Raspberry Golf Academy - Changing the game of golf instruction
In 2008, Patrick McGuire had a vision that was years ahead of his time, a vision for a golf academy comprised of a unified team of coaches with the most innovative technology available. He wanted an academy that taught more than just the full swing, but also short game, putting, course management, and so much more, all while using scientific data to make the students better.
Nearly 10 years later, McGuire’s dream has become a reality as the Raspberry Golf Academy has become the premier destination for golf instruction in Northern Virginia and beyond. Having expanded from one studio at Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club in Leesburg, Va. to five locations in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania with a growing team of experts, the academy is booming and students are dropping strokes from their scores every day.
McGuire has established a remarkable reputation worldwide, as he coaches professional golfers and elite amateurs around the globe. His most successful student is European Tour champion Paul Peterson, winner of the 2016 Czech Masters. Despite not being a long hitter, Peterson has led the European Tour in birdies. Even as busy as Peterson is traveling the world to play in tournaments, he makes sure to schedule regular visits to see McGuire in Leesburg.
In addition to coaching some of the best golfers in the world, McGuire also takes the time to properly train his staff every year in order to ensure the quality of the product. In the winter of 2016-17, McGuire spent several months with a group of seven coaches, taking the training to a whole new level. Those seven coaches plus McGuire have earned the right to be called Certified Performance Coaches, the only instructors in the Northern Virginia market with this distinction. There are performance-based programs offered by these eight coaches across multiple RGA locations that can be life-changing to any golfer of any ability; these programs span multiple pillars including full swing, short game and putting.
One of the Certified Performance Coaches and a director of instruction for RGA, John Miller, has also seen an unprecedented level of success among his clients. He has coached the last four high school state champions in the state of Virginia.
Along with talented staff with extensive training, the academy also has the most state-of-the-art technology. A lesson with an RGA coach includes video analysis, FlightScope launch monitors, K-VEST 3D swing analysis, and the SAM PuttLab. With all of these tools at the instructor’s disposal, there is no guessing as to what to work on, and everything is based on actual data.
Beyond the RGA staff, the academy has also partnered with the most brilliant mental coaches and personal trainers around, making the experience all encompassing.
“Better information in the hands of a good coach is going to make their players better.”
- Patrick McGuire
