Instructor Bios

Director of Instruction – Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ
Director of Instruction – Peninsula State Park Golf Course, Door County, WI

San Diego native Matt Stottern has had a life-long love for golf. After playing success at the junior and high school levels, he also excelled in college. Matt was team captain and an All-American at UC-San Diego where he earned a BA in Psychology.

A career in golf was a logical next step. Matt is an 18-year member of the PGA and spent 12 years as head golf professional at private clubs in Arizona, Utah, and Idaho. He also spent 6 seasons coaching college golf and 6 seasons at Nike Junior Camps.

Matt now shares his love for the game with students of all ages as an instructor for John Jacobs’ Golf Schools. He spends most of his time at Orange Tree Golf Club in Scottsdale with schools and private lessons for students of all skill levels. He spends the summer months as the Director of Instruction at the John Jacobs’ Golf School at Peninsula State Park Golf Course in Door County, Wisconsin.

Instructor – Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, AZ

Mike LaFond joined John Jacobs’ Golf Schools in 1980 and has over 200 hours of personal training directly from John Jacobs himself. For most of the past 30 years he has been a lead instructor at various Jacobs’ Golf locations including The Greenbriar in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, The Club at Crested Butte in Crested Butte, Colorado, and Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mike was an integral part of the Jacobs’ Golf new instructor training staff for several years and is currently Director of Instruction for Jacobs’ Golf at Orange Tree Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mike has also done multiple radio interviews and television appearances, and had numerous newspaper and magazine articles published, including articles in Golf Digest Magazine. At one time he was voted among the top 3 golf instructors in West Virginia.

Director of Instruction – Legend Trail Golf Club, Scottsdale, AZ

Jon Stanley is a 20 year member of the PGA of America. He started his time as a Golf Professional as a Caddy Master, and has worked his way through the ranks of Assistant Professional, Head Professional, and Director of Instruction, all the while maintaining a very rewarding playing career. Career wins include the 1988 Kentucky PGA Assistant Professional Championship, 1991 Maryland State Open, and the 2011 Southwest PGA Championship. Other accomplishments include qualifying for 6 Professional National Championships, 4 National Assistant Professional Championships, and 4 Senior Professional National Championships, and being part of 3 SWPGA Robinson Cup Teams and 10 Goldwater Cup Teams. Jon qualified for the 2009 United States Senior Open, and was Senior Player of the Year in the Southwest PGA for 2008 and 2010.

Jon began to concentrate on teaching in 1998 when he became a Director of Instruction for the American Golf Learning Centers which evolved into the Nike Golf Learning Centers. He has served as Director of Instruction at Foothills Golf Club and Stonecreek Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, and Kokopelli Golf Club in Gilbert, Arizona. Jon became a part of the John Jacobs’ team in 2009 and has taught schools and/or private lessons at ALL of our current Phoenix Metro locations and is currently the Director of Instruction for John Jacobs’ Golf Schools & Academies at Legend Trail Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Director of Instruction – Red Mountain Ranch Country Club, Mesa, AZ

Mark was a lead instructor for the John Jacobs’ Schools from 1998 to 2003 before moving to Lakewood, Colorado with his wife Pamela. Having taught with The Mike McGetrick Academy for 3 years, he then joined the ESPN 3 Club Tour in association with Jim Flick and Hank Haney and their staff members to travel for 6 years around the country doing clinics and schools. When Mark was with John Jacobs, he traveled to China to do schools with John himself. With his over 24 years experience Mark has helped thousands of golfers worldwide. He uses the set of principles instilled in him by Mr. John Jacobs.

Mark is currently the Director of Instruction for John Jacobs’ Golf Schools & Academies at Red Mountain Ranch Country Club in Mesa, Arizona.

Director of Instruction – Hillcrest Golf Club, Sun City West, AZ

Brad Moore is a PGA of America Life Member and has achieved Quarter Century Club status. He began his career in golf course management in 1977 as Head Golf Professional at Greenfield, Indiana Country Club, and he has served as Director of Golf at Shady Hills Golf Club in Marion, IN, Orchard Ridge Country Club in Fort Wayne, IN, and Grand Island Golf Club in Grand Rapids, MI. He also hosted a Golf Show on WBAT radio in Marion for 3 years and has appeared in numerous radio and TV commercials promoting these clubs and the game of golf.

Brad has an extensive competitive playing resume, including Indiana Junior Champion, numerous Midwest Long Drive Championships, PGA tour events and Florida mini-tours, and has participated in many National and State Pro-Am Charity events throughout the United States.

Brad joined the John Jacobs’ Golf School teaching staff in 2000, and has taught at various Jacobs’ Golf locations in Indiana, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and California. Since 2003, he has been Director of Instruction at Hillcrest Golf Club in Sun City West, Arizona. In addition to teaching students, Brad is also involved in recruiting new instructors and leads our instructor training program.

Instructor – Hillcrest, Sun City West, AZ

Bill Rhiley is the newest member of our teaching team. He has a passion for the game and loves seeing his students play better golf. If he’s not teaching, you’ll probably find him out playing.

Bill is a recent graduate from the PGA Golf Management Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. That follows a 20-year career as a jet engine mechanic and flight engineer with the US Navy. Bill had eight different deployments overseas.

The Nebraska native has teaching experience at Treetops Resort in Michigan, Chicago Highlands in the suburbs of the Windy City, as well as here at JJGS. He’s also enjoying a successful playing career winning multiple times on amateur tours and now competing in local, state, and Southwest Section PGA events.