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The Villages Golf Academy - Instructors

Trent Reeves PGA
Senior Manager of Golf Academy
Palmer Legends

Trent is a dedicated class A member of the PGA of America with over 27 years in the golf industry. For the last 22 years he was the Director of the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School in Boca Raton, Florida. During his career Trent has had the opportunity to work with all levels of golfers from beginners to tour players including Mark Wilson, K J Choi, D J Brigman, Rocco Mediate, Gregory Havret and Jamie Donaldson. He also was involved in starting an elite Junior Golf Clinic, working with top Junior golfers from all over the country. To compliment his teaching career, Trent has also competed in several mini tour events as well as PGA of America section events.
Trent's teaching philosophy is to make golf simple, natural, and athletic. By helping students understand the natural and athletic movements of a golf swing the students can have more fun playing golf while improving. He has a teaching style that makes the students feel at ease and comfortable as they progress. Trent believes that with a knowledgeable and a caring coach, EVERYBODY can improve and enjoy this great game we call golf.

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Mitch Adcock
Former PGA Tour Player

Mitch Adcock has been a dedicated playing pro with more than 40 years of experience. Mitch began his PGA Tour career in 1978 after graduating from Mississippi State University with All SEC honors. He has competed on the Australasian Tour, South African Sunshine Tour, European PGA Tour, Web.Com Tour with his most recent tour appearance on the PGA TOUR Champions. During Mitch's career he has been recognized as the Sand Saves Statistical Champion as well as a Florida Open Champion. Throughout Mitch's career he has been fortunate to have taken lessons and developed friendships with some of the greatest minds in the game. While his tour days have come to a close, he looks forward to sharing his passion and knowledge for the game with his students as he believes as one of his mentors, Jim Hardy proclaimed, "Let's hit the next ball better."

Maria Brooks, LPGA
Sarasota Golf Practice Center


Maria is a dedicated Class A member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division and is originally from Lockport, NY. She started her teaching career in the New Hampshire seacoast area in 1993. In December 2005 she moved to The Villages to join the Golf Academy where she teaches the New to Golf program as well as private and group lessons. Her approach to teaching the golf swing is to teach the individual to swing to their physical and natural ability. Through her enthusiasm and commitment to her students, Maria excels at creating a wonderful learning environment on the lesson tee.


Craig Griffin, PGA
Sarasota Practice Center


Craig has been teaching group and private instruction for the Villages Golf Academy for 10 years. He left Texas and moved to Florida in 1993 and currently resides in Wildwood, Florida with his wife Cindy. Craig has been in the golf business for 25 years and a PGA member since 1998. Craig spent 9 months caddying on the PGA Tour for two time major winner Mark O'Meara. Highlights included travel to Japan, China, Singapore and Australia as well as being paired with Tiger Woods for three rounds at the Pebble Beach and once at the Williams World Challenge where Woods shot his then career low round of 64. Craig then went on to spend a year caddying for David Gossett and eventually coaching Robert Gamez helping him break his 15 year winless streak with a victory at the 2005 Texas Open. Craig then had the opportunity to work for Arnold Palmer at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando. While working for Mr. Palmer. Craig taught himself to play golf from the left side and at one time had a 3 handicap from both sides. Craig enjoys creating a relaxed fun atmosphere and believes teaching each student to use their individual ability to make changes to their ball flight.

Joey Hidock
TaylorMade Staff Member
U.S. Kids Certified Coach
Sarasota Golf Practice Center


Joey Hidock is a dedicated Class A member of the PGA of America with over 25 years teaching experience. He has had the privilege of working with many of the best players in the world which included caddying on tour for PGA tour player and Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Lehman. He has been fortunate to have worked with some of the best teachers that include Nancy Lopez, Phil Rodgers and Kathy Whitworth. His tremendous research and dedication helped to assist in the development of Swing Model, a leading sport Science Company based on the application of Biomechanical research to the teaching of athletic performance. Joey's core strengths are the ability to motivate people about their golf game and his passion for teaching the game

Wade Martin, PGA, Youth Development Manager
U.S. Kids Certified Coach
4 Putting Elements Certified Instructor
Palmer Legends

Wade Martin is a dedicated Class A member of the PGA of America and has been since 1990. Born and raised in Cedartown, Georgia, Wade grew up on a local golf course developing an early passion for the game. Moving to Florida in 1995, he worked at a few country clubs before turning his focus to teaching in 2001. Wade began teaching at The Villages Golf academy in 2012 and became heavily involved with junior golf in the area. Wade has been a US Kids Certified Coach since 2015 and earned the ranking of Top 50 Master Kids coach in 2018. In 2016, Wade was instrumental in launching The Villages Junior Golf Academy which has grown to over 80 members. Wade is currently the Golf Coach of The Villages High School boys golf team. He led The Villages girls golf team to the State Finals in 2010 and 2011 and has spent a total of 8 years coaching The Villages Boys golf team and has led the boys teams to four District Championships and two State Finals appearance in 2017 and 2022.


Suellen Northrop, LPGA
Palmer Legends


Suellen Northrop�s passion for golf was ignited when, as a teen-ager, she attended a NGF Golf Clinic led by LPGA Founder Shirley Spork. Now, Suellen brings her credentials as a Class A LPGA Teaching Professional and a Level Two Plane Truth Instructor, along with 40 years of knowledge, experience, wisdom, and passion to enable people to play better golf to The Villages. She comes here from Admirals Cove, Jupiter, Fl, where she was the teaching professional. Prior to that Suellen ran her own golf school at Bristol Harbour in Canandaigua, NY, and helped establish the Chautauqua Golf Learning Center where she headed a highly popular summer-long golf school. Suellen has said, �People don�t all learn the same way. Once I know HOW someone learns, I can tailor the WHAT they need to know to improve their golf game. That�s my passion.�.

Tom Talbott, PGA
AimPoint Cerified Instructor
Sarasota Golf Practice Center


Tom Talbott is a Class A member of the PGA of America and brings over 25 years of teaching experience to The Villages Golf Academy. Tom owned the Meridian Golf Learning Center in Denver, Colorado, where he was a highly decorated instructor. He is the 2007 Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year and was voted "Best Teachers in State" by Golf Digest Magazine ten years in a row. Tom is a member of two elite groups of global instructors. He is an Authorized Golfing Machine Instructor receiving his doctorate level in 2017. Tom is also certified in AimPoint, a green reading technique used by many top professionals, and their caddies. He has also worked with some of the top sports psychologist in the industry and is a Ping Top 100 Club Fitter. Tom strongly believes you only have to play golf well enough to satisfy you. His vast knowledge, experience, and passion uniquely qualify him to help you reach your golfing goals.

David Sherman
PGA, U.S. Kids Certified Coach
4 Putting Elements Certified Instructor
Lopez Legacy


David has been a golf professional for more than 34 years and a PGA Member for just over30 years. He is a PGA Certified Teaching professional with 28 years of teaching experience working with students of all skill levels (beginners to top amateurs) and works withstudents of all ages. Most recently, 2014-June 2018, he was the Lead Certified Golf Instructor and owner of the Watters Creek Junior Development Program, in Plano, TX, with more than 65 full time junior students enrolled in this year round program. From 2011-2014 David was the Lead Certified Golf Instructor at Canyon Creek Country Club, Richardson, TX, operating six player development programs for all members and their guests. David also enjoyed his time as the Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach, 2000-2011, at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. During that time HSU qualified for five National Championship tournaments and twice he was voted NCAA National Golf Coaches Association Coach of the Year for 2003-2004 and 2005-2006.



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