Born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Donald a class A PGA member since 2000, Graduated from Ferris State University with a BS in Business and a Professional Golf Management degree. Donald has been involved with golf operations since 1992 where he started helping golfers enjoy the game of golf through caddying. Donald has a passion in growing the game of golf through instruction. Donald’s other passion is to give back to our Ladies and Gentlemen in the Military. Donald is a son of a retired Coast Guard officer, in which he learned the values of Honor, Respect and Dedication. He has been the lead instructor at the Marriott Golf Academy for any Military instruction initiatives for the past 8 years. Donald started his tenure with Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort in 2003, opening up Grande Pines Golf Club as an Assistant Golf Professional. Through his work experiences, Donald has had the privilege to work at some of the highest rated Private Golf Clubs in the country, especially Ridgewood Country Club (host of the Barclays), and the West Point Golf Club, which is home to the United States Military Academy in Upstate New York.
Donald is a Faldo certified instructor, being taught by Sir Nick himself. His favorite book that got him interested in teaching was Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book, and his mentor as an instructor is Russell Helwig, PGA from Essex Fells Country Club in New Jersey. Donald has also competed in Division III collegiate golf finishing top 50 in the country. When Donald is not on the lesson tee, you can find him enjoying the outdoors with his wife Heather and son Nickolas and serving as an adjunct golf professor at Valencia Community College.