Junior Golf Academy
Building the next generation of golfers and leaders through golf and life skill development for 4-18 year olds
The Junior Academy is a year-round golf and life skills program with a structured curriculum focused on continuous learning. Junior golfers learn to golf from the green back and the ground up. Our certified junior golf instructors teach them etiquette and how to reflect on both their practice and rounds. Through game-like training and coaching, they transform.
We see massive improvements in hand eye coordination, perseverance, goal-setting, teamwork, and enjoyment. We’ve helped prepare junior golfers for their high school golf teams, tournaments, and Drive, Chip and Putt.
Programs are organized by age and skill. But no matter their level, the main focus is always FUN!
ABCs
Designed for our youngest junior golfers, ABCs helps kids learn hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, patience, sharing and teamwork through golf.
Fridays
At Trump National Los Angeles
Monthly recurring program
4-7 years old
Basic beginners
6:1 student teacher ratio
Pitching, chipping, putting
Hand/eye coordination & balance drills
Patience, sharing & teamwork
Aim for Greatness 1.0
Focused on building a love for the game, Aim for Greatness 1.0 teaches golf fundamentals, motor function, and teamwork through fun games and drills.
Saturdays + Wednesdays (supervised practice)
At Trump National Los Angeles
Monthly recurring program
8-12 years old
Basic and advanced beginners
6:1 student teacher ratio
Basic golf fundamentals
Team building games
Taskmastery drills
Aim for Greatness 2.0
Golf fundamentals and teamwork are taken to the next level in Aim for Greatness 2.0, helping junior golfers strengthen and advance their skills.
Saturdays + Wednesdays (supervised practice)
At Trump National Los Angeles
Monthly recurring program
10-14 years old
Advanced beginner to intermediate
6:1 student teacher ratio
Golf fundamentals
Team building games
Taskmastery drills
Play to Win
Instruction evolves to include on-course coaching in Play to Win, helping middle and high school students grow as competitive golfers.
Saturdays + Wednesdays (optional supervised practice)
At Trump National Los Angeles
Monthly recurring program
13-18 years old
Intermediate to advanced
6:1 student teacher ratio
Golf fundamentals
On-course coaching
Meet Your Instructors
Michael Cude
Lead Junior Instructor
Michael leads junior golf programming, including the Junior Academy and youth player development. He’s a skilled competitive golfer who grew up playing many sports before fully devoting himself to golf in 2012. Mostly self-taught, he has spent countless hours studying the greats of the game from their putting to full swing. He has played in many local tournaments, as well as US Amateur and US Open qualifiers.
Brandon Bittner
Master Golf Instructor
Brandon brings more than a decade of golf coaching experience to the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles. He leads adult group coaching and clinics, and beginner player development with both juniors and adults. Brandon also does private 1:1 coaching to provide more personalized skill development. He takes a goal-oriented, results-based approach to coaching and is dedicated to helping golfers reach their full potential on the course.
