Instruction & Assessment

Are you ready to play better golf?

Will Burkhardt, PGA
Director of Golf

Will has served as Director of Golf at Blythefield since 2021. After graduating from Ferris State University, Will developed his instructional skills and background at clubs in the Northeast and South Florida before returning to his hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. He is experienced in teaching men, women, and children of all ages with abilities from beginner to single digit handicap players.

Although each golf swing is unique, Will stresses the importance of developing sound fundamentals to achieve an effective golf swing. Before addressing smaller moving parts such as arms and hands, Will focuses on proper shoulder turn, hip rotation, and weight distribution. Proper pre-swing and in-swing fundamentals can result in dramatic change of club face angle and swing path without having to make more difficult changes. Will’s philosophy is to provide explanation why we are making changes and how they affect face angle and swing path as these are the two most important variables to develop consistently. Will utilizes Trackman data and video analysis to aid with golf instruction. Although Trackman data and video analysis can be helpful, he realizes it is not for every student. Every golfer has different goals and plays the game for different reasons. Will helps you achieve those individual goals while enjoying the game of golf.

Please email Will at [email protected] or call the Golf Shop at (616) 363-1902 to schedule a lesson.

Andre Pillow, PGA
Director of Instruction
Andre has over 25 years of experience in the golf industry, including more than 15 years as an instructor. He believes in making golf fun and thinks that it's a great sport for everyone to play. He is passionate about growing the game of golf, and has been successful in increasing participation in both junior and women's golf programs here at Blythefield. He won the 2021 MI PGA Player Development Award.

Andre educates students in 3 specific ways: Mechanical Instruction, Golf Course Management and Psychological/Anxiety Control.

Mechanical Learning: Andre's philosophy reminds students that golf is a sport which is controlled by body alignment, balance, large muscle movements of the shoulders and hips, proper use of the lever system, as well as establishing a consistent tempo. Our job is not to put all golfers in the same positions, but to help them to be as consistent as they can be, based on their body and/or athletic restrictions. He purposely dives into the individual’s athletic experiences and process in order to “Discover Natural Ability.”
Golf Course Management: Education on strategy, which is based on the ability of the individual student. Just like other sports, thinking deeply about what you want to accomplish and setting goals will increase the golfer’s ability to score better. This is an on the course method which dives into the thought process and perception of why you should, and when you should do it. We see golfers with great golf, swings that may still lack the ability to adjust to different golf courses or conditions.
Psychological/Anxiety Control: The game of golf can be hard on a person mentally, and controlling anxiety is another big part of the success of most golfers. Calming of the mind with breathing techniques and a good pre-shot routine can boost a golfer's ability to play well in high-pressure situations. Andre believes that the golfer’s mind should remain level in order to perform consistently. Don’t get too high or too low mentally during a round of golf. Most golfers struggle to understand how they feel, or lack the ability to relax the mind to regain control of their game on the golf course.

Please click on the link below to schedule a lesson with Andre.


Juan Martinez, PGA
Head Golf Professional / Lead Club Fitter
Juan has been a part of the Blythefield family since 1998 when he was a junior at Rockford High School. He started his career in the bag room and caddied on the weekends. Juan achieved his PGA Class A status in 2014 and has been your Head Golf Professional since 2018. Juan was a PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the year Finalist in 2017 & 2018 and nominated for the PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Private) in 2020 & 2021.

Juan believes every athlete is uniquely different. There are no two golf swings that are the same. Everyone has different body types, learning styles, and skill levels. His job as an instructor is to identity how the student processes the information he is providing. Whether it’s auditory, visual, verbal, or kinesthetic, Juan takes pride in being able to help his students’ identity what learning style works best for them. This is how his students find success. To help you improve your game and lower your scores, Juan also believes in a proper grip, alignment, posture, and a balanced finish. He also believes in identifying your strengths and building a repeatable golf swing based off those strengths while setting achievable goals. With his teaching philosophy, Juan is confident he can help you enjoy the game more and lower your scores.

Please email Juan at [email protected] or call the Golf Shop at (616) 363-1902 to schedule a lesson or club fitting.