Harbor Springs, Mich.  - The nationally recognized BOYNE Golf Academy based at northern Michigan resorts, The Highlands and Boyne Mountain, has named Joe Charles as the program's new Director of Instruction.  

Charles is a 15-year member of The Professional Golfers' Association; a TPI Certified Golf Professional specializing in video analysis, biomechanical motion analysis, and launch monitors; a TPI level 2 Junior Golf Certified Instructor; and a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Instructor.  

"I am excited to be joining the team at BOYNE Golf Academy and look forward to bringing my approach to help students achieve their goals and enjoy golf even more as a result," said Charles.  "I believe that every student is different and always strive to take an individual approach incorporating the right mix of comprehensive and fun concepts."  

Charles' love for the game of golf began at the young age of 13 as a caddy at Kalamazoo Country Club.  He later attended Ferris State University's Professional Golf Management program where he became the first student in its history to obtain his full Class "A" PGA membership before graduating. Charles completed internships at The Seaview Marriott Resort in New Jersey; The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Florida; and Tullymore Golf Resort in Michigan, before returning to Kalamazoo Country Club where he worked alongside his mentor, Dick Stewart, during the summers, and at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, during the winters.  He then went to work for the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, a training ground for many PGA Tour players.  Through this exposure to elite golfers and coaches, Charles gained valuable experience on cultivating a productive player/ teacher relationship; skills he took with him as he launched into his next career move as the Head Professional at The Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida.  Following his passion for teaching, Charles has most recently held Director of Instruction roles at GolfTEC in Atlanta and Treetops Resort in Gaylord developing workshops for couples, women, and juniors.    

"Joe has a true passion for helping students achieve their golf goals, and has a proven teaching style that will be a wonderful asset to our team," said Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts.  

For more information on the BOYNE Golf Academy, please visit BOYNEGolf.com.      

About BOYNE Golf Academy
The BOYNE Golf Academy has been one of the top golf schools in the country since 1986. Based at Boyne Mountain and The Highlands, the Academy features nationally recognized professional instructors who have developed a variety of programs for juniors, adults, and women of all skill levels that improves every aspect of the game from short game to the long game utilizing the top state-of-the-art teaching technology including Trackman and GEARS Club and Body Tracking System. In addition, the Academy is the leader in junior golf instruction with the nationally acclaimed Nike Junior Golf Camps. Guests can also learn from the best instructors through weekly resort clinics and customized private and group lessons.   

About BOYNE Golf
Named among the top golf resort destinations in America by Golf Digest (Americas Greatest Resorts) and GOLF Magazine (Top 100 Resorts), BOYNE Golf features  a trio of resort destinations with 10 golf courses, all within a 45-minute drive of one another. The Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club, Boyne's flagship properties, features 27-holes with three golf course combinations (Links/Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, and Preserve/Links) all designed by Arthur Hills. Add in the nearby Crooked Tree Golf Club, perched on the bluff overlooking Bay Harbor, as well as the beautiful and iconic hotel, and you have one of the most scenic golf destinations in America set along a five-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline.

The Highlands, rated the No. 1 Golf Resort for Value by Golf.com, features 72 holes of premier golf design. The Heather was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., while the Hills Course was crafted by Arthur Hills. In addition, the resort features The Donald Ross Memorial, which is a rendition of the legendary architect's great holes from around the country, and the always-fun Moor course. The Highlands is the perfect buddy trip destination for golfers who like to play as many holes as they can during the long summer daylight hours northern Michigan features.  

Boyne Mountain not only features two fun 18-hole courses (The Monument and Alpine), along with the charming Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, it is also the leading family friendly golf destination in the region with the Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, junior golf camps, and various kid golf programs. Golf Digest named Boyne Mountain one of its "Top-10 Destinations for Family Golf Trips."   

Beyond golf, Boyne is centered amid one of America's most beautiful vacation spots. The scenic Lake Michigan beach towns of Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Petoskey are minutes away, and a side trip to Mackinac Island is easily managed. Guests can enjoy award-winning spas, waterfront dining, sandy beaches, watersports, gaming, microbreweries, wineries, hiking, biking, tennis, zip-lining, shopping and more capped by the spectacular northern Michigan sunsets. For more information, visit BOYNEGolf.com.