A Large Green Field With Trees In The Background — Golf Academy

The Boar's Head Golf Academy In Virginia

Birdwood Golf is home to the renowned Boar's Head Golf Academy. Our private lessons and clinics offered by our seasoned PGA and LPGA professionals are a perfect fit for any beginner or expert looking to improve their game. Alongside the 18-hole Championship Course is The Nest Par-3 Course offering a perfect locale for short-game practice. Just a few steps from the clubhouse is Ridges Putting course that spans nearly an acre in size. The Sports Club at Boar's Head Resort is also home to a state-of-the-art indoor Swing Studio with Trackman technology. These facilities and our expert instruction make Birdwood Golf Virginia’s top destination for golf instruction.

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If you're looking make legitimate on-course improvements, now's the time to book a lesson with one of our PGA professionals. Our Golf Academy in Virginia will have you striking the ball with confidence and lowering your score in no time. Here's a quick taste of what you'll get when booking lessons with one of our PGA professionals.

For more information about our golf academy, call (434) 972-6083 or email GolfAcademy@BoarsHeadResort.com.

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Meet our PGA and LPGA Professionals

Learn more about our top-rated PGA and LPGA professionals here at Birdwood Golf:

Hunter Brown

PGA, Director of Instruction
Voted Golf Digest's 13th Best Teacher in Virginia

Hunter has been a PGA Professional since 2011 after he graduated from Campbell University with a bachelor’s degree in business and his Class A PGA license. In the past 11 years, he has taught at several top private clubs in the country. Most recently, he was the Lead Teaching Professional, at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, NC. Hunter also worked as a PGA Tour Player Support and Representative for TrackMan Golf. Before TrackMan, he was a golf professional at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, TN.

Hunter has attended numerous teaching and coaching educational events while also observing and training under some of the best minds in golf biomechanics such as: Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, Dr. Phil Cheatham, Dr. Mike Duffy, and Dr. Rob Neal. He has observed and trained under a myriad of Top 100 instructors like: Sean Foley, Chris Como, Don Sargent, Andrew Rice, and many others.

Hunter’s focus as Director of Instruction at Boar’s Head Resort is to provide an enjoyable and productive environment for individual coaching and group programs. Juniors, women, beginners, elite players, and mid to high handicappers, Hunter has a broad experience of creating long term success in improving a player’s game.

Rob Failes

PGA, Player Development Leader
Voted Golf Digest's 4th Best Teacher in Virginia

Rob comes to the Boar’s Head Resort from Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC, where for four years he was Lead Instructor for the Golf Academy. Rob holds a bachelor’s of science degree from Clemson University’s PGA Golf Management Program and is a certified PGA Professional (A6) Instructor. Additionally, Rob has served as a staff coach for Game Like Training Golf - a company dedicated to educating golfers and coaches on the science of learning and skill acquisition.

Rob is named by Golf Digest as one of the state’s top instructors and one of the top instructors under 40 in America. He is certified by Dr. Young-Hoo Kwon and Dr. Mark Bull in golf biomechanics. Rob additionally has spoken at numerous teaching and coaching summits including Andrew Rice’s Coach Camp, The MAPGA Junior Golf Summit, South Carolina’s Area 1 teaching and coaching summit as well as Clemson and NC State University’s PGA Golf Management Programs.

Working closely with Hunter Brown, Director of Instruction, Rob coaches private and group sessions full-time for the Golf Academy while planning and implementing programs including: Operation 36 Junior & Women's programs, golf classes for the University of Virginia, PGA junior league, member clinic series, junior golf camps and walk-up/supervised practice sessions.

Kasey Torres

Junior Golf Leader

Hailing from a family of golfers in Los Angeles, Kasey spent her adolescent years playing golf competitively alongside her parents and siblings. After years of playing tournaments both at a local and a national level, she continued her golfing career playing collegiate golf at Hampton University.

Before arriving at Birdwood, she was the assistant golf professional at Farmington Country Club and helped manage multiple events and junior programs. Kasey seeks to grow the Birdwood Junior Golf program by sharing her experience, skills and passion for golf with younger generations. She loves instructing in a manner that prioritizes having fun on the course while also developing technique and skill.

Kasey is in the process of becoming a PGA Associate and hopes to become a Class A Professional.

Simon Peters

PGA & PGA of SA, Head Golf Professional

Having been in the golf industry for over 16 years, Simon has worked for and with a variety of golf professionals and instructors learning different teaching methods for the game. Starting under South African PGA Master Professional Phil Simmons, from whom he learnt all aspects of the game – both management and instructing players of all skill levels for 4 years.

Simon then spent 6 months on a cruise ship based out of Port Canaveral in Florida, teaching golf and taking cruisers to play, learn, and enjoy in the Caribbean. Following that he spent 2 years as the Head Professional at Sun City Resort in South Africa, home to the Gary Player Country Club as well as the Lost City Golf Course. Simon saw and instructed a wide variety of golfers who came to the resort from all parts of the world.

His next appointment was as Assistant Golf Professional at Birdwood in 2014 and since then Simon has attended coaching seminars, the PGA Show, and continued to grow his knowledge of the golf swing. He has also been involved in the club fitting service provided at Birdwood which can now boast 4 different club manufacturer’s fitting systems.

Simon likes to use all of the knowledge he has gained across many students and countries to help make the golf game easier and more fun for all of his students.

Melissa Trowbridge

LPGA Professional Class A, Assistant Professional

Melissa brings years of teaching and coaching experience to Birdwood. She is a certified LPGA Class A Professional with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and is a 20 year expert instructor at the Boar’s Head Golf Academy. Her individualized, student-centered instruction in a positive learning environment will help you with any aspect of your golf game.

Melissa emphasizes communication with her students on their goals along with developing a game plan for improvement. By focusing on techniques and fostering confidence this will allow the transfer of new knowledge to the golf course -- that’s where the fun is!

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Bryan Puckett

Assistant Golf Professional

Following his role as director of the athletic programs at Blue Ridge School along with 14 years of coaching experience in a variety of sports, Bryan is looking forward to applying his experience, knowledge and expertise to his involvement in the golf industry. He was recently accepted into the PGA PGM program and is currently a PGA Associate Member. He is dedicated to continuing his progress in the program with plans to become a Class A Professional.

Bryan’s passion for education, operations and hospitality make him a great contributor to Birdwood Golf. He is excited to share his passion for golf, life lessons and skills the game has to offer with all of our members, guests and future golfers.