Claire Batista, PGA Professional
Claire is a Class A member of the PGA. She has been instructing golf since 1987.
Claire’s knowledge and ability to develop golf skills has been recognized by Golf For Women magazine. In 2002, Claire was named one of the top 50 women teaching professionals in the United States. Claire was named in the top 100 Ping Club Fitters in 2017.
Claire played collegiate golf at Bowling Green State University (OH) 1982-1986. She was an assistant pro at Royal Tee Country Club, Cape Coral, FL (1987), Columbia Hills CC, Columbia Station, OH (1988) and Belmont Country Club, Perrysburg, OH ( 1989-1993). She served as the head women’s golf coach at the University of Toledo (OH) for nine seasons. (1994-2002). She worked as the manager and teaching professional at Wedgewood Driving Range, Ottawa Lake, MI. (1993-1997) Claire opened the Claire Batista Golf Academy in 1997 at The Legacy By Arthur Hills in Ottawa Lake, MI.
She competed professionally on the Florida Mini Tours where she won the 1992 Central Florida Team Championship. Claire also competed in the 1992 LPGA Jamie Farr Kroger Classic. In 2004, Claire was inducted into the Lorain County (OH) Sports Hall of Fame.
Claire’s goal is to make your swing work for you with as little change as possible. She has found that communication, knowledge and patience are the formula to a faster success rate. She will put her proven golf instruction skills to work for you!
Andrew Headman, PGA Professional
My name is Andrew Headman and I gained my PGA membership in July of 2021. In addition to being a PGA member, I am also TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Level 2 certified in Golf and Junior Golf. I am proud to be one of two primary instructors at The Claire Batista Golf Academy in Ottawa Lake, Michigan year round.
I pride myself on a simplistic approach which helps make each of my student's swings work best for them. I lean on communication, knowledge, and patience to help my students learn best.
Originally from Sylvania, Ohio, I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2020, where I studied Marketing and Professional Golf Management.
Prior to the Claire Batista Golf Academy, I most recently worked as the Director of Instruction at Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. In addition, I have worked at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia and Cape Cod National Golf Club in Brewster, Massachusetts. Working at these prestigious facilities has helped me develop a true passion for teaching and growing the game of golf.
Joey Bussdieker, Professional
Joey Bussdieker grew up in Monroe, Michigan where he played four years of varsity golf at Monroe High School. Joey was named county player of the year both his junior and senior years. He went on to play collegiate golf and received NJCAA All-American achievements for his play at the National Championship.
Following college, Joey began his golf professional career at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, OH. While at Highland Meadows, Joey competed in the Northern Ohio PGA section. In 2014, he qualified for the Assistance National Championship and in addition, he was named Assistant Golf Professional of the Year for the Toledo Chapter. In 2015, Joey Qualified for the sectional US Open qualifier at Springfield Country Club. In 2020 Joey was named Sylvania Northview boy’s varsity golf coach.
Throughout his nine year tenor at Highland Meadows Golf Club, Joey found his passion for teaching and growing the game of golf. With a simple teaching philosophy, Joey uses minor adjustments without affecting your swing integrity. Simplicity is the word often used, but the results speak for themselves. Joey is looking forward to passing his knowledge of the game, swing, as well as tournament preparation to those who are interested in improving in those areas.
Justin Bronkema, PGA Professional
Justin is from Temperance, MI and attended Bedford High School where he was captain of both the Golf and Wrestling teams.
Justin is a Class A PGA Member who began his golf career in 1999 when he decided to attend Ferris State University's Professional Golf Management Program.
Justin served on the professional staff at Inverness Club for 10+ years as Tee Master and Head Assistant Professional. Justin lived 3 years out east and worked as an Assisitant Professional at Hartford Golf Club in Connecticut. After moving back home, Justin was hired back at Inverness Club. He later left to become Head Golf Professional at The Golf PIT facility in Maumee, OH.
Justin was voted by his peers among Golf Digest's Top Teachers in Ohio and America's 100 Best Club Fitters in 2015.
In 2015, he started his family and now works full time out of the golf industry, has a wife of 10 years and 3 children who are learning golf themselves. He is looking forward to being back on the lesson tee helping players of all skill levels.
Justin's teaching philosophy is to help the student improve, while having fun in the process. Keeping it simple is more fun than overly complicated. It is key that both the teacher and the student have an understanding of the golf swing and how a suggested change can make it better. This gives the student potential to practice on their own and get the most out of their lesson.
