Get to Know Our Golf Instructors.
Ready to learn the game, brush up on the basics or refine your skills? The instructors at Sycuan Resort are prepared do exactly what it takes to achieve your goals while exceeding your expectations. Our PGA and LPGA golf instructors aren't just pros at playing golf, they're pros at helping you understand the game, overcome your obstacles and learn to have fun hitting the ball. They also know that you are a unique individual so they listen to your needs, assess your technique and give you custom tailored advice and drills. Simply put, our instructors design lessons with you in mind.

John Kennedy, PGA Class A
Director of Golf
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Sycuan Resort's Head Golf Professional, John Kennedy earned his PGA Membership in 2000. Born and raised in San Diego, John has been teaching golf since 1994. He previously coached the Cuyamaca College golf team for two years.

"My teaching style is a simplistic approach to helping someone develop sound fundamentals. My goal is to help the student learn what to practice and how to practice. I like to emphasize the importance of fitness and how it improves performance. I prefer using the golf course for instruction whenever possible."

Robert S. Madsen, PGA Class A
Director of Instruction
Academy Lead Instructor Sycuan Golf Academy
E-mail Bob Madsen

• Three-time San Diego Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year
• 2007 San Diego PGA Teacher of the Year
• 2006 San Diego PGA Horton Smith Award (Education)
• 2005 San Diego PGA Stroke Play Champion
• Golf Digest Top 50 Teachers in the State
• Member of the San Diego Chapter PGA Teaching Committee 

Bob specializes in multi-day Customized Schools for Resort Guests. Bob also works his magic in quick-fix lessons, but mostly loves helping students who really commit and want to get on a sure-fire improvement program.

Bob is a Class-A PGA Member who is in his nineteenth year as the Director of Instruction for the Sycuan Golf Academy. Bob's played tournament golf every year since 1969 and has worked at Sycuan Resort since 1983. Bob has given more than 20,000 golf lessons to date and holds a degree in Recreation Administration from San Diego State University.

Bob was recently featured on SouthlandGolfMagazine.com in a video lesson entitled "Starting Out Small".  Bob will continue to be featured in four additional video lessons.

Julie Day, LPGA Class A
Teaching Professional
School of Golf for Women Instructor
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Julie Day wears many professional hats at Sycuan Resort as the Head Women's Professional, Golf Shop Manager and Women's Merchandiser. Julie is an instructor for The School of Golf Exclusively for Women and was nominated for LPGA Western Section Golf Professional of the Year in 1998.

"I've been teaching for twenty years and I have found that the best way to teach is by keeping it simple! By breaking the swing down to a three-lever system it is easier for students to understand. A one-lever swing is chipping and putting. A two-lever swing is pitching, and a three-lever swing is the full swing. My specialty is taking a student and starting small with a one lever swing and slowly building on that until we develop the full swing."

Kim Estep, LPGA Class A
Teaching Professional
School of Golf for Women Instructor
E-mail Kim Estep

A Sycuan Resort staff member since 1992, Kim Estep is a full time Teaching Professional who dedicates her time and experience to player development, group clinics and custom golf schools. Her multi-faceted resume also includes merchandise buying, sales and coordination of teaching clinics. Kim has served as a committee member for the Southern California Chapter of Special Olympics.

Kim received a golf scholarship at San Diego State University, where she currently teaches all of the golf classes. She earned her degree in Recreational Therapy.

"My approach to golf instruction is the same as my approach to the game itself; it is meant to be fun. I specialize in giving beginning and intermediate players a solid foundation of fundamentals essential to mastery of the game. Once the foundation is established, I believe in working with my students to customize a game plan for maximum enjoyment, including making good choices on the golf course (club selection) and the proper mental attitude. Being a smart player is always more fun!"

Rick Lindeman, PGA Class A
First Assistant
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First Assistant at Sycuan Resort, Rick Lindeman has worked at the resort since 1990 and has competed in golf tournaments since 1982. Rick stays active in the San Diego Chapter of the PGA, Southern California PGA and local tournaments. He completed the Business Management Program at San Diego State in 1992.

"My teaching specialty is to design a series of lessons that will help the student excel to his or her potential. I teach my students how to improve by spending time practicing wisely. I insist that my students plan their practice time to get the most out of it. I focus strongly on the fundamentals while giving my students time to absorb all of the subtleties involved in the golf swing."

Holly Kennedy, PGA Class A
Tournament Manager
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Holly Kennedy is the Tournament Manager at Sycuan Resort as well as a PGA Member. Holly was awarded the PGA Assistant Professional of the Year in 2001 & 2005. In addition, Holly has been recognized nationally by Golf World Business as one of the Top 25 Best Assistant Professionals and serves on the Board of Directors to the San Diego Junior Golf Association. Holly has a bachelor's degree from UCLA where she received a scholarship to play golf. Holly has been with Sycuan Resort since 1994.

"My greatest satisfaction as a PGA Instructor is having the opportunity to take a beginner golfer who may never have picked up a club and give them the fundamentals to develop their golf swing, make good ball contact, and see consistent improvement. Establishing trust and friendship with my students is a priority. The more relaxed a person is and the more fun they are having, the easier the learning process becomes. Patience and humor are essential for teaching the game and especially for learning it."

Experience and Education:

• PGA Member since 2000
• SCPGA Chapter Junior Golf Leader of the Year 2009
• SCPGA Chapter President's Award Recipient 2009
• San Diego Chapter PGA Assistant Professional of the Year, 2001 & 2005
• Named as Top 25 Assistant Pro's in 2005 by Golf World Business
• SCPGA Section Assistant Professional of the Year 2006
• SCPGA Chapter Assistant Professional of the Year 2001 and 2005
• President, San Diego Junior Golf Association
• Named as Top 25 Assistant Pro's in 2005 by Golf World Business
• Captain for Girls Junior America's Cup Team Matches – 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 
• Certified Golf Instructor by Body Balance for Performance, 2006
• Board Member, San Diego Junior Golf Association
• Junior Golf Chairperson, San Diego Chapter PGA Board of Directors
• Tournament Committee member and Advisory Committee member, Southern California PGA Section

John Cooper, PGA Class A
Teaching Professional
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A Class-A PGA member, John has been teaching golf since 2001. John has been playing competitive golf since high school and while attending college he earned Player of the Year honors for the Pacific Coast Conference. After college John played competitvely at the professional level for three years before enrolling in the PGA of America Golf Professional Training Program. During John's apprenticeship in the PGA he stayed active in teaching golf by becoming the assistant coach for the Cuyamaca College golf team. John has been with Sycuan Resort since 1996.

"I like to keep instruction uncomplicated and fun. I want to know what the student's goals are and set up a lesson plan that can help them achieve their goals. I base much of my teaching on proper fundamentals of the golf swing and balance. Helping my students better understand their swing, so they can improve and enjoy this great game, is very rewarding".

Sycuan Resort Apprentice Professionals:

Scott Ohls • Dave Robe