PLAYING THE GAME IS SO MUCH MORE THAN HITTING THE BALL, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS: IF YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF SOMEONE OUT ON THE COURSE, THEY OUGHT TO BE SMILING Head pro David Johnson adds: “The curriculum is customized depending on the student. Different students are going to want to work on different skills depending on their level. I also do ‘Get Golf Ready’ programs here, a PGA initiative. It gets people introduced to the game, and we provide all the equipment. I offer five lessons in a clinic setting, one day a week two-hour lessons, for $99. It’s a great nationwide program that often appeals to women.” Because Mitchell’s teaching experience is predominantly with junior and college level players, he’s looking forward to building up the junior golf program. He says being recruited by a college to play golf can be a big boost for a young person, especially those coming from less privileged backgrounds. Golf scholarships are a great avenue to get kids into secondary education. But whether you’re playing competitively or just for fun, Towa’s golf academy stresses the importance of thinking about the game comprehensively. “So many people rate their experience on how well they hit that little sphere, but it’s so much more than that,” Johnson describes. Though June is known for being gusty, there’s no reason it should stop you from golfing. “I spent 30 years in windy Lubbock, TX, and I always thought that was the biggest advantage I ever had,” Mitchell reflects. “Playing the game is so much more than hitting the ball,” adds Johnson. “One of our goals is: if you take a picture of someone out on the course, they ought to be smiling.” Towa Golf Club Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder 40 Buffalo Thunder Trail 505.455.9000
TOWA’S New Golf Academy Photos Kerry Gallagher
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amed North America’s best golf hotel by World Golf Awards, the Towa Golf Club at Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder boasts some of the best golf in New Mexico. Situated at the base of the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Towa’s three independent nine-hole courses provide golfers with dramatic elevation and scenery of extraordinary beauty.
A recent transplant to Santa Fe, Mitchell played on the PGA tour for 10 years, won the Phoenix open, and had 13 top 10 finishes. Additionally, he coached at the division one college level for 21 years at Texas Tech, Stanford and the University of North Texas. Now based in Santa Fe, he’s excited to bring his lifelong devotion and love of the game to Towa.
But it’s one thing to have a course like Towa in your city’s backyard, and another to know how to take advantage of it. This is why Laurie Meredith, director of golf, recently introduced Towa’s new golf academy. In conjunction with head pro David Johnson and newcomer Jeff Mitchell, Meredith and her team hope to transform the culture of golf in and around Santa Fe to one of know-how and appreciation for the game.
What age is the new golf academy geared toward? “Four to 94,” quips Mitchell. “It’s not exclusive of age, gender or ability.” Lessons range from privates to clinics. “Individual lessons are great, but group lessons can be a wonderful opportunity to learn from watching others,” Mitchell says. “There are a lot of different areas in the game—short game, putting, chipping, sand, pitch shots, etc. – and in camps or corporate clinics, you can include all of those and make for a well-rounded golf lesson.” ABOVE L–R: Jeff Mitchell, Laurie Meredith and David Johnson