Jeff Dean, PGA Professional
Director of Instruction
Jeff is a graduate of the Ferris State Professional Golf Management program with a B.S. in Marketing/PGM. Jeff has been the face of Junior Golf at Bay Meadows since the course opened in 1996. He has been involved as a lead instructor for the Traverse City Junior Golf Association for over ten years. In 2008, Jeff was recognized as a finalist for the Michigan Section PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year. It is great to see Jeff acknowledged by his peers for his role in not only developing young people as golfers, but developing their confidence, values, and their character as young adults.
Last year Jeff accepted a position as the Assistant Girl’s Golf Coach for the Traverse City West Titans. Jeff helped lead a group of talented and dedicated players to back-to-back appearances in the Division I State Finals representing the highest finishes in TC West High School history. He helps players from other schools as well. All 5 players named to the most recent Record Eagle Dream Team worked with Jeff to improve their skills.
Jeff has also helped hundreds of adult golfers to improve. Jeff’s style is to use video to compare player’s swings to the most successful players in the game. He works to identify specific cause and effect relationships in the golf swing to provide students with a clear path to improvement.
Jeff has many instructional programs scheduled for the 2008 season. Contact the staff at Bay Meadows to reserve a spot and begin playing better golf!
Rodger Jabara, PGA Golf Professional
Rodger is a graduate of Mancelona High School and Northwood University, with a degree in Retail and Marketing. He has been a PGA Golf Professional since 1982. His past resume includes: Head Professional, Schuss Mountain Golf Club, 1977-1990, Director of Golf, Shanty Creek Resort, 1991-2001, and Crystal Mountain Resort, Guest Services Manager, 2003-2007.
Rodgers' best qualities are always targeted towards taking care of the guest to make sure that their every expectation is met. He wants everyone feel as if they've made a new friend whenever they come through the golf shop door. Having won numerous awards that are sponsored by The Michigan PGA, including Merchandiser of the Year in 1989, Golf Professional of the Year in 1989, the Spalding National Golf Professional of the Year in 1991, and The Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2002, he believes he has a good grasp of what golfers want and how they should be treated.
The past few years, Rodger has taught every level of golfer with a focus on women. His philosophy has always been to teach the basics and to have fun while learning. Golfers may be nervous when they first start, and his ambition is to make sure they are enjoying their experience while learning to play. He doesn’t like to give learners too much to handle because the FUN leaves very fast. One of the areas of teaching that he enjoys and excels at is putting.
Along with Jeff Dean, Director of Instruction at Bay Meadows Learning Center, we have many different programs to fit into your schedule. Please give us an opportunity to help you improve your game whether you are a beginner or seasoned veteran.
