BOYNE Golf Academy
The BOYNE Golf Academy is honored to have received the prestigious 2021 & 2022 Editor's Choice Award by Golf Digest as one of the Best Golf Schools & Academies. One of the top golf schools in the country since 1986, the Academy features nationally recognized professional instructors who have developed a variety of programs for juniors and adults of all skill levels.
Adult Programs
Winter Development Program
The perfect program to help you improve and keep the rust away this winter! Keep improving your game with four BOYNE Golf Academy Indoor Studio lessons, utilizing the latest state-of-the-art launch monitor technology and training aids.
Golf Schools
Learn the game with your spouse or with friends with our Couples or Ladies Golf Schools.
Private Instruction
Learn from the best! Whether you're looking to compete at a high level or just waiting to have more fun on the golf course, private lessons will help you reach your goals.
Club Fitting
Technology is your friend! Improve your game by playing with the clubs you should be playing. Utilizing swing analysis technology, we will suggest the best combination of clubheads and shafts.
Junior Programs
Learn The Game
Ages 5-12
From beginners to mini-pros, this game-based learning system is hailed as one of the best junior golf programs in the country.
Junior Day Camps
Ages 12-18
Our four-day camps are dedicated to providing elite golf instruction in a safe and fun environment.
Junior Private Instruction
All Ages
Improve your junior's game with one-on-one lessons tailored to each student of any ability.
First Tee — Northern Michigan
The First Tee Program is designed to provide a fun, engaging golf atmosphere for children aged five and older. We are proud to host First Tee — Northern Michigan at The Highlands.
Parent-Child School
NEW in 2025, learn together!
Held at The Highlands & Boyne Mountain
Parent-Child Golf School
Create lifelong memories while sharpening your golf game at our four-day Parent-Child Golf School! This unique program blends expert instruction with quality bonding time on the course.
Technology
Trackman
TrackMan allows our pros the ability to analyze and compare shots to isolate and address strengths and weaknesses - reducing learning curves from weeks and months to days, even hours.
Sportsbox.ai
Sportsbox.ai allows our coaches to analyze golf swings three-dimensionally for students quickly and effectively, maintaining the flow of the lesson. Through the use of artificial intelligence, this technology helps our players understand and quantify things like pelvic and chest turn/sway, lift, flex, bend and kinematic sequence.
TrackMan Range
A powerful 30-bay setup at the Ross Golf Center range enables players of all levels to practice distance control, shot-shaping, and more to improve their game.
Titleist Performance Institution Evaluation
TPI does not believe in one way to swing a club; rather, there is one efficient way for every player to swing, based on what the player can physically do.
Meet Our Instructors
Led by nationally recognized PGA Professionals, the BOYNE Golf Academy's mission is to help golfers of all ages and abilities improve every aspect of their game. Through a holistic approach to teaching, our instructors provide you with the tools to see immediate improvement, as well as continued growth and development into the future.
Joe Charles
Director of Instruction, Available Year Round
joseph.charles@highlandsharborsprings.com
Joe Charles is our leader of the Golf Academy as the Director of Instruction. Joe has established himself as a leader in the world of teaching golf to juniors and adults. He specializes in the use of video analysis, bio-mechanical motion analysis, and launch monitors and is also a highly skilled club fitter. Some of his career highlights are:
- First FSU student in history to obtain full Class "A" PGA Membership before graduation
- Recipient of Outstanding Achievement in Instruction award three times
- Get Golf Ready program chosen as one of the 5 Best Practices of the Year in 2016
- Featured instructor on Golf Channel's Morning Drive show
- TPI Certified Golf Professional
- Level 2 Junior Golf Certified Instructor
- US Kids Golf Certified Instructor
- 15 Year Member of the PGA
Joe's reputation for quality and goal-oriented golf instruction is well known in Northern Michigan. Whether you are looking to hit your driver a few yards further, make those 5-footers on a regular basis, or lower your handicap in the upcoming year, Joe's passion for helping his students achieve their goals and proven teaching style will be a wonderful asset to your golf game.
Jeff Roth
Teaching Professional, Available May 1 - October 1
jeff.roth@highlandsharborsprings.com
Michigan native Jeff Roth brings extensive knowledge as a player and instructor to the BOYNE Golf Academy. A golf professional since 1979, Jeff has over 70 professional victories to his credit and many accolades, including:
- Member of the University of Arizona, Michigan Golf, and Michigan PGA Hall of Fame
- Participated in 20 MAJOR Championships: 6-PGA, 8-PGA Seniors, 6-U.S. Open Seniors
- Participated in 15 Michigan PGA Championships
- Two-time Michigan Open Championship
- Four-time Michigan PGA Champion
- Two-time Michigan PGA Senior Champion
- Two-time Michigan PGA Match Play
- Six-time winner of the Michigan PGA Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain
Jeff has served as a head golf professional for more than 25 years, establishing numerous junior and adult programs to develop physical and mental skills and improve player performance. He plans to create and share a variety of learning opportunities that will benefit and entertain Boyne golfers.
Bob Prange
Teaching Professional, Available May - Mid-October
robert.prange@highlandsharborsprings.com
BOYNE Golf Academy is excited to have Bob Prange, who brings his extensive and impressive PGA instruction experience with him. He brings a stellar success model with his individualized training for men, women, and youth, from new golfers to lifetime golfers.
During his lengthy PGA career, Bob was mentored for instruction by two of the best in the industry: Englishman John Jacobs of the John Jacobs' Practical Golf Schools and Jim Hardy, former National PGA Teacher of the Year and founder of the Plane Truth Golf Certification Program.
Here are some of Bob's professional highlights in his career as a PGA Instructor:
- Indiana PGA Teacher of the Year
- Vermont PGA Teacher of the Year
- Former lead instructor with John Jacobs' Practical Golf School
- Jim Hardy Plan Truth Golf Certified Instructor
- Top Instructor List: Golf Digest and Golf Magazine
- Voted best golf instructor in Indianapolis by Indianapolis Magazine
- Taught his daughters, Amber and Ashley, throughout their collegiate and professional careers
- Former Head Coach at Purdue University for both men and women
- Won the Indiana PGA Senior Championship
He enjoys working with members and guests at The Highlands and Boyne Mountain. He teaches Golf Schools and individual instruction throughout the golf season.
Dave McWhorter
Teaching Professional & Master Club Fitter, Available Year Round
Dave is a Teaching Professional and Master Club Fitter for BOYNE Golf Academy. He has spent 17 years with Boyne, 12 focused on teaching, and eight fully dedicated to the Golf Academy. During these years, he has taught hundreds of junior golfers through the Junior Golf Camps at The Highlands. Dave is certified for club fitting and is a Member of the National Fitting Counsel for TaylorMade Golf.