PGA Professional Teaching Staff

Paul Bucy, Director of Instruction at Desert Willow Golf Resort, specializing in Video Swing Analysis, Advanced Club Fitting, and Junior Golf coaching, has more than two decades of experience playing, coaching and teaching golf alongside some of golf’s greats – Nick Faldo, Anika Sörenstam, Matt Kuchar, Mike Weir, Gary Player, Jason Day, Sean Foley (Tiger Woods’s swing coach), and others.

Winner of numerous teaching honors, including the 2012 DCPGA Teacher of the Year Award, 2008, 2009, 2010 DCPGA Junior Golf Leader, and 2011 DCPGA Horton Smith Award for Education, Paul has trained some of the top professional golfers in the world as well as numerous up-and-coming collegiate players.  The majority of his clients are intermediate golfers of all ages.  Many of his students simply want to get better at the sport and break 100. 

Unlike most teachers, who often take a one-size-fits-all approach with only one method for everyone, Paul offers instruction in swing fundamentals,  and course management tailored specifically to each individual student, creating unique lessons and training that works best for that student, based on keen evaluation of the student’s body characteristics and physical conditioning, equipment, levels of motivation, and amount of time they wish to devote as well as their overall goal.  Also, no matter who he is teaching, he always creates a fun, non-intimidating environment while maximizing the effectiveness of every minute.

He has coached junior golfers who have played competitive golf at Texas Tech University, University of Arizona, US Naval Academy, University of Pacific, and other top universities; and he has coached the top players at local high schools, including Palm Desert High School, La Quinta High School, and Xavier School.

Serving on prestigious committees of the Southern California PGA, including the SCPGA Teaching Committee and SCPGA Junior Advisor Board, he has also been a Presenter at the SCPGA Annual Teaching Summit and has personally conducted numerous teaching seminars in which he teaches other golf professionals how to be better teachers.  He is also frequently asked to be guest speaker at golf schools.  When he’s not playing or teaching, Paul spends time with his two children, Paul and Isabella.

Ryan was born in Alpena, Michigan and graduated from Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management Program in 2009 (Go Bulldogs!). After graduation, Ryan was elected to PGA membership in 2010 and returned to Palm Desert full time. Ryan has a passion for teaching the game of golf and especially enjoys helping students HAVE FUN, while taking their game to the next level. He will help you create a game plan to reach your personal goals and better understand how to practice properly! Ryan takes pride in staying connected with his students to ensure they are practicing the right way and continuing to see progress.

 

Other Interests
Ryan’s favorite hobbies, aside from golf, are hiking, landscaping, reading, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with his wife Holly, son Jackson, and daughter Lillian. His favorite PGA Tour Players are Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler.

Jason was raised in Berkshire County, Massachusetts where he started playing golf at the age of 10. He continued to further his education and playing experience through Coastal Carolina University’s Business Program where he majored in Professional Golf Management.

Upon completion of his Bachelor’s Degree, Jason joined Desert Willow Golf Resort as a Golf Professional in 2008. Since a member of the Desert Willow team Jason has been able to obtain an in depth knowledge of golf operations, tournament operations, club fittings and instruction.

In addition to being a PGA Professional, Jason is also a Certified US Kids Instructor, TPI Fitness and Titleist Club Fitting. He has a passion for teaching the game of golf and enjoys working with junior, beginner, intermediate and advanced golfers.

Other Interests
Jason enjoys traveling, hiking, snowboarding, crossfit fitness training and personal finance.

Jeff was born and raised in Coto de Caza California (Mission Viejo area) and spent his youth playing many sports, including golf. From the young age of 13 Jeff really excelled in the game of golf and shifted his focus away from the other sports to focus on a sport that would help in his near and distant future. He had the privilege of working with two renowned golf professionals in his teenage years, Tom Sargant and Bobby Laskin who helped mold him into the player and golf professional he is today. After a successful year at College of the Desert and having the lowest scoring average on the team he shifted his focus to working part time in the golf industry to pursue his passion of playing golf for a living. After two years of pursuing his dream of playing golf for a living, Jeff took a position as Assistant Golf Professional at Classic Club in Palm Desert California.

Jeff shifted his focus to operations and teaching and obtained his Class A PGA Membership in November of 2012.  Jeff was promoted to the position of PGA Tournament Coordinator at Classic Club and ran hundreds of events, ranging from large charity fundraisers to collegiate invitationals (Men’s and Woman’s Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate). During his time at Classic Club he taught student’s ranging from beginners and corporate executives to college athletes pursuing their dream of playing golf for a living.

Other Interests
Jeff enjoys cooking/BBQ and hosting get togethers for family and friends. He is an avid sports fan including football, baseball, basketball, tennis and of course golf. Jeff Grant’s career low round of 62 came in the desert at the Lakes Country Club.

Matt grew up in Elk Grove, California (suburb of Sacramento) moved to Santa Barbara as a young adult and turned professional in 1989 while working at the Santa Barbara Golf Club. He was trained in club fitting early on in his career by Matt Flenniken (Cameron Champ’s Instructor at age 5) who stressed a synergistic approach to Teaching and Clubfitting. Matt was also fortunate to have spent time with Barney Adams of “Adams Golf” fame who very much influenced Matt’s teaching philosophy.
Matt’s career low round is “64” at the Bing Maloney Municipal Golf Course in Sacramento while serving as the Head Golf Professional in 2005.

Other Interests
When not playing golf, Matt enjoys day trips around our beautiful Coachella Valley with his wife Lisa who is also a golfer.

Josh is currently the Assistant Golf Professional at Desert Willow Golf Resort, specializing in Video Swing Analysis, Advanced Club Fitting, and Junior Golf coaching. He has also taught and worked with PGA Tour Players and Coaches such as Matt Kuchar, Mike Weir, Gary Player, Natalie Gulbis, and Sean Foley. Josh has also served on the Desert Chapter PGA board of directors. He has even given President George Bush #43 a lesson in 2012.
Josh knows that the fundamentals of the golf swing are the keys to success. By implementing effective drills, keeping a consistent practice routine, playing in tournaments or even just a round of golf will make you a better player. Playing with the proper equipment is essential to your golf journey, improvement, and enjoyment.

Other Interests
Josh Garber has resided in the Coachella Valley for 20-plus years and is married to his wife Gwendolyn and has two daughters Hailey and Jocelyn. He enjoys golf of course, as well as spending time with his family and their dogs, hiking the outdoors, and barbecuing.