Golf Academy of America ®

Greg Gossett, PGA

Greg Gossett has been active in the golf industry since 1995 and a member of PGA of America since in 1997. For six years he served as the Associate Director and Academic Dean for Golf Academy of America in Orlando.

A significant part of his golf career has been with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, comprised of nine facilities with a total of 23 golf courses operated by the Sunbelt Golf Corporation. His extensive experience in all aspects of multi-golf course facility management includes positions as Head Professional, Director of Operations and Director of Instruction. Mr. Gossett’s teaching background is enhanced by his level of proficiency in video analysis with Model Golf software and the V-1 Coaching system. He also holds certifications as a Golfing Machine instructor and certified club fitter.

Mr. Gossett graduated from the Professional Golf Management program at Mississippi State University with a B.B.A. in Marketing and Business.

Mike McDonald, PGA

Mr. McDonald has been a Class-A member of the PGA of America since 1996. Most recently he was the National Director of Recruiting at GolfTEC, the industry leader in golf instruction. While there, Mr. McDonald gave over 3,000 video lessons and opened a new learning center in the Dallas area. (He also hired more than 50 GAA graduates during his tenure at GolfTEC.

Prior to moving to Dallas in 2003, Mr. McDonald was the Head Golf Professional at Furman University Golf Course in Greenville, SC where he also served on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Chapter of the PGA.

Mr. McDonald is well-versed in video, 3D motion analysis and club-fitting. He graduated with his MBA from Clemson University and from the Professional Golf Management program at Mississippi State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business.

John Kerizakos

Mr. Keriazakos worked as a golf professional for more than 10 years before moving into higher education with positions at Heald College, Jones International University and American InterContinental University.

He holds a BBA degree in Organizational Psychology and Development from American InterContinental University and a master’s degree from American InterContinental University.

Brian Wallace

Before coming to Dallas, Mr. Wallace spent three years with Golf Academy of America as Director of Financial Planning for the Orlando and Myrtle Beach campuses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama and previously held positions at Fidelity National Financial.

Steve Newman, PGA

Steve Newman has more than 16 years of experience at some of the country's greatest clubs, including nine years as Associate Golf Professional at historic Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Oakland Hills has a legacy of hosting many PGA majors and other tournaments.

He also served as the Director of Golf at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY which hosted the 2008 Junior Ryder Cup. Mr. Newman has owned his own golf instruction business and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in Marketing. He is a TPI Certified golf fitness Instructor and a V1 Certified golf instructor.

John Shelley, PGA

Mr. Shelley's teaching philosophy revolves around learning that's simple, less mechanical and most of all fun.

"The ideal golf lesson is one where each student leaves with a clear understanding of his or her golf swing along with a plan and practice drills so they can keep improving by becoming their own coach."

Mr. Shelley grew up in Southern California where he played junior golf and was a high school All-American. He attended Central State University in Edmond, OK on a golf scholarship and was a two-time All-American and the 1990 Lone Star Conference Player of the Year.

As the Assistant Professional at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in the Dallas area, he won the North Texas PGA Metro Assistant Championship and was a member of the winning NTPGA Jordan Cup team in 1994. After earning membership in the PGA, he became the Head Golf Professional at Woodcrest Country Club, then Director of Instruction with The Nicklaus/Flick Golf School at the Golden Bear Golf Center in Carrollton, Texas.