Kendall Academy trio in “Best Teachers in Michigan” ranking

Kendall Academy trio in “Best Teachers in Michigan” ranking
Miles of Golf is a great brick-and-mortar pro shop and the attached Kendall Academy of Golf is a terrific place to get lessons. I’m lucky they’re just a block from GolfBlogger World Headquarters

Recently, three of their instructors were ranked by Golf Digest as the “Best Teachers” in Michigan: Dave Kendall (#2), Paul Haase (#3) and Tom Harding (#13)

Full press release below:

(Ypsilanti, Mich.) Kendall Academy, the award-winning teaching center located at Miles of Golf in Ypsilanti, claimed three spots in Golf Digest’s rankings of the “Best Teachers” in Michigan. Founder Dave Kendall was ranked #2, Paul Haase was #3 and Tom Harding was #13.

Found in the current November issue of the national magazine, the rankings are held biannually and are a result of voting by 1200 leading golf instructors in the country. Topping the list nationally for the seventh time was Butch Harmon.

“We feel both proud and humbled by this recognition,” said Kendall, a two-time Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year. “It’s especially gratifying knowing our peers voted for us.” A former President of the Michigan PGA, Kendall founded the Academy in 1997 and developed it into one of the premier teaching complexes in the state. Kendall has worked with a number of high profile players, including mini-tour player Matt Harmon and the heralded Michigan junior and now University of North Carolina player Henry Do. A two-time Michigan Senior Open champion, Kendall remains one of the Section’s best players. Earlier this year, he teamed up with amateur Casey Baker to claim the State Pro-Am title at Boyne.

Also a former Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year, Haase is well-known for his work through various age groups—juniors, high schoolers, pros and seniors. This past spring, Haase was thrilled to see one of his students win a Michigan boys’ state high school individual championship and later was named “Mr. Golf.” His female students this summer won Golf Association of Michigan championships in open and age division play while Britney Hamilton, another longtime student and a former women’s state champion, is competing successfully on the Symetra Tour, the gateway tour to the LPGA. And Bill Zylstra, a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, has credited his work with Haase for lifting him to Golfweek’s ranking as the top senior amateur in the country.

Rounding out the elite trio of instructors is Tom Harding, now in his eight season at Kendall. A PGA member since 1995, Tom is an accomplished player whose titles include the Canadian PGA, Michigan PGA, Michigan Tournament of Champions and the Michigan Match Play. He has learned his trade from some of the best in the teaching business which include his Kendall colleagues as well as Rick Smith, Mike Bender, David Leadbetter and Jim Suttie.

In all, there are nine instructors at Kendall Academy who are busy year-round at Miles of Golf, a full-service golf operation offering a retail store, practice & teaching facility, and club-fitting center in Ypsilanti. Located on 3113 Carpenter Road, it can be reached at (734) 973-9004 or toll-free at (877) 973-9005. Additional information is available at http://www.milesofgolf.com and http://www.milesofgolf.com/lessons/