© The Pennsylvania Golf Academy 2013
Our Teaching Philosophy
The Pennsylvania Golf Academy is
dedicated to offering the finest instruction
available for the fastest development of
your game. We feature PGA teaching
professionals who will quickly assess your
golf swing and help you set achievable goals on improving your
game. By using our state of the art teaching and training aids, our
staff will teach you the key “swing building” exercises for a mechanically
sound and repetitive golf swing. Our lessons incorporate digital video
feedback which then allows us to transform the complexity of the golf
swing into an understandable approach that you can apply to learning and
improving your own swing. Click the pictures below to learn more about
our instructors.
Private Lessons
One-on-one student/instructor format.
Choose 30 or 60 minute lessons.
Unused hours expire after 1 year.
30 minute lesson....................$ 60
60 minute lesson..................$ 115
Package of 2 hrs...................$ 215
Package of 4 hrs...................$ 380
Package of 6 hrs...................$ 540
Package of 12 hrs................$ 1000
Group Instruction
We offer packages for “open”
participation and for specific skill
levels. Group lesson packages can be
customized for private parties. Contact
us for more information on format and
pricing. Click below for information on
our latest adult and junior clinics and
to sign up online!
Book your lesson
online now!
Click here to see what
our students are
saying about us!
Click HERE for Adult and Junior
Group Class Info and Registration
Jim entered Purdue University with an athletic scholarship (football, not golf.)
Upon graduating in 1965, he decided to go into the golf business. He was
hired in 1967 as an Assistant Golf Professional at Wildwood Golf Club. In
1970, he became a Class A PGA Member. That same year, he was hired as the
Head Golf Professional at Wildwood Golf Club. In 1974, after much thought
and determination, Jim decided to build his own teaching facility. It became a
reality in 1976 and was named, Golf-In.
Jim resigned from Wildwood in 1980 so that he could devote all of his time and
energy into the success of Golf-In. As a result, Golf-In became one of the
finest teaching facilities in Western PA. It consisted of a fully stocked Pro
Shop, driving range and complete teaching facility, including private lessons
and clinics for juniors and adults. Jim has given over 70,000 lessons in his 44
year career as a golf professional. Jim continued teaching until 1996, then
decided to retire. After a short retirement, he realized that being a golf
instructor was not a "job", but a hobby and something he enjoyed doing very
much. Jim joined the staff at Pine Creek Golf Center where he taught for the
past 15 years before returning to Golf-In, now PAGA.
Jim Villani
Trisha Self, a former LPGA Futures Tour player, has over 17 years of experience
competing and working in the golf industry. In 2005 Trisha turned Professional
after competing in four years of NCAA Division I Golf at Colorado State
University where she graduated with a B.S. Degree in Health and Exercise
Science. She was also awarded Colorado State Women Golfer of the Year two
years in a row. With the drive to be a touring professional Trisha traveled
nationally competing in events held through the USGA, LPGA and Futures Tour.
In addition to her motivation to play as professional, Trisha also continuously
worked in the teaching and coaching arena of golf and fitness. Combining both
her golf and exercise background Trisha received certification from the Titliest
Performance Institute (TPI) in Golf Fitness Level I, Golf Biomechanics Level II
and Junior Golf Player Development Level II. Trisha previously worked in
Colorado as a Staff Golf Instructor at nationally ranked McGetrick Golf Academy
and as a Golf Fitness Specialist at Championship Golf Fitness. Recently, her
husband Edward and her moved to Pittsburgh and are now amongst Steeler
nation. Trisha enjoys teaching golfers of all skill levels and especially relates to
aspiring women and juniors. Her focus is to see success in both her student’s
game of golf and fitness. The goal of Trisha is to see you become the best player
you can be!
Trisha Self
A PGA Class "A" Member since 1994, Frank was the Head Golf
Professional at Highland Country Club in the North Hills for 14 years
and is currently the Head Golf Professional at Stonecrest Golf
Course. Frank has always been a student of the game and an
accomplished player in college at Robert Morris University and a Tri-
State PGA Champion. Frank is an award winning professional with
being named the Tri-State PGA Junior Golf Leader in 2008 and
multiple winner of the Horton Smith Award in 2004 and 2003. In
addition to his Tri-State awards, Frank was recognized as a "Top
Teacher in Pennsylvania" by Golf Digest Magazine in 2007. Frank
has provided golf instruction for the Pittsburgh Youth Golf
Foundation for over ten years and has provided thousands of lessons
to local players. He has instructed all levels of players from novices
to aspiring tour professionals. Frank currently resides in Cranberry
Township with his wife, Kris and two children, Ashley and Matt.
Frank Blazewick
A PGA Class "A" Member since 1998, Tim has spent the last 3 years
as the Director of Golf at Pittsburgh National Golf Club. Prior to
PNGC, Tim was the Director of Instruction at GolfTEC in Wexford
where he was an award winning instructor. In addition to teaching
privately, Tim is currently the Head Coach of the Deer Lakes High
School golf team and has also helped provide instruction for the
Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation. A certified club fitter with Mizuno,
PING, Taylormade and Titliest, Tim believes that properly fit
equipment can help players attain their goals more efficiently.
Having taught thousands of lessons to players of all ages and skill
levels, Tim’s goal is to help people play better golf and have fun
while taking the journey.
Tim Nypaver
A teaching and playing professional since 1995, Gene J. Walter is the owner
of The Pennsylvania Golf Academy and Director of Golf. Prior to PAGA, Gene
was the Director of Golf at Pine Creek Golf Center and was also the Head
Teaching Professional at Deer Run Golf Club. Additionally, Gene has been
involved in providing golf instruction at Carnegie Mellon University, Bally’s
Health Clubs, Keystone Rehabilitation and UPMC as well as lead instructor to
students in the inner city schools. Gene uses FlightScope X2 technology, the
latest in advanced teaching systems. An accomplished Tri-State PGA
champion and PCAA State Amateur champion receiving all state honors, Gene
has secured wins locally in the Tri-State PGA and competed nationally on
both the Nationwide and Hooters Tours. Most recently, Gene was Medalist in
the 2010 US Open Local Qualifier, NIKE Las Vegas Pro-AM and Tam O’Shanter
Pro-AM, and was the 2012 Tri-State PGA Apprentice Player of the Year. While
competing in select professional events, Gene devotes much of his time to
his family and students. A varied student base has allowed Gene to instruct
thousands of young men and women aspiring to play professionally or to
obtain a college scholarship as well as those adults just discovering how
entertaining and enjoyable the game of golf can really be.
Gene J. Walter
