Becoming proficient in golf is tough enough. Trying to do it on your own, without any quality instruction, makes it virtually impossible to achieve that goal. Fortunately for those visiting the Scottsdale area, there is a facility that offers all the help you need.

The TOURAcademy TPC Scottsdale is part of a world-class practice facility — used annually by the PGA TOUR during the Waste Management Phoenix Open and year-round by many pros who call the area home — with an equally impressive teaching staff.

Since opening in 2007, the facility has helped thousands of golfers with all levels of skills and experience. “We work with juniors who have never touched a club all the way up to PGA TOUR players,” says Rob Rashell, Certified Instructor and Facility Manager. “All types of golfers come to us and we’re happy to help them.” 

Rashell grew up in Everett, Washington, and played golf at the University of Washington where he was a two-time All-PAC 10 second team selection. His outstanding amateur career includes winning the 1997 Washington State Amateur and playing in the 1997 U.S. Amateur. Rob also won the 2001 Arizona Open and played on both the European Tour (2004, 2005) and the PGA TOUR (2005). His playing career included two appearances at the U.S. Open: in 2005 when he finished T-42 at Pinehurst No. 2, and in 2008 at Torrey Pines. He has worked with collegiate players, club champions and NFL players.

Senior Certified Instructor Brian Conser, a golf professional since 1982, played in multiple John Deere Classics on the PGA TOUR. Prior to joining The TOURAcademy TPC Scottsdale, he worked in the golf business for over 25 years, including at Anthem Country Club and Desert Mountain Country Club in Scottsdale. He has been ranked among the Top 10 Teachers in Arizona by Golf Digest.

“My objective for every student is to improve the quality of his or her golf experience,” Conser says. “Through educating and improving their awareness of strengths and weaknesses, I help students reach their goals and take their golf game to the next skill level.”

Originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago, Certified Instructor Andy Patnou is respected for his work with top juniors, aspiring professionals and PGA TOUR professionals, and specializes working with junior golfers. “I believe that the geometry in hitting a good golf shot is the same for everyone regardless of age, size, gender or ability,” says Patnou, who has been ranked among the Top 10 instructors in Arizona by Golf Digest. “This system of measuring the golf swing helps players make changes quickly to hit the ball further, straighter and more often, ultimately enhancing your enjoyment of the game of golf.”

Washington native and Certified Instructor Rick Fehr brought a high profile to The TOURAcademy TPC Scottsdale when he joined the staff this past May. A two-time winner on the PGA TOUR (the 1986 BC Open and the 1994 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic), Fehr also had nine second-place finishes and finished his career with 41 Top-10 finishes. In 1984 he was low amateur at both the Masters and U.S. Open. Fehr also won the PGA National Junior Championship, the Western Amateur and was a two-time NCAA First Team All-American at Brigham Young University.

Fehr now finds great satisfaction in helping all types of students experience the pleasure of playing better golf, drawing on his many years of experience as not only a successful player but as a student himself. “I’m committed to not only teaching the ‘what’ but also the ‘why’ so that my students will fully understand and commit to their path of progress,” he says.

The varied backgrounds of the staff present students with an unusual blend of knowledge. “There’s the technical side of golf instruction and we have the technology to go over all of that,” says Rashell. “But going out and playing great golf is a different thing. We’re pretty unique in that Brian and I were able to play on TOUR a little bit and Rick played in over 400 Tour events. Andy doesn’t have that same playing experience, but he is a very good technical teacher and has worked with a lot of great golfers. We do a good job of blending our playing experience and teaching skills. Three of us can tell you what it’s like to stand on the 18th tee with a lead in a tournament and there’s water left and right. We know how it feels out on the course.”

The location of the TOURAcademy TPC Scottsdale also makes it stand out for another reason. “You will have a student come up to take a lesson at our facility and there will be Pat Perez, Kevin Stadler or another Tour pro practicing nearby,” says Rashell. “A lot of the pros who live nearby often use our chipping and pitching area. I have students who see them and then say to me, ‘Holy cow, this is pretty cool. That guy just won last week on the PGA TOUR and he’s practicing right next to me. They are working on their game just like me.’ You just don’t get that experience in a lot of places. It’s definitely pretty cool.”

The entire staff shares the same goal: to see people getting better and having fun. “Whatever works for each student is what we focus on,” says Rashell. “We don’t want to bury anyone in information. We want them to have a great time out on the course and maybe shoot some lower scores. It’s a dang hard game to get good at. And, that’s speaking from our own experiences.” 

To book your next Private Lesson, Golf School, Lite Training, Junior camp or for more information on The TOURAcademy TPC Scottsdale, call 480.585.4334 or go to www.pgatourexperiences.com/tour-academies/academy-locations/tpc-scottsdale/.