My journey in golf began as a 9-year-old caddie at Grosse Isle Country Club in Michigan, where I first learned the game and met Rick Pelaez, who introduced me to the legendary Bob Toski. Though years would pass before I trained with Toski, the seed was planted.

Because my father’s work as a VA dentist kept us moving, I had the unique opportunity to experience golf at different clubs. At Sharon Golf Club in Ohio, I realized I wanted to spend my life outdoors in the game. There I learned by observing Coach Eddie Wentz, whose skill, spirituality, and respect for others deeply influenced me. When our family moved again to Bethesda, Maryland, I worked at Congressional Country Club—not in the lucrative bag room, but on the range, where I could practice endlessly. It was there I met Bob Benning, a talented pro and an even better human being, whose kindness and respect for others left a lasting impression.

During my high school years, I played competitive golf and, with my father’s encouragement, finally connected with Bob Toski. Four days with him in Miami transformed my understanding of the swing. Later, while attending the University of Maryland, I walked on to the golf team but learned hard lessons about fairness and persistence when I was cut despite qualifying. Those setbacks, and later failed attempts to compete professionally, taught me resilience and ultimately clarified my path: teaching would be my true calling.

While I did have some success as a professional, I realized I lacked the competitive drive for tournament play. What I did have was the ability to communicate, to simplify, and to help others see their potential quickly. My system has always centered on touch and awareness, and over decades of teaching, I’ve seen how powerful those foundations are for golfers at every level. Failures of my own only deepened my teaching, giving me empathy and practical insight into the struggles students face—whether it’s the chronic shank or the pressure of performance.

My long association with Bob Toski has been both formative and rewarding. Together, we opened the first Golf Learning Center in America, led clinics across the U.S. and abroad, and collaborated in writing. In 2011, I authored The Golf Mystic, an allegorical story about learning through touch, which has become a cult classic among golfers.

Today, I continue to teach in Cocoa, Florida, write articles, and prepare a follow-up to The Golf Mystic. After more than 50 years, my purpose remains unchanged: to guide others to discover the joy, clarity, and confidence that golf can bring.