Lead Coach Dave Kendall

Kendall Academy at Miles of Golf

Dave Kendall founded the Kendall Academy of Golf at Miles of Golf, in 1997. 2021 will be the 25th year under Dave’s guidance, growing from one Instructor to 8 outstanding Coaches and home to hundreds of success stories. The Kendall Academy Team of Coaches, works to develop the golf games of players of all levels, from Beginner to Elite Amateur and Professionals. Dave is also one of the founding members of the Golf Channel Academy network of Lead Coaches and first in Michigan.

The Michigan PGA has previously honored Dave as the Teacher of the Year, Golf Professional of the Year, recipient of the Horton Smith Award, and Senior Player of the Year Award. He has served the Michigan PGA as a Board Member, Officer, and President. As a player, Dave is a 2-time Michigan Senior Open Champion, Senior PGA Champion, and Senior PGA Match Play Champion. He has been inducted into the Jackson, Michigan, the Michigan PGA, and the Michigan Golf Halls of Fame. Dave has been listed on Golf Digest’s list of Top Teachers in Michigan since 2000. Dave is one of the first 20 graduates of Ferris State University’s Professional Golf Management Program. Dave has been honored by Ferris State’s Professional Golf Management Alumni Association as recipient of its Norm Bennett, Bill Strausbaugh, and Don Perne Awards. In 2017, the Ferris State University Alumni Association awarded Dave it’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Dave’s greatest sources of pride are the accomplishments of his students and fellow Coaches. The insight he has gained through his years of Coaching players of all levels, along with his competitive background, has given him a very practical approach to player improvement.

PAUL HAASE, PGA

Founder Teaching Professional

Paul has been a Class A PGA member since 1975. He has been with the Kendall Academy for the past 23 years and is considered one of the Founders of Kendall Academy. Golf Digest Magazine ranked Paul 3rd on its list of Top Teachers in Michigan in 2013-2014 and 5th in 2011 – 2012. In 2008, Paul was named the Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year. He has had hundreds of success stories over his many years of teaching and coaching.

Over 150 of Paul’s students have gone on to play collegiately at Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Brown, Bucknell, Toledo, Richmond, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan among others. In addition to collegiate students, Paul’s students also include a 3x Golfweek United States Senior Amateur Player of the Year. Paul’s extensive professional experience includes: qualifying for the PGA Senior Tour’s First of America Classic in 1998 as well as winning the Michigan PGA Senior Pro/Senior Am with student Bill Zylstra in 2005, 2008, and 2010. Paul’s knowledge of the golf swing and short game techniques, experience in communication, and friendly manner make him an outstanding Instructor for any level of player.

JIM YUHAS, PGA

Director of Instruction Senior Teaching Professional

Jim joined the Kendall Academy at Miles of Golf in December of 2009 and was named Director of Instruction in February 2012. Prior to the Kendall Academy, Jim served as an Assistant Golf Professional at West Shore Golf & CC from 2003 through 2006; Assistant Professional at Grosse Ile Golf & CC from 2007 through 2008, and Head Golf Professional in 2009. During his time at West Shore and Grosse Ile he coordinated the Junior Golf Programs and Beginner Clinics, as well as providing private and group instruction to players of all ability levels. His extensive equipment knowledge comes from over 18 years experience with custom club fitting and club repair.

Jim learned the finer points of Instruction from the Michigan PGA 2008 Teacher of the Year, Paul Haase. Jim takes great pride in the success of his students which include State High School Champions, a former Collegiate All-American, golf scholarship recipients, and a Web.com Touring Professional. In addition to private lessons and large group sessions, Jim’s expertise will enhance your corporate outings, as well. Whether you are brand new to golf, or an elite player, Jim’s professionalism and kind manner will make your golf experience enjoyable.

SCOTT HAYES

Senior Teaching Professional

Scott graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001 after competing collegiately on the varsity golf team for 4 straight years. He was Captain of the team in 2000-2001, was ranked as high as 47th in the nation as an amateur golfer, and was the medalist of the Inverness Intercollegiate in August, 2000 at Inverness Country Club in Toledo, OH. After turning professional in 2001, Scott traveled the U.S. and Canada playing professional tournaments on various mini tours and in several state opens. He finished in the top-5 in the Michigan Open 4 years in a row (2004-2007).

He was named to Golf Digest’s “Top Teachers in Your State” list in 2006 after his first 5-years teaching at the Kendall Academy, where he provided private and group lessons, beginner and intermediate golf schools, and junior camps. His extensive equipment knowledge and club-fitting experience comes from his work in the CLUBoratory beginning in 1999 and he continues to stay educated in the technical aspects of modern equipment. Scott prides himself on scientific knowledge. Everything he does has its roots in geometry and physics. Scott is a Certified Trackman Professional and likes to use the Trackman Launch Monitor in lessons to teach his students the “Ball Flight Laws” and how Swing Direction and Attack Angle combine to create a Club Path at impact and how the Face Angle relative to this Club Path will dictate the golf ball’s behavior.

In 2009, Scott earned his first Golf Stroke Engineering Degree and was the first and only Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine in the State of Michigan. His past work with The Golfing Machine and continued education and experience allows him to understand the golf motion from a very mechanical and technical foundation. He teaches mechanics first and how a golfer can eventually transition from mechanics to feel. But an in-depth explanation of mechanics must be the golfer’s initial priority because the golf ball does not respond to feel alone. He is also very capable of translating his technical knowledge and communicating it into easily usable information for students of all skill levels. If you are looking for a modern golf scientist then Scott would be a good fit….and keep in mind that the ball does not judge you it only reacts to the application of the instrument you hold in your hands. So be prepared to talk about how to control the club by controlling your hands.

PATRICK WILKES-KRIER

Senior Teaching Professional

Patrick has been a Coach at Kendall Academy since the Spring of 2015. Prior to that Patrick played professionally for 8 years, competing primarily on the NGA Tour (Hooters Tour) and played in events on the Web.com Tour and other mini-tours throughout the country. In the Summer of 2016 Patrick qualified for and played in the US Open at Oakmont Country Club. Patrick was born and raised in Ann Arbor and played golf locally at Huron High School where he earned All-State Super Team honors in his Senior year and won the Michigan Junior Amateur Match Play Championship. He went on to play golf at Ball State University in Indiana where he was Captain both his Junior and Senior years and an Academic All-American. 

Before turning professional at the end of 2006, Patrick won the GAM Championship at Dearborn Country Club. Patrick now works as the Assistant Golf Coach for the University of Michigan’s Men’s Golf Team.  He has learned from top teachers from around the country and brings unique knowledge from his professional playing experience. He has extensive knowledge in all facets of the game from course management, to short game to full swing. Patrick is very gifted in his ability to make complicated seem simple.

JIMMIE HISSONG

Teaching Professional

Jimmie Hissong grew up in Livonia, Michigan. but joins the Team of Coaches at
Kendall Academy after recently moving back to Michigan from Tampa, Florida. Jimmie
spent 4 years in Florida working as a Head Golf Professional and a Certified Coach with
GOLFTEC. For the last 3 years Jimmie has been a Director of Instruction at Seven
Springs Golf & CC, New Port Richey, FL., specializing in group lessons, junior lessons,
short game lessons, course management/playing lessons, tournament prep and 1 on 1
Private Lessons. He enjoys working with all skill levels and by giving over 9,000 one
hour lessons during his first 10 years of teaching, he’s confident he can help your game.
His vast understanding of Playing Skills and his kind and friendly nature will make very
easy to connect with.

JOHN KARCHER

Teaching Professional

John Karcher started his relationship with Kendall Academy as a Student at age 15.  John became an outstanding High School Player at U of D Jesuit. After High School he became an outstanding Collegiate Player at Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama, where he was a multiple All Conference selection. John is the third of Kendall Academy’s decorated Coaches to have first come to KA as young Students. Scott Hayes was a KA Student as a College Player at U of M and Patrick Wilkes-Krier as a High School Player at Huron High School. Kendall Academy previously hired John as a College Student in the Summer between his Junior and Senior years. During that Summer, John captured the attention of both the Students and the Coaches that he worked with as the type of talented, caring, and considerate person that Kendall Academy would be proud to have on its list of fine Coaches. John will give individual Private Lessons, Group Lessons, Youth and Adult Golf Schools, and assist as needed with Elite Junior Development Programs.

Ryan Lenahan

Teaching Professional

Ryan has had a passion for golf ever since he was a child.  In high school, he was a two-time all-state selection, while ranked in the top 100 in the country his senior year.  He was then a four year starter on the golf team at the University of Nebraska, where he helped his team into two post-season berths.  Since then, Ryan has been playing professionally for the past 12 years.  During his professional tenure, he won over 25 professional events, was first alternate for the 2013 U.S. Open, played in the 2014 John Deere Classic, and learned from some of the best instructors throughout the U.S.  He has worked with top 50 instructors including Butch Harmon, Dr. Jim Suttie, Todd Anderson, James Sieckmann, John Tillery, and Mike Shannon.  He has made it one of his missions to learn as much as possible about the golf swing, and will be honored to pass on his knowledge to students of any level of ability.