Chambers Bay Academy

We want to be your home for learning golf. No matter what your experience level, we have a program that meets your needs. Let us help find the champion golfer in you.

The Chambers Bay Academy offers world-class instruction from award-winning PGA instructors, and top-ranked practice facilities for all ages and abilities. Utilizing the latest in video swing analysis and instructional techniques, our customized lesson programs are designed to help you achieve your goals and elevate you to the next level. The Academy also offers exclusive custom club fittings with the TaylorMade Golf Experience geared to fit any golfer with the latest golf equipment.

Please explore our Academy to find more information about instructional offerings, our PGA instructors, and much more!

Facility Features:

  • Top 50 Public Ranges – Golf Range Association of America
  • Exclusive TaylorMade Custom Club Fittings
  • World-class Instruction
  • All turf hitting area (subject to close without notice due to weather)
  • Large short game area
  • Customer parking

Hours of Operation: 9 am – 45 min before dusk. Subject to change without notice. Please call Golf Shop for daily update, (253) 460-4653 x5.

Who We Are

We believe that proper communication, correct equipment, physical fitness, and structured practice is all as important as sound swing fundamentals, when taking any game to the next level.

The award-winning PGA instructors at Chambers Bay Academy avoid blanket methods when it comes to teaching their students. They recognize the unique nature of each person’s swing, and adjust their curriculum to fit accordingly.  This approach has made the Academy a leader in coaching throughout the world. Meet our PGA Professional teaching staff below:

Ryan Young, PGA

PGA Certified Professional
Head Golf Professional

The First Tee Level 3 Coach

ryoung@kempersports.com
(253) 363-3861

Ryan grew up in Mill Creek, WA beginning his golf career at age ten. He had a successful collegiate career playing golf for Whitworth University. There he won multiple events, including his conference championship in 2010 which earned him the NWC Player of the Year title and a berth to the NCAA National Championship. He turned pro in 2012 and is now one of the top players in the PNW PGA Section.

Voted by his peers, Ryan has been recognized as Golf Digest Best Teachers in Washington State in 2017-18, 2022-23, and 2024-25. GOLF Magazine put Ryan on the Teachers to Watch list for 2024-25. Western WA Chapter PGA named him the 2023 Teacher of the year.

He has received PNW PGA Section Awards for Player Development Award (2016, 2020, 2023) and Youth Player Development (2018); he has also won the Western WA PGA Chapter Patriot Award (2022 and 2023) and the Assistant Golf Professional of the Year (2015).  Ryan is also a PGA Certified Professional in Teaching & Coaching and a Level 3 Coach for The First Tee.

KemperSports Management named Ryan the 2018 Golf Professional of the Year. This award recognizes all his efforts establishing the Chambers Bay Academy and its proven model of growing the game. Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) named Ryan a Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional in 2020-22.

While not playing or teaching golf, Ryan enjoys playing the guitar, snowboarding, wake surfing, and investing in real estate. You can follow Ryan Young Golf (@RyanYoungGolf) on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Matt Montecucco, PGA

PGA Academy Instructor

The First Tee Level 1 Coach

mmontecucco@kempersports.com
(253) 651-0592

Matt grew up in Spokane, WA with his dad and grandparents – a family of bowlers. He went to college at the University of Idaho for the Professional Golf Management Program to become a professional golfer.

“My grandfather is the reason that I took up golf. In my younger years, I played club soccer and I wasn’t the best. When he took me to the driving range on the first day, I was always able to hit a golf ball. The love that it gave me is the reason I became a teacher/coach – I want to share this experience with everyone.”

His joy for golf comes from seeing the excitement of a student hitting a shot and knowing that they can do it. That’s why he became a member of the PGA of America.

“I don’t want you to swing like the golfers on TV because we all have different body types and abilities. Let’s build a relationship and a game plan with your golf game because golf can be endlessly complicated. I like to break the game down into big-picture components, so it is easy to grasp and implement it and BREAK YOUR GOALS!”

The use of technology, video analysis, and training tools that allow the student to see, feel, and do it themselves is a major key of mine – In many lessons in my younger days the instructors just told me what to do, but it didn’t always work. I want to help you understand what makes the ball do what it does and how to diagnose it and fit it!

Matt Achievements include:

  • 2024 National #GameChanger Coach Award
  • 2024 Top 25 Largest Programs in the Nation Award
  • 2022 Western Washington Chapter Youth Player Development Award

You can follow Matt on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on his personal website.

Christian Ballard, PGA

PGA Academy Instructor

cballard@kempersports.com
(707) 889-2533

Christian grew up in Sonoma, CA where he played varsity golf and baseball in high school. From there, he attended New Mexico State University for the PGA Golf Management program where he earned his Bachelors’ degree and PGA membership. Christian also spent time working as a club fitter for Titleist where he gained lots of experience in club fitting and launch monitor technology. Christian is a very active player in the Pacific Northwest Section with Pro-Am wins and top 25 finishes in Pacific Northwest Majors in 2022. 

“I strongly believe that the path to lower scores comes from learning proper course management and mental strength. While mechanical changes are sometimes needed, every golfer can greatly improve simply by making better decisions and having a solid mental game.”

When not teaching or playing golf, Christian enjoys playing the guitar, piano, wakeboarding, and working on cars. You can follow Christian on Instagram, @christianballardgolf.

Chris Dent, PGA Associate

Associate Academy Instructor
cdent@kempersports.com
(425) 435-7480

Christopher is a Tacoma native who has over 20 years of coaching experience in football, basketball, and golf.

“The game of golf is truly a gift and a blessing! I intend to share that gift with everyone whom I come in contact with.  It’s all about the 3 F’s… Faith, Family, and FORE!!!”

Christopher teaches all levels of golf from junior beginner to the competitive elite. He specializes in on-course training, tournament prep, and mental game instruction. “No matter what your ‘SMART’ goals for your game are, my job is to provide you with the tools and a clear path to achieving them.”

Chris’s Achievements include:

  • 10 years at Chambers Bay (4 years teaching at the Academy)
  • Caddie experience includes:
    • 4 USGA Championships – Pac Coast Am, U.S. Open Qualifier/ Senior Qualifier, LPGA KPMG Championship
    • 2023 U.S. Open Qualifier – Medalist
  • PGA Junior League Coach – 2nd and 5th place finishes at Regionals

Brian Bussinger, PGA


PGA First Assistant Golf Professional

bbussinger@kempersports.com

Brian is a Nebraska native who moved to Tacoma in 2019.  He grew a passion for the game while playing for fun with friends and family at his home course back in Nebraska.  Brian got his first job in the golf industry in 2002 at Quarry Oaks in Ashland, Nebraska.  While working at Quarry Oaks he got interested in learning about the PGA of America and decided to pursue a career in the golf industry.

Brian was elected into the PGA of America as a Class A member in 2010.  He has been helping golfers of all levels with their swing for the past 14 years and believes the more fun you make your practice session the easier it is to learn.  Brian has a passion of introducing the game of golf to new players and showing experienced golfers how much fun this frustrating game can be.  He truly believes that every golfer has their own unique swing style and by getting back to the basics anyone can improve their game and continue to thrive and get better with each practice.

Brian Mogg, PGA

PGA Academy Instructor

The game’s top instructors picked Brian Mogg to be one of Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers in America in 2011 – 2015.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Mogg began his golf career at the age of twelve. He moved to Florida in 1985 after finding success in his college years as a Buckeye at Ohio State University. He graduated with All-American Honors and won the Ohio Amateur Championship before making his way to the professional tour. He spent 10 years playing professional golf and three years on the PGA Tour with a top finish of 2nd at the 1988 Sanderson Farms Classic, took 3rd in the 2001 Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational and participated in the 1995 US Open. He also had 6 top 25 finishes on the Web.Com Tour as well as top 10 finishes in 11 countries while competing internationally.

Since the 1990’s Brian Mogg has been a dominant force in the world of golf instruction. His students have won over 20 professional tour events along with a USGA Championship, Lion Kim, winner of the 2010 U.S. Public Links. In 2009, Mogg coached Y.E. Yang to victory in the PGA Championship as well as the Honda Classic.

He currently resides in Orlando, Florida with his wife and 4 children.

On-Course Instructional Videos

We’d like you to meet Academy instructors Ryan Young, Brent Zepp, Jacob Lippold, and Brian Bussinger. Check back often for their best tips and pointers to help you lower your score and get the most out of every round.

Check out all of our videos on our YouTube channel.

Contact Us

Whether you want a personalized gift certificate for any of our many golf instruction programs, or a general gift card toward any Chambers Bay Academy offering, we can help you.

For more information please fill out the form below:

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