GCA with Kelley Brooke provides elite coaching for all skill levels and ages. 

No matter which location, or which instructor, we strive to give the same quality lesson with the same structure. Our team of coaches, doctors, physical therapists, TPI Specialists and fitness trainers are certified in multiple areas of expertise including Trackman, K-Vest Biofeedback Technology, TPI, Boditrak, OptiBrain, Blast Motion and more.

We perform detailed evaluations on launch angles, spin rates, angles of attack and more. We perform  biofeedback evaluations to determine swing faults and fixes. We perform Power and Physical Assessments to assure that there are no issues with flexibility, mobility or stability impeding improvement. We use ground force plates to analyze weight shift and ground force efficiency. We perform brain scans to analyze synergy and serenity when under pressure. We use video analysis to explain how to improve your data and swing. We use putting technology to teach rhythm and to eliminate inefficiencies. Additionally, we have a wide array of teaching aids and drills to help you feel positions and get your swing technically sound.

A Golf Range Magazine Top 50 Golf Instructor, Kelley has hosted several golf television shows on cable, most recently “Golfing NYC Style” and “The 19th Hole.” She’s also made guest appearances as a golf expert on The Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible,” and written for many golf periodicals, including Golf Digest and Junior Golf.

An accomplished player before joining the teaching ranks, Kelley won an individual state championship in high school (Iowa) and earned All-Big 10 honors at the University of Iowa. Kelley also represented the United States as a member of the University World Cup Team. As a high-schooler, she qualified twice for the LPGA Rail Charity Classic. She also competed professionally on the former Futures Tour and Players West Tour.

Media and Playing Career

Golf Channel Academy Coaches

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Kelley Brooke
Director of Golf; LPGA Class A Professional; LPGA Professional of the Year

Learn more about Kelley

Kelley has spent the last 4 decades in the golf industry as both a top notch player, a golf professional and a businesswoman. Her career has included the teaching of 50,000 golf lessons, television appearances, ownership of golf venues and more.

 

In 2018 Kelley was awarded The LPGA Professional of the Year Award.

 

Kelley has done many things to change the face of golf and recreation in NYC, creating dozens of instructional programs including the biggest junior golf program for children with disabilities in the world and the Police Athletic League Golf Program for 4,000 economically disadvantaged kids. 

 

In addition to teaching, she has operated three golf centers and two golf courses including the famed Bethpage Black (voted #1 Municipal Courses in America) and Montauk Downs Golf Course (#5).  

 

 In addition to writing an instructional golf book “7 Days to Golf”, Kelley has written articles for numerous publications including Golf Digest, Golf.com, Junior Golf Magazine and NY Golfing Magazine. In 2019, Kelley wrote and starred in eight  “Elevate Your Game” commercials which aired on CNBC.

 

In 2022, Kelley created and hosted a radio show called “Faults to Fixes” which aired from Boston to Philadelphia. She has also been a guest on many radio shows including the “Tiki & Tierney” WFAN Radio Show, “The Anita Marks” Radio Show on ESPN, “The DA” ESPN Radio Show and The Wall Street Journal’s “Secrets of Successful Women” podcast twice. 

 

In 2015 Kelley joined the NBC/Golf Channel team as a lead instructor and regularly appeared on the NBC/Golf Channel and their digital platforms for many years.

 

Kelley was a guest star on The Travel Channel’s “Hotel Makeover” and has filmed dozens of featured video tips for LPGA.com, Epsontour.com, GolfChannel.com, LPGA Network, Jlindeberg.com, ussportscamps.com, BirdieSpot.com and more.

 

Kelley also competes on the Legends of the LPGA Tour.

Megan Younkman
Director of Instruction: LPGA CLASS A PROFESSIONAL: LPGA National Junior leader of the year, 2024-2025 LPGA TOP 50 TEACHER

Learn more about Megan

Megan Younkman has been dedicated to the golf industry with over 29 years of intensive teaching and competitive playing experiences and has given over 34,000 lessons in her professional teaching career.

A LPGA Class A Professional, Megan is in Farmingdale, New York at the infamous BethPage State Park Golf Courses as Director of Instruction at the Golf Channel Academy with Kelley Brooke (Bethpage Black Course – home to the 2019 PGA Championship and the 2024 Ryder Cup).

Younkman serves on the LPGA’s Global Education Team for their Teacher Education Program. Megan has been most recently appointed to serve on the LPGA’s Executive Education Committee (2019-2021) and served as Chair for the National Continuing Education Committee (2014-2018) for the LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Membership. Megan is known as a student-centered teacher, excellent communicator, motivator and has taught internationally in both Austria and Germany. Megan is the published author of “Managing Your Business Game”. In 2011, Younkman was appointed the Head Coach for the State of Florida and again representing the State of New York (Team Bethpage) in 2019 for both competing teams at the PGA Junior League Golf National Championships. She is a 2-Time Recipient the US KIDS GOLF Top 50 Teacher’s Award (hm).

Megan is a member of Proponent Group and The Positive Coaching Alliance. She is a U.S. KIDS GOLF Certified Coach, an LPGA-USGA Girl’s Golf Site Director, Blast Swing Motion Technology Certified and V1 Video Swing Analysis Certified. Megan also proudly works with the University of Tampa Golf Teams on Mental Game Strategies and is an Adjunct Professor for the University of South Florida Department of Education. After being introduced to the game at 14 years old and a successful junior golf competitive career with 2 back to back State Championship wins, she played collegiate Varsity Golf for The Ohio State University and The University of Toledo.

Justin Koff
Head Golf Professional: PGA Class A Professional, 2023 MET Section Junior Leader of the Year

Learn more about Justin

Justin Koff is a Class A PGA Professional with over 15 years of coaching experience who has developed and grown some of the biggest junior golf programs in the country. He was able to host his own PGA Junior League, coached high school and college level athletes and delivered thousands of hours of group programming to juniors and adults alike. As a competitive junior golfer, he pursued his undergraduate degree in Professional Golf Management at Clemson University.

Justin is now the Head Golf Professional at Bethpage State Park where he has given over 15,000 private lessons and currently serves as a coach to hundreds of junior golfers as well as adults of all ages and skill levels. He is most prominently known for his time as the Program Director of The First Tee at Eisenhower Park, where he worked for the past 9 years developing a reputation for the best junior programs on Long Island. He has also worked at different clubs in the Metropolitan NY area through various internships during his years at Clemson.

With a unique approach to teaching, Justin works differently with every student he interacts with to find the most efficient swing possible based on how their bodies move. He helps students to become their own best coach by learning their most common tendencies and provides drills and workouts that help to make the most necessary changes for improvement.

Debbie O’Connell
Golf Mindset Expert: LPGA Top 50 Teachers 2024-2025

Learn more about Debbie

Debbie O’Connell is an award winning LPGA Professional and Mindset Expert. She co-wrote the curriculum and is the lead professional for the life changing LPGA Leadership Academy and works with executives in corporate America to enhance their performance. Her certifications include: Master Level Neuro-linguistic Programing (NLP) practitioner and coach, Master Time Line Therapy ®, Master Hypnosis, John Maxwell speaker, trainer, coach and Strategic Intervention by (Tony) Robbins and Madenes. Debbie is the best selling author of Golf Positive! Live Positive! and an LPGA Top 50 Teacher.

Have you ever had an incredible round of golf going only to give shots back on the last few holes? Do you struggle to feel confident with unwavering belief in yourself? Do you get frustrated, angry and defeated? Have you ever felt like your scores don’t reflect your true skill level? Have you struggled to take your game from the practice area to the golf course?

Imagine playing to the best of your ability – feeling confident, focused, and positive – how awesome would you play? What if I told you that this is possible?

Could the internal dialogue inside your subconscious mind be holding back your progress? Changing mindset beneath the surface is the most important part of creating results. If you could find a way for you to change your thoughts and feelings at the unconscious level and achieve the success that thousands of others have, would you be interested?

You have an opportunity to participate in the most powerful part of goal accomplishment – unconscious mind – in the upcoming life changing program, Keys to a Champion Mindset 2.0. REGISTER NOW! https://golfpositive.debbie-oconnell.com/affiliate-promo-landing-page/register/96 This five day program includes five daily 90-minute webinars, your own personal coach who will provide three coaching sessions and a 40-minute strategy session to set your triumph in motion. This program will make everyone more successful and allow you to enjoy golf at the highest level.

Reach Debbie at debbie@debbie-oconnell.com or 772-708-0721.

(Note: Mental Game Coaching Staff offer their services as Independent Contractors to Bethpage)

Dr. Jeff Poplarski
director of golf performance

Learn more about Jeff

Jeffrey E. Poplarski is a Doctor of Chiropractic. He holds the position as Adjunct Full Professor at SUNY Farmingdale State University in the Sports Management and Biology Departments and LIU Post in the Health, Physical Education and Movement Science Departments.

Jeffrey Edward Poplarski, DC, LLC’s office is located in Amityville and first offers Chiropractic care, along with massage therapy, cold laser therapy, physical therapy modalities, nutritional counseling, podiatry, sports medicine rehab, sports performance assessments and peak performance personal training.

Dr. Jeff was appointed by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the Chairman of the Practice Rounds and Caddy Committee for 7 U.S. Open Golf Championships. Since 2002, Dr. Poplarski has been Chairman of the U.S. Open Golf Championship Wellness Team, totaling 18 years with the USGA. He currently instructs the “First Swing” golf clinic for the handicapped, sponsored by the Eastern Amputee Golf Association. Dr. Jeff was also the Chairman of the 2018 and 2019 Senior U.S. Open Wellness Team at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and the Warren Course at Notre Dame. Dr. Jeff also provided sports medicine coverage at the 2019 and 2020 U.S. Amateurs at Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes!

Dr. Jeff is a Board Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP). He’s also a certified Titleist Performance Institute Medical Professional, Fitness Instructor, Golf Coach, Golf Professional, Power Coach and Junior Coach. Dr. Jeffrey Poplarski is the Sports Medicine Director for the annual Stephen Siller “Tunnel to Towers 5K Run.” His credits also include volunteering as a Doctor of Chiropractic at the 2006, 2007 and 2018 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament and the U.S. Open Tennis Championship as a Chiropractor. Dr. Jeff is Graston Technique Certified and on the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP) Concussion Registry and an Elite Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP). Dr. Jeff is also K VEST certified and uses 3D and 6D motion capture technology to fully understand how the body moves. Dr. Jeff is also certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessment. (SFMA) Dr. Jeff is also certified in BODITRAK a comprehensive education platform on an athlete’s interaction with the ground (GRF) and sports performance.

His expertise has enabled him to chair the golf caddies at the 2012 Barclays and 2019 PGA Championship, held at Bethpage, Black Golf Course. He was a presenter at the Laser Spine Institute (LSI) Golf and Fitness Symposium, 2013 and presenter at the 2014 Dormie to Dorm Golf High School Golf Showcase on golf performance. Dr. Jeff is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) and the Sports Performance and Sports Medicine Director for the Farmingdale State College Hockey Team. He’s also helped lead St. John’s University’s Golf Team to their 2013-2014 Big East Championship. Dr. Jeff was a Presenter at the New York State Chiropractic Association (NYSCA) Convention (2015) and Wisconsin Chiropractic Association (WCA) Convention (2018) on Golf Performance through Chiropractic Care and Fitness. He also will be presenting to the 2018 New York State Chiropractic Associations (NYSCA) Convention on Developing Power in Athletes through Chiropractic and Fitness. Dr. Jeff also presented at the 2020 Global Youth and Family Golf Summit.

Dr. Jeff has also volunteered his time and talent at The United States Olympic Training Centers in the summer of 2016 in Chula Vista, California and in the summer of 2017 in Colorado Springs, Co. Dr. Jeff is also has worked closely with the Golf Teams at Manhattan College, Iona College and the LIU Post Women’s Golf team. Dr. Jeff has also been the Sports Medicine Director at Five Towns College and has worked closely with the Athletic Department since 2016. He is also certified, Level 3 in SuperSpeed Training

Dr. Jeff has contributed articles for Newsday’s Hi-Five High School Sports insert and Newsday’s Wellness magazine. He is Director of Sports Medicine for the Massapequa Annual Firecracker 5K, and The Merchant Mile, runs. Dr. Jeff provides  charitable service to the community, giving several lectures on various health and sports medicine topics throughout the year. He is the recipient of the prestigious “Let Us Do Good” Award in 2007 for outstanding dedication and service involving his work with the Tunnel to Towers Run. His sports medicine team was awarded the “Let Us Do Good” Service Award in 2010 for their work at the Tunnel to Towers Run.

His work in the sports medicine/sports performance field has been featured in ESPN SportsCenter, Sports Illustrated, NY Times, Amityville Record, Daily News, Newsday, Eastern Amputee Golf Association, Riverdale Press, LaJolla Light, Irish Times, News 12, USGA.com, US Open.com, The Californian, Your Extraordinary Life, Long Island Golfer, NBC and CBS

Dr. Jeff coached basketball at high school and college levels. He is the recipient of the 2011 and 2015, Farmingdale College Foundation Award for “Excellence in Teaching”.

Angela Tocco
General Manager; PGA Associate

Learn more about Angela

Angela is from Blauvelt, New York, but she lived in Montauk for most of her childhood. She has spent the last two seasons as a PGA Associate at South Fork Country Club in Amagansett, New York, and at Jonathan’s Landing in Jupiter, Florida. Angela attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she played for the women’s golf team while earning a bachelor’s degree in communication. She was named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List three times during her college career.

Angela has directed junior golf programs at Montauk Downs and South Fork Country Club and enjoys working with junior golfers of all skill levels. She believes in educating all golfers on how to make the most of their practice time as well as how to improve their course management and mental techniques in order to have a better experience on the course.

While serving at other locations, she has directed men’s, women’s, and junior golf associations. She enjoys organizing events that are both entertaining and competitive and strives to make golf enjoyable for all.

When she’s not on the course, Angela enjoys fishing, watching sports, and spending time on the beach.

Matt Schwartz
PGA Associate: Junior golf coach ages 5-15

Learn more about Matt Schwartz

Matt grew up in Merrick, New York in a golfing family which is how his love of the game began. He started playing at age 7 and spent much of his childhood fine tuning his game at Bethpage State Park Golf Course. He spent the past 3 summers at Bethpage working with the summer camp students and caddying on the Black Course, where incidentally he made a hole in one on the 8th hole while he was in high school. Matthew is currently a PGA Associate and is working towards becoming a Class A PGA Professional.

Matt volunteered with The First Tee at Eisenhower Park where he worked with junior golfers on golf and life skills. He has worked with kids aged 4-17 in camps, group classes, and clinics. After his experience with the First Tee, Matt played on the Varsity team for his high school for 4 years where he won numerous awards and was a Team Captain. Upon his H.S. Graduation, Matt interned with Fox Sports at the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Course. Matt attended The University at Buffalo where he received a Bachelors of Arts in Communications.

With his passion for teaching, playing and the game of golf in general, Matt looks forward to bringing an exceptional golf experience to his students.

Bethpage Golf Course

Farmingdale, New York

Bethpage State Park is one of the most popular and cherished public parks in the nation.  Located in suburban Long Island in close proximity to New York City, Bethpage is a mecca for public golf featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses, including the world-renowned Black Course.  In addition to Bethpage Black hosting the United States Open Championships in 2002 and 2009, it was also the site of The Barclays PGA Tour events in 2012 and 2016. Future events include the PGA Championship in 2019 and the Ryder Cup in 2024.

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Montauk Downs State Park
Golf Course

Montauk, New York

Montauk Downs was originally developed in 1927. Robert Trent Jones Sr. redesigned the present course in 1968 with assistance from his son, Rees.”

Montauk Downs State Park was purchased by State Parks in 1980. The ever-changing wind currents off the ocean and bay can change the way the course plays each day.

The park is best known for its Robert Trent Jones-designed, championship-length, 18-hole Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course. In addition, the park offers a driving range, six championship tennis courts, a main swimming pool and a wading pool for children, as well as a beautiful catering facility, a clubhouse and a grill room serving breakfast and lunch.

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Learn about Golf Channel Academy

Golfers enrolled at Golf Channel Academy locations will not only have the opportunity to learn from the very best coaches in the game today, but will be able to track their progress using advanced swing analysis tools and a proprietary player-coach communication platform that will accelerate their progress.  

The underlying philosophy of Golf Channel Academy—which all of our coaches reinforce—is that good coaching takes place over a period of time, not just one lesson. The relationship between coach and student is more than just “one and done.” This is how “teaching” becomes “coaching,” which we describe as an on-going relationship devoted to long-lasting improvement. Everything about Golf Channel Academy is devoted to enhancing the “coaching” experience for both teacher and student.

Golf Channel Academy is the hands-on coaching extension of the cable network’s instruction programming, which includes such shows as The Golf Fix, Lesson Tee Live, and School of Golf. Golf Channel Academy allows you to receive personalized instruction from the very best coaches in the game, including many of the teachers who you see on TV. And you should see many more Golf Channel Academy coaches making appearances on Golf Channel instructional programs in the future.