vice President and Director of Instruction for Jacobs’ Golf Management, Cliff Lawson oversees all instructional programs, site acquisitions and contractual relations for new and existing properties. A PGA member since 1981, Cliff has held positions as General Manager, Director of Golf and Head Professional at properties in Florida, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii and New Mexico…but he is particularly well-known for his work in the Southwest.

Cliff’s affiliation with the Jacobs’ organization began in 1982 and throughout the years he has helped influence much of the company’s growth and name brand. In 1991, he was instrumental in bringing the Jacobs’ Schools, the first of their kind, to Las Vegas. He went on to open and oversee locations in Modesto, Lake Tahoe, Portland and a number of high-end properties throughout the Las Vegas valley. In a market that now boasts the most recognized instructors in the game, Cliff’s accomplishments did not go unnoticed. From 2000-2004 his name was included among “America’s Best Teachers” by Golf Digest and he was ranked in the Top 5 instructors in the State of Nevada for seven consecutive years.

As the Jacobs’ organization continues to broaden its time-honored tradition of teaching excellence, Cliff continues to be recognized by his students, peers and other industry leaders, as among the most highly respected and sought after teaching professionals in the Southwest.

Rick Silverman, PGA
Director of Instruction – Red Mountain Ranch Country Club, Mesa,AZ

Rick Silverman has been an instructor with John Jacobs’ Golf Schools since 1979.  He has taught for Jacobs Golf Worldwide, and has been lead instructor at various Jacobs’ locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, and in China.  He has been a PGA member since 1984, and member of the PGA “Quarter Century Club”, and has been Ranked 15th Best in the State of Arizona by Golf Digest.

Rick has been Director of Instruction at Red Mountain Ranch Country Club since 2002, and prior to that was lead instructor at Painted Mountain Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.  He has taught countless thousands of Jacobs students through the years, and has also trained over 500 instructors for the John Jacobs’ Golf Schools Instructor Training Program.

Mike Lafond
Director of Instruction – Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ

Mike Lafond joined John Jacobs’ Golf Schools in 1980, and for most of the past 30 years has been a lead instructor at various Jacobs’ Golf locations, including Greenbriar in West Virginia, Crested Butte in Colorado, and Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.  At one time he was voted among the top 3 golf instructors in West Virginia. 

Brent Smith
Director of Instruction – Legend Trail Golf Club, Scottsdale, AZ

Brent Smith began his professional golf career at Marriott’s Tan-Tar-A Resort in Missouri in 1991, serving as Assistant Golf Professional and Tournament Director before relocating in 1992 to hold the same positions at The Golf Club of Marco in Marco Island, Florida. Later that year, he joined the staff of John Jacobs Golf Schools and has traveled extensively helping to establish Jacobs teaching sites in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California and Arizona.

Brent’s instructional articles have been featured in Golf Digest magazine and other publications, and has also appeared on various TV and radio golf instruction programs.  In 2002, Brent was named by Golf Digest as one of the top 10 instructors in the state of Arizona and the top 100 in the country.  He has been the Director of Instruction for John Jacobs’ Golf Schools and Academies at Legend Trail in Scottsdale, Arizona since 2004. 

Brad Moore, PGA
Director of Instruction - Hillcrest Golf Club, Sun City West, AZ

Brad Moore has over 30 years experience as a PGA Golf Professional, in various positions ranging from Head Golf Professional to Director of Golf, at both private and public golf courses in Indiana and Michigan.

Brad joined John Jacobs’ Golf Schools as a teaching professional in 2000, and soon became Director of Instruction at Hillcrest Golf Club in Sun City West, Arizona.  Besides teaching hundred of students each year, Brad has also become instrumental in the hiring and training of new instructors for Jacobs’ Golf.

Joe Michaelis, PGA
Director of Instruction – Painted Mountain Golf Resort, Mesa, AZ

Joe Michaelis began his professional golf career at Scottsdale Country Club in 1985 and later was a teaching professional at Pinnacle Peak Country Club.  He has played competitively and once achieved a course record 68 at the Royal Chun Shan Golf Club in China, as well as winning a Southwest Section PGA tournament.

Joe joined the teaching staff of John Jacobs’ Golf Schools in 1989, the same year he became a class A-6 PGA teaching professional in the SW Section PGA of America.  He has taught and run golf schools at over 35 properties in the U.S., China, Hong Kong, Mexico, and New Zealand.  He is currently the lead instructor at Painted Mountain in Mesa, Arizona and also spends lots of time teaching at Red Mountain Ranch in Mesa.

Eddie Jones, PGA
Director of Instruction – Indian Palms Golf Club, Indio, CA

Eddie Jones spent over 30 years as a club pro at various locations in North Carolina and Virginia, before joining the Jacobs' Golf teaching staff in 1997. He is a PGA member and has had an article on "The Golf Swing"
published in Golf Digest Magazine.

In his 14 years with Jacobs' Golf, Eddie has taught at 16 different
locations, included two in Canada and one in Jakarta, Indonesia. He is
currently the head instructor at Indian Palms Golf Resort in Indio, CA.

Bob Haas
Director of Instruction – Desert Falls Golf Club, Palm Desert, CA

Bob Haas has been a golf instructor for John Jacobs’ Golf Schools since 1987.  He played golf at Southern Utah University while receiving a degree in Business Administration, and played professional golf on the Dakotas Tour and the Prairie Tour.

Bob is currently Director of Instruction for Jacobs’ Golf at Desert Falls in Palm Desert, California, and also teaches at Indian Palms in Indio, CA.  He has previously been a lead instructor at various Jacobs’ schools locations, including Poppy Hills in Monterey, CA, and Desert Springs in Palm Desert, CA.

Mike Smuniewski, PGA
Director of Instruction – Lely Golf Resort, Naples, FL

Mike Smuniewski has taught and run golf schools in several US and European cities, including schools in Austria and Germany. He is a member of the PGA of America, and throughout his 25-year career he has owned and operated a successful golf shop and driving range, while continuing his passion of teaching golfers of all ages.

Mike joined the staff of John Jacobs’s Golf Schools in 1999 and is currently the Director of Instruction for Jacobs’ Golf location at the Lely Resort in Naples, Florida.  He is also Director of Junior Instruction for the City of Naples.

Patrick O'Hara , PGA
Instructor – Las Vegas National Golf Club, Las Vegas, NV

Patrick O’Hara is a PGA member with over 20 years of experience in teaching and club fitting golf students. He has experience with golfers of all skill levels, from those just starting the game to PGA Tour players.  His playing record includes…2011 Qualifier for PGA Senior Club Professional Championship, 2010 Nebraska PGA Team Champion (Tom Hearn partner), 2010 Qualifier for PGA Senior Club Professional Championship, and 2007 Las Vegas Section PGA Champion

Rich Fite, PGA
Instructor – Las Vegas National Golf Club, Las Vegas, NV

Rich Fite is new to the Jacobs’ Golf School staff, but he has been a Golf Professional since 1976 and a PGA of America Member since 1982. He haas served as the Director of Instruction at the Las Vegas National Golf Club and also at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club in Lihue, Hawaii.  He has worked with college players, tour players and top amateurs around the country, improving their games.  Having worked on the East Coast, the Southwest and in Hawaii, playing in the wind or wet weather as well as the different grasses players encounter are experiences that he can relate to the students.

A four time Professional of the Year in Southern Nevada, Rules Official for Local, state, and Sectional events and also a Rules Observer for the 1987 PGA Championship at the PGA National Golf Club are other highlights of his career.  Playing highlights include victories in over 30 PGA Club Professional events in the various PGA Sections where he worked including the 2004 Hawaii Hall of Fame Championship at the Kapalua Plantation Course and qualifying three times for the PGA of America Senior Club Professional Championship. Of all of the different aspects of the Golf business his love for teaching the game is as strong as ever and keeps him looking forward to helping many more golfers achieve their goals through the John Jacobs’ Golf Schools.

Jon Stanley, PGA
Instructor – Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ

Jon Stanley is a 20 year member of the PGA of America. He started his time as a Golf Professional as a Caddy Master, and has worked his way through the ranks of Assistant Professional, Head Professional, and Director of Instruction, all the while maintaining a very rewarding playing career. Career wins include the 1988 Kentucky PGA Assistant Professional Championship, 1991 Maryland State Open, and the 2011 Southwest PGA Championship. Other accomplishments include qualifying for 6 Professional National Championships, 4 National Assistant Professional Championships, and 4 Senior Professional National Championships, and being part of 3 SWPGA Robinson Cup Teams and 10 Goldwater Cup Teams. Jon also qualified for the 2009 United States Senior Open, was named Middle Atlantic PGA Assistant Professional of the Year in 1992, and Senior Player of the Year in the Southwest PGA for 2008 and 2010. Jon will also be playing in the 2012 Phoenix Waste Management Open on the PGA Tour.

Jon began to concentrate on teaching 1998 when he became a Director of Instruction for the American Golf Learning Centers (evolved into Nike Golf Learning Centers). He has served as Director of Instruction at Kokopelli Golf Resort, Foothills Golf Club, and Stonecreek Golf Club before joining John Jacobs in 2009. Jon will now have Orange Tree Golf Club in Scottsdale as his main teaching location.

Bob Blean, PGA
Instructor – Hillcrest Golf Club, Sun City West, AZ

Bob Blean has 27 years of experience as a golf professional, and has been a Class A PGA member (southwest section) for 18 years. In 1997 he was a fully exempt member of the PGA Nike Tour, and he also attended Grand Canyon University on a full golf scholarship.

Bob joined the staff of Jacobs' Golf in 2008, after previously serving as head instructor at Union Hills CC in Sun City, and the Desert Springs course at Sun City Grand, and as a head professional at Bellaire Golf Course in Glendale, AZ.

Fred Miller, PGA
Instructor - Hillcrest Golf Club, Sun City West, AZ

Fred Miller has been a PGA member for over 30 years.  He began his golf career as a playing professional in the late 1970’s on Florida’s Space Coast Tour.  Since moving to Arizona in 1986, he has been Head Golf Professional at Villa Monterey in Scottsdale, Rio Salado in Tempe, and Linkside Golf Center in Mesa.  He has also previously taught with the Harder Hall Golf School and the Colbert-Ballard Golf School.

Fred was Director of Instruction for the Family Golf Centers in Arizona before joining the staff of John Jacobs’ Golf Schools in 2001.  He has been a teaching professional and Head Instructor for Jacobs’ Golf at various locations since that time.

Stuart Allison
Instructor - Legend Trail Golf Club, Scottsdale, AZ

Stuart Allison joined the Jacobs' Golf Teaching Staff in 1991, and taught at almost 20 locations from coast to coast, including a recent stint as lead instructor at Sun Ridge Canyon in Fountain Hills, Arizona. He has also played in Pro-Am tournaments worldwide, including New Zealand, Spain and Mexico.

Stuart is currently teaching mostly at Legend Trail in Scottsdale, but still
travels to other locations when needed. He spends his summers at the
Director of Instruction at Juniper Golf Course in Central Oregon.

Bob Augustine, PGA
Instructor - AZ

Bob Augustine is a Class A Life Member of the PGA of America. He is a
former PGA Tour member who also played on the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Tour, as well as some events on the European tour. Bob has won the Arizona Open, the Colorado PGA, the Illinois PGA Senior Match Place Championship and the Illinois Senior Masters Championship. Through his long playing career, he has 21 hole-in-one's to his credit.

Bob first joined the staff of Jacobs' Golf Schools in 1980, and besides
teaching for Jacobs' Golf, he has also taught at Orchard Country Club,
Knollwood Club and Lake Shore Golf Club in the Chicago area. He is
currently the Director of Instruction and course supervisor at the Orchard
Valley Golf Club in Aurora, Illinois during the summer months. in recent
years, Bob has been the Head Instructor for Jacobs' Golf locations at
Chardonnay in Napa, CA and at Sanctuary Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ. He
currently teaches at various Jacobs locations in the Phoenix Metro area from November through April.

Bob Doyle, PGA
Instructor - AZ

Bob Doyle has spent most of his career in Colorado where he served as General Manager at Riverdale Golf Courses for 22 years in addition to work at other high volume public courses. As a 30 year member of the PGA of America Bob has been an active and award winning Professional. In 2011 Bob was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame and awarded the PGA Horton Smith Award for excellence in education.

A relative newcomer to Jacobs’ Golf Schools (2010) Bob splits his time between the Phoenix area and Colorado where he serves as the Director of Instruction for the City of Aurora at Fitzsimons Golf Course. After years of balancing golf course operations and his passion for instruction, Bob is now dedicated to teaching the game and making golf more enjoyable for players of all levels.

Brian Diver, PGA
Instructor – Lely Golf Resort, Naples, FL

Brian Diver has been teaching golf in the United States, Germany and Austria for over 20 years. He is a member of the PGA of America and the Austrian PGA. Since 1995 he has been the Head Professional and Director of Teaching at the Ausseerland Golf Club in Bad Aussee, Austria, where he works from April through October.

During the winter months Brian lives in Naples, Florida. His golf career started there in 1990 at Royal Poinciana Golf Club. In 1997 Brian began teaching golf at Lely Resort. In 2003, he joined the staff of John Jacobs’ Golf School at Lely Resort. Brian’s patience and teaching skills allow him to help players of every age and playing ability to achieve their goals.

David Heuser , PGA
Instructor – Lely Golf Resort, Naples, FL

David Heuser has spent more than 30 years instructing and coaching golf in the Boston area, and is a Class A Life Member of the PGA of America. He was named PGA Teacher of the Year by the Massachusetts Chapter of the PGA. He began his career as Director of Instruction at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center in Ohio, and he has been a Head Professional and a Director of Golf, Bentley College Golf Coach, and President of the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association

David has a love for the game of golf, and has devoted his entire career to instilling his passion to his many students. He established his own golf learning center and instructed players of all skill levels. He recently joined the Jacobs’ teaching staff at Lely Resort in Naples, Florida, and during the summer months he is the Teaching Professional at Pinebrook Country Club in Weston, Massachusetts.

Mandy Preston, LPGA
Instructor – Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ

Mandy Preston started playing golf as a member of the Vail Valley Junior Golf Association and the Colorado Junior Golf Association.  She is a graduate of Mesa State College with a degree in Graphic Design, and earned RMAC Player of the Year Honors in 2007 while playing on the Mesa State golf team.

Mandy is an LPGA member working toward her Class A Teaching Status, and she recently joined the Jacobs Golf teaching staff after working at various clubs around the country including Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, Oyster Harbors in Cape Cod, MA, and Red Sky Ranch in Colorado.

Louise Friberg , LPGA
Instructor – Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ

Louise Friberg grew up in Sweden and came over to the U.S. on 1999 to play college golf for the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated with a BA in Environmental Studies-population and health, in 2003. Her grandfather was a golf teaching professional and has been credited with teaching Jesper Parnevik how to play golf. She turned professional and started her career as a professional tournament golfer in 2003. She played on the Futures Tour in 2004, Swedish Professional Tour in 2005, The West Coast Tour (WCT) 2005, The Ladies European Tour (LET) in 2006-2007 to then join the LPGA as a fully exempt player in 2008. Her career wins include Master Card Classic 2008 (LPGA Tour), CA Ladies Trophy 2005 (Swedish Tour).

Louise decided to retire from tournament golf in September 2011 and has since then been educating herself as a coach. She joined the John Jacobs Golf Schools in January 2012. She is an outgoing, positive and energetic person that loves to make her students feel welcome and have fun while learning the game of golf!