Golf Academy of America ®

Tim Eberlein, PGA Master Professional, MBA

Mr. Eberlein, a PGA Master Professional, became a PGA of America member in 1994. He worked previously at Brynwood Country Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received the Horton Smith Award for Excellence in Education from the San Diego Chapter in 1998 and the Southwest PGA Section in 2010. He was recognized as one of the top teachers in the country by T & L Golf and has written numerous articles for golf magazines.

Mr. Eberlein received his MBA from the University of Phoenix and his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gannon University. He also served in the United States Peace Corp (1987, Gambia, Africa). He is a Master Club Fitter and TPI Certified Instructor. He also has an extensive background in tournament operations and golf management. Mr. Eberlein has been immersed in the entire Golf Academy of America experience—as a 1991 graduate, a full-time staff member, and as Campus and Placement Director in San Diego prior to relocating to Arizona.

Tim Wilkins, PGA

A golf professional since 1974 and a class A member of the PGA since 1978, Tim Wilkins was recognized as the Southern Ohio Section "Teacher of the Year" in 1999. He is also a past Southern Ohio PGA Section Champion winning the event in 1980 and a two-time National Club Professional qualifier. For the past three years Mr. Wilkins has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Golf Instructors in America by Golf Range Magazine.

He has a BBA from the University of Cincinnati, with a major in Marketing. As a representative of the PGA of America, he served on the National Committee for Golf for the Disabled. Mr. Wilkins has been the Director of Golf for the Special Olympics Ohio and a featured guest on Golf Channel’s "Golf Academy Live." In conjunction with the Golf Channel, he created and hosted a TV program titled "On the Tee with Tim X. Wilkins" which ran for six years on Time Warner Cable.

Fred Barr, PGA

Mr. Barr has been a PGA Professional for 33 years with the Southwest PGA Section. He spent 31 of those years in Golf Operations Management, serving in public, resort, semi-private, and private facilities.

For over two decades he worked for American Golf Corporation, the largest Golf Management Company in the world, managing, leasing and owning over 300 golf courses in the USA and abroad.

In 2003, Mr. Barr received the Bill Strausbaugh Award for distinguished service in mentoring other PGA Professionals, integrity, character, and outstanding involvement in charity and community service.

Jay Friedman, PGA

Mr. Friedman became a PGA Professional Member in 1976 when he spent a year playing on the PGA Tour. He received a BA degree in Marketing from University of Oklahoma where he played on the golf team and was later Oklahoma Amateur Champion.

For 19 years he served as Head Professional at Meadowlands Country Club in Philadelphia where he was also Director of Instruction on a TV show called "Inside Golf." Mr. Friedman became a Teaching Professional in 2001 after which he played in seven Goldwater Cup matches, a PGA Senior Championship, two PGA National Club Professional Championships and three National Club Professional Senior Championships.

He is a Certified Club Fitter with Ping and Titleist and has held tournament committee memberships with Philadelphia PGA and Southwest PGA. He is co-owner of Friedman and DeAngles Golf Management Company.

Gary Balliet, PGA

Mr. Balliet has been a PGA of America member since 1980 and was formerly the Director of Golf at the Sheraton San Marcos Resort in Chandler, Arizona. He was also Director of Golf at the Del Webb Hillcrest Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a certified club fitter. With over 20 years in private and public facilities management, Mr. Balliet has also written a book entitled “Carefree Golf” and produced a series of three golf instructional videos titled “Routine for Building a Golf Swing,” “Chipping, Pitching and Sand,” and “Putting.” Mr. Balliet has been an instructor at TGAA since 1996 and has extensive training and experience in club repair. He holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Ed Ekis, PGA

Mr. Ekis has been a PGA of America member since 1972. He was the Golf Operations Director for Del Webb Development Company, at Sun City West, Arizona. While there, he was involved in the planning and design of new clubhouse and physical facilities for five properties. Mr. Ekis was instrumental in developing the inventory control system for five independent golf complexes. In addition, he designed and implemented all teaching programs specifically tailored for the senior golfer and the physically challenged. As a golf instructor, Mr. Ekis has taught around the country for the John Jacobs Golf School in addition to his own golf school. Mr. Ekis is currently involved with video/computer aided golf lesson programs that involve the newest and latest trends in teaching.

Robin Farran

An in-demand expert in golf rules and tournament administration, Robin Farran has officiated or served as Official-in-Charge for more than 500 tournaments. He conducts seminars across the country and created a Rules Study Group consisting of tournament officials and PGA professionals nationally.

Mr. Farran has served as a USGA Committee Member since 1998, officiated NCAA Championships since 1996 and officiated USGA Major Championships since 1999. He has served as a Rules Official with the Arizona Golf Association since 2004 and currently serves on the AGA Executive Committee. He is also a board member for the Junior Golf Association of Arizona.

Sean Ferris, PGA

Sean has been a resident of Arizona since 1982 and took up the game of golf at age 14 at Bellair Golf Club in Glendale, Arizona. Upon graduation from Ferris State University with a Professional Golf Management degree, he started his career as a PGA golf professional at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sean has served the golf industry in many capacities over the years including Junior Golf Director for the Southwest Section PGA from 2001 – 2007, President of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona 2003-2007, Assistant Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona from 2007 - 2010 and was named the "Junior Golf Leader of the Year" by the Southwest Section PGA in 2004. Most recently, Sean has served as the Executive Director of the Golf Industry Association.

Travis Fish, PGA

Travis Fish is an award-winning PGA member hailing from Great Falls, Montana.

He served as general manager at the Raven Golf Club at South Mountain in Phoenix, and in Tucson at such courses as El Conquistador Resort, The Gallery and Arizona National Golf Club. His resume includes everything from PAC 10 college instruction to course maintenance to cooking up the entrée for an elaborate wedding at one of his golf facilities.

In 2000, Mr. Fish was awarded the PGA Junior Leader of the Year for the Southern Chapter. In 2007 he won General Manger of the Year honors for I.R.I Golf Group, and the 2007 Golf Club of the Year award. He has written articles for, or has been featured in, Tucson Guide Quarterly, Avid Golfer Arizona and Arizona Golfer.

Ralph "RJ" Hawley, PGA

Mr. Hawley has been a PGA of America member since 2006. After serving 26 years in the U.S. Marines, his passion for golf led him to Arizona State University's Professional Golf Management program. Utilizing his military educational benefits, he graduated "Summa Cum Laude" with a Bachelors of Science degree in business, and was subsequently hired as a program coordinator for the ASU PGM program. He went on to complete his Masters of Science degree in business.

As a program coordinator he was responsible for program and curriculum development as well as advising, recruiting, and retention. He has taught Business Operations, Cart Fleet Management, Rules of Golf, and Merchandise classes related to the PGA certification. He also taught the player development program, which was designed to help students prepare and pass the PGA's player ability test. His most recent position was that of Head Golf Professional at Toka Sticks Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.

Dave Hockett, PGA

Mr. Hockett turned professional in 1991 and has been a member of the PGA since 1996. He has an extensive background in managing private golf club facilities serving as the Head Professional at The Estancia Club and Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona as well as the Director of Golf at Anthem Golf & Country Club in Anthem Arizona. His most recent position was that of Head Professional/Manager of The Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove, MN where he administered over 50 annual golf tournaments for charities and corporate clients. Mr. Hockett won the Southwest Section Merchandiser of the Year award for private facilities in 1999. As a player, Mr. Hockett competed in 11 straight Arizona opens as well as the 1999 Goldwater Cup Matches. He holds a B.S in Mathematics from the University of South Dakota.

Warren Pittman, PGA

Mr. Pittman graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After a short time playing professionally he settled in Tulsa where he earned his PGA Professional membership while working at Tulsa Country Club.

After serving as Head Professional for Willow Creek Country Club in Oklahoma City and a manufacturer’s rep for a Club Car distributorship, Mr. Pittman and his family purchased the Bougainvillea Golf Club in Laveen, AZ. He currently serves as the General Manager and lives in Chandler with his wife, Jeanne, and their two children. He is active in both the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and the Laveen/South Mountain Chamber.

Sue Shapcott, PGA

Originally from the UK, Sue Shapcott is a former Curtis Cup, European and Asian tour player. She has held national championship titles in Britain, France, Wales, England and Belgium. After retiring from tournament golf in 1996, Ms. Shapcott became a member of the PGA and was Head Golf Professional at Nizels Golf Course in Kent. In 2000 she was recruited to teach for Hank Haney in Dallas. She has hosted workshops for the British PGA, worked with LPGA players and written instruction articles for Golf Monthly Magazine. Sue was also Director of instruction at Tenison Park Golf Course, Dallas, TX – the area’s busiest public facility, where she oversaw the golf academy and a staff of teaching instructors.

Ms. Shapcott completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas and received her Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Arizona State University. Her research in psychology focuses on golfers’ motivation and self-regulation.

Mike Liebner

Mike Liebner has an excellent background in sales, business systems analysis, customer service and teaching. He has been teaching at the college level for thirteen years. He specializes in Computer Applications courses and has been an adjunct faculty member at Chandler Gilbert Community College, Chandler, Arizona since 1998. Mike has also taught marketing at Arizona State University and accounting and finance at Ottawa University in Phoenix. Prior to moving to the education field Mike was a top-performing systems sales representative for Duplex Products in Sycamore, Illinois. He holds a BS from the State University of Albany in New York. Mike also earned his MBA from The University of Phoenix.