About Us
Brad Pluth
PGA Certified Director of Instruction,
TPI Certified Golf and Fitness Professional
ACE Personal Trainer
He is also the US Kids Local Tour Director in Minneapolis and 2009, 2010, 2011 Top 50 US Kids Teacher.
In recent years, Pluth could be found on the lesson tee at Congressional Country Club, Maryland ; The Raven, Arizona ; Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center , Minnetonka ; Troy Burn Golf Club; Wisconsin ; and Minnetonka Country Club. He was the captain of the Central College Golf team and continues to compete in mini-tour and section events. Currently he is helping people achieve their golfing goals at The Bunker Indoor Golf Center in Minnetonka and Chanhassen Recreational Center in Chanhassen. He will be returning to Halla Greens when the golf course opens this spring.
Pluth believes in measuring improvement for each individual while ensuring they have fun, freedom, power and belonging. To accelerate the learning process he strives to create this safe type of environment for each program. Just like no two people are alike, no two programs are exactly alike. Everyone should be treated as an individual since everyone thinks, feels and observes the world differently.
Pluth is dedicated to eduction and is an Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine (GSEM), ACE Certified Personal Trainer, IYCA credited Youth Fitness Professional and TPI Level II Golf Fitness Professional. He also created and is the Director of the Minnesota PGA Teaching Division and serves on the Education and Growth of Game Committees.
Brad is a strong believer in finding equipment for his players that compliment their personal stroke rather than complicates there stroke. He is a Callaway Staff Member and also provides Coutour Putter Fittings, Mizuno with the “Shaft Optimizer,” PING Golf, Nike Golf for adults and Nike and US Kids Golf junior golf equipment.
He is the founder and Co-Chairman of the MN PGA Teaching Division and enjoys speaking and sharing what he's learned as he has travelled the world from Scotland, England, Dominican Republic, Japan and all throughout the United States.
The BradPluthGolf App is available in both the Apple Store and Android Marketplace and is full of tips and videos.
Each student starts with a Discovery Session that includes a TPI Physical Screen (normally $125), a Full Swing and Short Game Assessment ($90/hour) along with an equipment Evaluation ($75) and lasts 90-minutes and the whole package is $99. Brad believes that there is one ideal swing for you and that is based on what you are physically capable of doing. Call or text (952) 401-GOLF (4653) to schedule your time or e-mail pluthb@pga.com.
Up Close and Personal with Brad
Birthplace: Rochester, MN Residence: Chaska, MN Status: Married - Becky since 2002 with 4 kids Education: Central College, Pella, IA; Economics, Class of 1998
Business Interests: Develop golf academies and grow the game of golf
Hobbies: Listening to music, play golf with my friends, going out to eat, reading
Faves: sports - basketball, golf, tv shows - "30 Rock", "House", "Sports Center", "30 for 30", movies - "Remember the Titans", "Miracle" (hockey movie...I'm from MN), "Legend of Bagger Vance", music - Castin Crowns, U2, Depeche Mode, Prince, Dave Matthews Band, food - pasta, steak, ice cream/malts, restaurants - Axel's in Chanhassen, The Old Spaghetti Factory, Manny's, books/authors - The Bible, David Baldacci, Ken Blanchard, Andrew Wood, Mike Adams, EA Tischler, drinks - Australian Merlot's, Sprite, Strawberry shakes/malts, vacation spot - anywhere with my wife, golf tournament - The Masters, international golf course - Cap Cana, The Old Course at St. Andrew's, resort golf course - Bandon Dunes, The River Course at Blackwolf Run, The Classic, Gian's Ridge, Congressional, The Boulder's South, Celebrity Course at Indian Wells, great teaching books - Homer Kelley's "The Golfing Machine", "The LAW's of Golf", "Secrets of Owning Your Swing" series from EA Tischler, "Short Game Bible", "Golf Swing Secrets and Lies", games - dollar putt/chip - set a dollar on the green and putt from different distances to see if you can get your ball to stay on the dollar
Best advice from parents: Always do your best.
Family Motto: Laugh, play, have fun!
Golf Achievement: 8 career hole in one's!
A goal: Operate 2000+ profitable academies throughout the world.
What would you do if you were not teaching golf: Physical Therapist
Most memorable moment of my career: Pitch in from centerfield into a hula hoop to win a trip to Vegas before a Twin's game
An Honor: 2009, 2011, 2012, US Kids Top 50 Instructor, 2011 Horton Smith Award
Advice to young teachers: Observe and visit instructors who consistently fill their book. Read and watch everything you can.; Advice to young golfers: Golf is a game. Games should be fun!
Best part of job: Meeting interesting people everyday; Mentors: Bill Strausbaugh "Coach", Harry Taylor.
Kevin Williams
Kevin Williams is a PGA Teaching Professional who has been in the golf industry for over 15 years. In that time he was the 1st Assistant Professional at Green Haven Golf Course in Anoka and the Head Golf Professional at Majestic Oaks in Ham Lake, MN. He currently also teaches for the Brad Pluth Golf Academy in Chanhassen, MN.
Kevin’s teaching philosophy is based on how the student learns, what the student’s goals are, and what the student can physically do. Kevin finds that there is no best swing in golf; there are just many variations that can be put in place to create success. His biggest priority as a golf instructor is to properly communicate the golf swing to the student so they can make the necessary changes to their game.
Kevin strongly believes that the fastest way to improvement is with the short game. Sound putting fundamentals along with properly fit equipment will eliminate poor setup and stroke fundamentals and allow the student to make a stroke that is conducive to their unique setup alignments.
Contact Kevin at kevinw@pga.com or 612-242-4362
Matt Ward
Matt Ward joins the staff in 2013 as a TaylorMade Master Fitter and Staff Professional. He has been in the golf industry teaching and fitting players for over 15 years. He has worked with TaylorMade for the past 6 years and was the Assistant Women’s Golf Coach at Minnesota State University, Mankato for two years. He has also worked as a Teaching Professional at the Jamestown Country Club (ND), the Ponds Golf Course and Timber Creek Golf Course.
Matt has degrees from Minnesota State University, Mankato (MS in Sport Management) and the University of Minnesota (Master of Liberal Studies, BS in Recreation and Certificate of Innovation Studies).
Matt believes in helping golfers enjoy the game more and believes that the game is meant to be fun. You will have fun at his lessons……he guarantees it!
His teaching philosophy revolves around the fact that each golfer is unique and no two swings are alike. This means that each golfer will be assessed individually and will learn how to improve based on their unique body type and swing traits.
To schedule a lesson or fitting with Matt, please call 612-803-8853 or email at swinguru@hotmail.com.
Richard Jacobs
Richard started golfing in 1993 when his racquetball magazine listed golf as the game to play that wouldn’t ruin his racquetball swing. So he showed up at a golf course wearing gym clothes and carrying a $100 set of used golf clubs.
The starter joined him to an unwitting host of three veteran golfers. During the round they grimaced at many of his 130 shots but mostly, they complained about their own.
They seemed lost in a battle against a well-oiled army of enemy combatants named Slice, Hook, Thin, Fat, Worm-Burner, Short, Long, Blade, Chunk and Three-Putt against whom they’d acquired no known means of defense.
When Richard mentioned a sign he’d seen in the club house offering lessons one of them said, “Are you nuts? You don’t need lessons. I’ve never had a lesson and I’ve been playing golf my whole life!”
That did it! His passion for golf training was born. He signed up for lessons that day. Three weeks later he was shooting lower scores than his companions had posted during that first round. He learned for a fact that you absolutely can defend against that “well-oiled army” and can have a great time learning how.
With Richard as your golf instructor you’ll get better results, increase your love and appreciation for the game, and learn to get more out of your own natural abilities. You’ll see that golf is a game that can be learned, managed and enjoyed. To schedule a lesson with Richard, please call 952-261-9122 or email at rgolfguy@gmail.com.
Jock Olson
PGA Master Professional
Former Head Professional at Interlachen Country Club and current VP at ForeTees, Jock specializes in teaching the game of golf, making people feel good about themselves, and promoting the game of golf.
Andrew Pike
“Junior Specialist”
Andrew Pike, Certified BPGA Golf Instructor has been teaching golf with Brad for the past three years at Halla Greens, Glen Lake and the Adventure Golf Academy after school programs. A licensed Peace Office, Andrew enjoys sharing his passion for the game with kids.
Jason Henning
Clubfitting and Golf Coach
Jason graduated from Augsburgh University with a degree in Health Fitness and Minor in Psychology. He also works at Golf Galaxy and is a clubfitting and equipment repair expert. He has a passion to find the perfect clubs for his student and enjoys working with kids of all ages.
