Golf Instruction Staff & Mission Statement
“To help people improve their golf game by providing friendly professional instruction”
A Word About Our PGA Coaches from Steve Dresser: Our most valuable asset— and yours too— is our teaching staff. It makes no difference how hi-tech the video equipment is or how nice the practice areas are if your instructors are not dedicated to the game and committed to helping you improve.
All lead instructors are PGA Class “A” Members and have won awards from national golf publications such as Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, or from the PGA itself. We are a close-knit group of coaches who share a passion for coaching golfers of all ages and abilities. We have dedicated our careers to helping people maximize their potential.
We challenge you to find a more experienced, talented, caring, and friendly team anywhere
Steve Dresser
A PGA “Life Member,” Steve brings 40+ years of full-time teaching experience to the practice areas and golf courses. He started playing golf at age 6 in Stowe VT, receiving his first instruction from the great Joe Kirkwood Sr. considered by many to be the greatest trick shot artist of all-time and a 13-time PGA Tour winner. In fact, the Australian PGA trophy is called the Kirkwood Cup. As his teenage game developed, he worked with the instructors at Arnold Palmer Golf Academy in Stratten VT and Peggy Kirk Bell in Southern Pines NC. There were many high school and summer junior victories which prompted Steve to move to Florida in 1977, seeking a year-round golf climate.
After several years playing mini tours, and even a few in the corporate world, a friend called to say he was opening a new golf school back in Stowe. For three summers Steve was co-director of Natural Asset Golf where he honed his teaching skills and realized golf instruction was his calling. In 1989, it was off to Myrtle Beach SC for new adventures. With hurricane Hugo in September and a freakish 18″ “snow storm of the century” that Christmas, things got off to a slow start. Through patience and perseverance Steve built up his clientele starting at a public driving range, then moving to a brand-new golf course in Murrells Inlet SC. The next move in 1996 was a little farther south to Pawleys Island SC where he continued growing his golf school to the point where there were 6 full-time instructors and 4 part-time. The school, bearing his own name, continued to grow and win numerous awards from the PGA, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, to name a few. They were not only recognized for high quality instruction, but for expert club fitting as well.
Mike Rugg
A 35 year member of the PGA of America, Mike spent the last 15 years as the Head Golf Professional at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, PA. He has decided, at this time, to follow his passion, helping golfers improve and helping people learn the great game of golf. He has taught/coached golfers at all levels from beginners to College and Professional golfers. While at Rolling Green he taught numerous club champions.
In 1997 Mike was selected by TopFlite Golf as the Teacher of the Year for the Northeast. In 2005 he was selected Regional Clubfitter of the year for Callaway. Presently he is a Master Staff Professional for Callaway. Influences include: Bob Toski, Jimmy Ballard, Jim McLean and Butch Harmon who have taught at various schools and seminars that Mike has attended. Mike’s greatest influence is David Glenz, 1998 Teacher of the Year for The PGA of America and a perennial top 100 Teacher.
Mike has taught winter golf schools in Florida with David over the previous 11 years. He is also a K Vest Certified 3 D Motion certified instructor.
Stuart Clark
Stuart comes to us with a wealth of knowledge from his years as an instructor, professional golfer and collegiate golf coach and competes regularly in local and regional events. He is one of small group of players that has shot 59 in a tournament. His coaching philosophy is focused on providing a road map for success for his students based on the students’ goals. He integrates fitness and nutrition guidance along with swing instruction to deliver comprehensive coaching for his students. During his time as a collegiate golf coach at The University of North Alabama, he coached numerous All-Americans including the Jack Nicklaus Award Winner for the Division II National Player of the Year, Brett Munson.
He was twice voted as the Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year. He was a four-year letterman on North Alabama golf teams from 1996-99 and helped bring the Lions’ program to national prominence as part of UNA’s first golf team to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament in 1996. Clark won six individual titles during his collegiate career, including the 1996 Gulf South Conference individual championship. As a senior he earned All-American selection as well.
Stuart also won the Carolinas Assistants Championship in 2016, which boasts one of the largest professional fields of any tournament in the world.
Clark graduated from UNA with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1999.
Dave Rosinski
Dave is a 2010 graduate of the Golf Academy of America in Myrtle Beach, SC. There he received the President’s Award, the school’s top honor based on recommendation from faculty and PGA professionals. Dave is a Class A Member of the PGA, and comes to us as the former PGA Director of Instruction at an indoor training center in Mount Pleasant, SC.
Dave has dedicated 16 years to the golf industry and has taught over 10,000 lessons and counting. He has experience teaching all skill levels of golfers ranging from beginners, juniors, mid-handicappers and Division 1 College athletes. With his data driven teaching experience and expert club fitting process, you are certain to maximize your golf game potential.
Ryan Howard
Ryan is a PGA Class A Member who comes to us from just outside Baltimore and has lived on the Grand Strand since 2012. With nearly 15 years in all aspects of the golf industry, Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Teaching is his favorite part of the business, so he’s joined our team to persue his passion. Much of his career has been at private clubs teaching players of all abilities and heading up junior programs.
Ryan is also a fine player competing regularly in PGA Section events and hopes to some day qualify for the PGA Championship.
