The Golf Association of Ontario, the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport and Golf Canada would like to congratulate a passionate group of PGA of Canada coaches who had athletes selected to the 2011-2012 Team Ontario Development program. These experienced coaches truly exemplify an athlete centered delivery system and support Long Term Player Development principles.

 

The following coaches have advanced athletes onto Team Ontario:

 

 

 

HENRY BRUNTON, Coach – Henry Brunton Golf

 

Athletes:  Tony Gil - U17, Owen Bates - U17, Gavin McQueenie - U17

 

Henry Brunton is one of the most recognizable names in Canadian golf and one of the world’s leading golf coaches and educators. He served as the Royal Canadian Golf Association's National Golf Coach from 1999-2011 and was the creator of the PGA of Canada’s Teaching and Coaching Certification Program. He is the only Canadian ever listed among GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America and the US Kids Top 50 Kids Teachers. In 2009, he published Journey to Excellence: The Young Golfer’s Complete Guide to Achievement and Personal Growth, the first comprehensive guide to competitive junior golf for both juniors and their parents.

A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Brunton has been a member of the PGA of Canada since 1984. In 2008, the Canadian PGA honoured him with its highest standing – Master Professional. He was also named as the fourth Most Influential Person in Canadian Golf in rankings by Canada’s National Post. In 2009, he was named National Junior Leader of the Year by the PGA of Canada. In 2010 the PGA’s of Europe presented Brunton with its highest distinction– the 5 Star Professional Award. In 2011 he was inducted into the North Grenville Sports Hall of Fame.

 

Brunton is an accomplished speaker and consultant. He has been a featured presenter at golf conferences throughout Canada and the United States as well as in Australia, Germany, England, Puerto Rico, Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.

 

A resident of Stouffville, Ontario, Brunton leads a leads  a full service golf academy from his home base at Eagles Nest Golf Club just north of Toronto featuring “Strive for Excellence,” a comprehensive year-round coaching and training program for aspiring high-level junior and collegiate golfers.

 

 

 

 

ANN CARROLL – Lambton Golf Club

 

Athletes:  Meghan Bennett - U19, Annika Haynes – U17, Courtney Tolton – U17

 

Ann is a former LPGA and Future Tour player and was the number one ranked amateur in Canada competing at the World Amateur and British Amateur. Ann is a graduate of Florida State University where she played on the women's golf team. Ann has been a GAO High Performance Coach since 2007 and now makes her home at the Lambton Golf Club. In addition to Lambton GC Ann has her own golf academy that focuses on high performance junior girls. 

“Coaching has taken me so many places and I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know so many awesome athletes and other coaches” . It’s great to have the pleasure of working with golfers that are on an incredible pathway with their lives and their sport. It’s the most rewarding career in so many ways. Through the GAO I have been very lucky to have selected to coach in Guatemala , Belgium and many of the provinces of Canada. One of my coaching highlights has to be coaching at the 2009 Summer Games , when Golf made it’s way into the games for the first time.

 

 

 

MEGAN CHAPMAN, Coach - The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club

 

Athlete:  Sophie Kitchen – U19

 

Before turning professional, Megan was one of the top ranked female amateur golfers in Canada. Born and raised in Meaford, Ontario, Megan developed an early passion and love for the game of golf through the support of her family and friends. At the age of 18, Megan became the number one ranked junior golfer in Ontario after winning the Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship. Megan was the first Canadian female to accept a full golf scholarship to Colorado State University in 2002. Collegiate highlights included being appointed team captain in her final two years and also earning Player of the Year recognition prior to graduating.

 

After completing her first year as an apprentice at The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club, Megan was awarded an exemption into the PGA of Canada in lieu of her national golf ranking.  Megan continues to represent The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour. Since turning professional, Megan has developed a passion and natural ability for inspiring and coaching junior athletes.

 

In addition to coaching, Megan is a certified Yoga instructor and recognized as a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Junior Instructor. Megan uses her expertise and training from yoga and TPI to help junior athletes develop awareness and a better understanding of how the body affects the golf swing.  

 

Megan’s goal is to become a leading Canadian golf coach for junior golfers and act as a mentor for junior golfers (especially young girls) while providing them with the resources to grow as athletes and as people.

 

 

 

 

CORY JONES, Coach - Granite Golf Club

 

Athlete:  Carter Simon – U17

 

Cory is a resourceful and enthusiastic professional with over fourteen years of experience in the Canadian golf industry. Cory is the Head Teaching Professional at the Granite Golf Club was formerly the Director of Instruction at Coppinwood Golf Club and an Associate Professional at Summit Golf and Country Club.

Cory focuses on finding efficient ways for his students to play golf based on their specific physical attributes and specializes in following the LTAD (Long Term Athlete Development) model to developing junior golfers. He is passionate about helping his students improve and reach their goals.

He spent three years competing on various golf tours throughout North America; Canadian Tour (3 years fully exempt), NGA Hooters Tour, Tarheel Tour, Great Lakes Tour, Moonlight Golf Tour.

 

Cory has a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Kinesiology from The University of Western Ontario. He also obtained a Post-Graduate Business Administration Diploma from Humber College.

Cory obtained his CPGA Class A status in 2001. He is also TPI Golf Fitness Level 1 & 2 Certified, TPI Junior Level 2 Certified, a K-Vest Certified Instructor, and an Aimpoint - Certified Putting Instructor. Cory was the non-playing captain of Team East during the 2010 C.J.G.A, Lipton Brisk Canada Cup in 2010.

 

 

 

 

LIAM MUCKLOW, Coach – The Golf Lab

 

Athlete:  Meghan McDougall – U19

 

Liam joined the Canadian PGA in 2001 and graduated from the University of Alberta in 2002 with a Bachelor's of Physical Education. 

 

Liam's teaching focuses on proper application of fundamentals to facilitate a change in ball flight.  The focus of every lesson is to answer the “Why?”; only when a golfer has complete understanding of the root cause of their swing fault can they apply the proper fix and achieve permanent improvement.

 

Liam's teaching methodology is a compilation of experience garnered working under world class golf instructors such as Bruce McCarrol, Gary McCord, as well as shadowing instructor's like Michael Bennet, Andy Plummer, and Peter Kostis. 

 

In addition to working with players of all levels he has amassed a very impressive playing resume.  Since turning professional Liam has competed professionally in 6 countries around the world and is the winner of 5 professional tournaments. While in Asia Liam competed as a professional on various tours across the continent, as well as worked with Korean PGA and LPGA professionals to help them gain power and speed.

 

 

 

 

CONOR O’SHEA, Coach - Piper’s Heath Golf Academy

 

Athlete:  Osama Khan – U17

 

Conor has developed a solid reputation for coaching some of Ontario’s top ranked junior, amateur NCAA and mini tour players. With a “kaizen” approach to learning his craft, he consults regularly with experts ranging from: exercise physiotherapists to psychologists and engineers for a better understanding of his newest thoughts. Conor's year round training programs do a wonderful job of developing talent as well as showing juniors how hard you have to work to play college golf. Conor is also an author of a children’s golf series called “Marcus’ Golfing Adventures” and hopes this venture will inspire positive growth for newly competitive juniors (5-13) towards a life long game.

 

 

 

 

BRENT PUSCH, Coach, North Pro Golf

 

Athlete:  Zaafina Naqvi – U17

 

Brent has been coaching and instructing golfers of all abilities for 15 years.  Brent has completed the Golf Digest Training Program under the tutelage of top 50 Golf Digest instructor Mike Labauve and went on to assist Mike in providing instruction to the Arizona State University women’s golf team.  From there Brent went on to strengthen his coaching ability through completion of PGA and CPGA Class A studies.  In the past decade Brent has started golf academies at Crimson Ridge Golf Club, Island Springs Golf Resort and was the Head Teaching Professional at the Lake Joseph Club while under the direction of Peter Oliphant.  Currently Brent owns North Pro Golf, specializing in coaching/instruction, golf specific conditioning and club building and repair.  Brent’s goals are to complete his NCCP training and assist the Team Ontario players and coaches to achieve their goals and objectives.

 

 

 

 

JON ROY, Coach – Golf Association of Ontario

 

Athlete: Nick Crozier

 

Jon has been a CPGA member for the past 10 years and has specialized in the development of competitive junior aged players.  Presently, Jon offers coaching services outdoors in Uxbridge and Kleinburg and in the winter months at the Metro Dome and Fore the Golfer.  Jon was recognized as the PGA of Ontario "Junior Teacher of the Year" in 2007 and works presently as the Head Provincial Coach in Ontario.  Jon offers comprehensive and holistic coaching programs for serious players, and his expertise lies in coaching self-management and developing practical skills for golf.  Jon is also a CPGA “Class A” professional and a certified level 3 Rules official.

 

 

 

CARRIE VAUGHAN, Coach – The ClubLink Academy at Glen Abbey

 

Athlete:  Madison Easterbrook – U17

 

Carrie Vaughan is both an accomplished player and an experienced teacher. She has won the New Brunswick provincial championship three times, twice played in the LPGA CN Canadian Women’s Open, was a finalist in the LPGA qualifying school. Carrie played three seasons on the Durham Futures Golf tour in United States pursuing her dream. She joined The Clublink Academy at Glen Abbey in 2009 and started the first ever ELITE Jr Program for girls only. This program is designed to assist young women in achieving their goals and developing their game. Her passion lies in making golf more fun for her students. Carrie has found great success in teaching students of all ages and genders by focusing on good fundamentals. After spending years on tour, Carrie has found her place on the lesson tee.

 

 

 

 

LAIRD WHITE, Coach - The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club

 

Athlete: Sophie Kitchen – U19

 

Laird White was awarded the 2011 Coach of the Year for Developmental Athletes by the Golf Association of Ontario. Under Laird’s leadership, The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club is also recognized as a Golf Development Centre for the region of Collingwood and Blue Mountains. 

 

Laird has built an extensive body of knowledge and a reputation for excellence by conducting world-class educational programs with “Strive for Excellence”, a leading junior development program developed by Henry Brunton.

 

Additionally, Laird has studied with over 20 of the Top 100 Instructors in North America. His support and commitment towards junior golf development has inspired many young Canadian golfers to enjoy the game at the highest level. Through his coaching and education, Laird has worked with many of Canada’s best junior, amateur, and professional golfers.

 

Prior to relocating to The Academy at The Georgian Bay Club, Laird specialized as the Lead Club Fitter for the Titleist Fitting Centre at Eagles Nest. During this tenure he quickly became an expert on TrackMan technology. This knowledge and expertise has earned him a second title as Canadian Sales Representative for TrackMan. Through his work with TrackMan, Laird supports golf coaches and club fitters throughout the country. He enables coaches to obtain a greater understanding of key ball flight and club delivery characteristics.

 

Laird was the first Canadian to become a member of the Certified Golf Coaches Association. He is an AMF Golf Management member and is a certified Golf Psych Instructor. Laird’s infectious personality, diverse skill sets, and extensive expertise in coaching and club fitting make him a one of Canada’s elite golf coaches.

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT TEAM ONTARIO

 

The Golf Association of Ontario Team Ontario program is a unique opportunity available to a select group of athletes in Ontario. These athletes can expect to receive the very best in coaching services, training opportunities, and peer support as they continue their journey towards excellence in golf. The Team Ontario program places considerable emphasis on developing “champion traits” in all facets of life and particularly in those that most impact golf development. As such, athletes in the program will receive guidance on themes like time and self-management, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, tactical strategies, and technical feedback. Being selected to be part of the Team Ontario program is a tremendous accomplishment and offers unparalleled support and guidance to participating athletes and their families.