Coach Portrait

Mark JC Blackburn, PGA

CEO Blackburn Golf Academy At Greystone
PGA Crest

Birmingham, AL
Greystone Golf & CC, Birmingham, AL

About Mark

Originally from England Mark Blackburn arrived in America in 1994 on a college golf scholarship. A multiple Lettermen and Team Captain at The University of Southern Mississippi, Mark received a BS in Coaching.
Mark has developed a tour proven teaching philosophy and coaching continuum for cultivating high performance. The Blackburn Coaching Codification is a pragmatic critical thinking based approach that is score centric. The continuum begins with a human movement through performance analytics to optimize scoring potential. Mark is a four time Alabama NW Florida Section PGA Teacher of The Year, a finalist for The PGA National Teacher of The Year in 2019, Alabama NW Florida Section PGA Horton Smith Winner in 2014 & 2019, one of Golf Digests 50 Best Teachers, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, TPI Advisory Board Member and part of Titleist’s Leadership Advisory Staff. The Blackburn Golf Academy based at Greystone CC in Birmingham Alabama develops and coaches beginners, juniors, club golfers, elite amateurs, college and professional clients from around the world. On the PGA & LPGA Tour clients who have utilized Mark’s coaching include; Chez Reavie, Kevin Chappell, Sean O’Hair, Charley Hoffman, JJ Spaun, Mike Weir, Colt Knost, Andrew Putnam, Harris English, Nick Cullen, Brad Hopfinger, John Peterson, Tyrone Van Aswegan, Chad Campbell, YE Yang, Hudson Sawfford, Heath Slocum, Robert Karlsson, Arjun Atwal, Bill Lunde, Bobby Gates, Boo Weekley, Nathan Green, Brian Gay, Richard Sterne, Julietta Granda, Janie Jackson, and Anna Nordqvist.

The Blackburn Coaching Codification Consciously or subconsciously great coaches are critical thinkers. Solving problems is the true artistic part of coaching. To consistently get positive outcomes as a coach there are tangible and intangible characteristics / skills required. These are the ingredients / factors which create processes or "The Process" which can be repeated to yield continued successes. Across all endeavors great coaches create a culture which nurtures and develops their athletes. By formulating a process my coaches would have a blueprint to guide them regardless of an athletes’ skill level. The humanistic part of coaching means this process had to encompass everything from “Connecting” with the athlete all the way through to performing and playing in competition relative to their skill level. The culmination of these processes is what morphed into the Blackburn Coaching Codification.

Swing Philosophy: Producing the necessary conditions for consistent ball control is always related to the body - swing connection. Lessons follow a holistic approach. There is no one method or swing style for all golfers. Rather, the instructor must develop an efficient and repeatable motion based on the student’s own movement patterns. Utilizing their own physiology, a student will then learn the necessary stability, mobility and power sources unique to their stroke pattern from the green back to the tee.

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Mark in Action

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Mark in Action

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Testimonial:

Marks drive to improve his knowledge of the game and how to get his players better is what makes him one of the best instructors in the world Texas Open Champion & Presidents Cup Team 2017

Kevin Chappell PGA Tour

Testimonial:

Mark Blackburn's knowledge of the golf swing and how the body moves are second to none! He has help me drastically improve and build a foundation that I rely on to try and win on golfs biggest stages! 2019 Travelers Championship Winner

Chez Reavie PGA Tour

Testimonial:

Marks enthusiasm, knowledge and inspiring lessons was one important part in my development that took me to number 1 in Europe and at best number 6 in the world! We had a great journey together. European Tour Order Of Merit Winner

Robert Karlsson European Tour

Testimonial:

Mark Blackburn is a rising star in the golf instruction world. He is one of the best I have ever seen at diagnosing and implementing change. He is one of the Top 10 Teachers in the World. Everyone he works with gets better.

Mike Adams 2016 PGA National Teacher Of The Year

Testimonial:

A good mentor or coach is someone who is willing to listen, has knowledge and expertise and knows how to inspire and motivate their students. Mark Blackburn is a true coach.

Greg Rose TPI Co Founder

Mark's Experience

Helping players achieve their goals.


Getting Started

Learn the basics

Avoid embarrassment on the first tee

Get comfortable for business golf


Having More Fun

Connect with golfers of similar age

Have more fun on the course

Connect with golfers of similar skill


Improving Your Game

Break 100

Break 90

Break 80

Improve your Short Game

Add 10 yards

Prepare for Tournament Golf

Make the high school golf team

Get swing diagnostic testing

Earn a college golf scholarship

Students & Lessons

Coaching Services

Player Type

Youth

Teen

Adult

Senior

Male

Female

Playing with disabilities

Session Type

Individual

Group

Mark's Facilities

Greystone Golf & CC

Birmingham AL

Facility

The Blackburn Golf Academy is based at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The Academy offers students a state of the art teaching center, access to championship courses, driving ranges and short game facilities.

*Coaching available to public

4100 Greystone Dr, Birmingham, AL 35242-6409

Facility Offerings
Golf Performance Center

3D Motion Capture Force Plates Launch Monitors High Speed Video Analysis

PGA Tour Coach

Coach to multiple LPGA & PGA Tour Players

Team Of Coaches

We have 6 full time coaches to teach golfers at every level, from beginners to tour players.

Player Development Programs

Our PDEV programming provides Player Development solutions for golfers at every level.

Begin Your Journey

Work with Mark