Steve Bann - Head Coach

Steve Bann played full time on the Australian Professional Golf Tour from 1981 to 1986, then part time for the next 10 years. From 1986 to 1990, he was the Head Professional at Box Hill Golf Club in Melbourne. Next, he became founder and Head Coach of the Victorian Institute of Sport, which was responsible for producing many recent tour professionals: Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Marc Leishman, and others. He helped produce several international golf tournament winners and helped eight graduates earn their US PGA Tour cards. In 2006, Steve was named Victorian PGA Coach of the Year. Some of his present students include Stuart Appleby, Nick Flanagan, and K.J. Choi. At Saddlebrook Prep Golf Academy, he is delighted to work with an emphasis in junior development, to instruct golfers of all ability levels, and to still coach elite amateur and professional players.

Steve, 2007 Australian Golf Digest Coach of the Year and 2010 Australian PGA Teacher of the Year, has appeared on the Golf Channel, ESPN, and ABC. He has been the Golf Australia Magazine Teaching Editor and published four books including Golf Gadgets and Play Like Pros.

Dale Lynch - Head Coach

Dale Lynch has been a member of the PGA of Australia for almost 30 years. He played on the Australian Tour for seven years and coached at the Victorian Institute of Sport, described above, since its inception. Dale was named Victorian PGA Coach of the Year in 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Throughout their careers, he coached and still coaches several young Australian golf champs including Aaron Baddeley and Geoff Ogilvy. At Saddlebrook Prep Golf Academy, Dale also is excited to work with an emphasis in junior development, to instruct golfers of all ability levels, and to continue coaching elite amateur and professional players.

This 2006 Australian Golf Digest Coach of the Year winner coaches US Tour players such as Steve Allan, Mathew Goggin, David McKenzie, Roger Tambellini, and Kim Felon.

John Thalassinos - Class AAA PGA Member

John has been a member of the Bann/Lynch Golf Coaching Staff in Melbourne, Australia since early 2002. Prior to becoming a full-time coach, he received a degree in Human Movement (Kinesiology and Structure) from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Combining his knowledge of the body in motion with the golf swing enhances his coaching. His passion for personal fitness and golf shines throughout his coaching. During his tenure with Bann/Lynch, John has attended eight world-wide coaching summits, leading to his Class AAA Coaching Classification. John was involved with the Victorian Institute of Sport, which produced recent tour professionals, including Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, and Marc Leishman. In 2005, he was appointed as the Director of Golf Instruction at the most prestigious course in Australia, Capital Golf Club. John served as the personal coach to many guests, including, Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, Robbie Williams, Roger Federer and President Bill Clinton. In 2009, John moved to the United States to further expand Bann/Lynch Golf, and was appointed the Director of Instruction at the International Institute of Golf at The Cliffs Communities in North and South Carolina. Joining Saddlebrook Prep Golf Academy in 2011, John, along with the entire Bann/Lynch Golf Team, is excited to focus on junior development. He also gives private and corporate instruction as well as assisting several elite amateur and professional players.

John Kang (Hyun Jong) - PGA Tour Coach

John joined the Bann/Lynch Golf Coaching Team in 2006. John is bilingual, speaking both Korean and English. He has been a member of the Korean PGA since 1995 and has coached in Korea, New Zealand, and Australia. As a coach, John is highly regarded internationally, and many of his players have achieved success at both amateur and professional levels. John has assisted with coaching members of the Korean National Team, as well as, several of the Top Korean PGA and LPGA golfers. Some notable players coached include: Hyedong Kim: KPGA tour player; Bobea Park: KLPGA tour player; Byungmin Cho: Korean National Team Representative / KPGA tour player; Shinae Ahn: KLPGA tour player / ’09 KLPGA Rookie of the Year / 2 wins '11 KLPGA tour player; and Haeji Kang: US LPGA tour player / 2007 Australian Girl's Junior Champion. John’s extensive coaching experience has allowed him to develop skills to assist players of all ability levels. Joining the Saddlebrook Prep Golf Academy in 2011, he provides young Korean golfers, among other golfers of all ability levels, with Bann/Lynch training methods that are the foundations of building a career as a professional golfer.

Career Pathway:

• 1993 – 1994: British School of Golf in London, England
• 1995 – Member of KPGA (Korean Professional Golfers Association)
• 1995 – 1997: Junior Golf Director at Lee Ki Hwa Golf Academy in Korea
• 1997 – 2003: Director and Head Professional at KSK Golf Academy Co. Ltd. in New Zealand
• 1997 – 2004: Head Professional at Impact Golf Range in New Zealand
• 2000 – 2001: Coach at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand (Golf and Sports Coach)
• 2004 – 2005: Professional at Glenmore Golf Club
• 2005 – 2006: Head Professional at Marsden Park Golf Course and Range
• 2006 – Present: Coach at Bann/Lynch Golf (Head Coach of International School)

Mark Hirschey - Class A PGA Member

Mark is a Class A PGA Professional elected to membership in 1988 by the Professional Golfers Association of America. He is still recertified each certification period by the PGA, by attending continuing education classes, by the PGA. He served as an apprentice at Summit Chase Country Club, later a Head Professional at Metropolitan Golf and Tennis Club and Cross Creek Golf Club for ten years. In 1998 he came to Saddlebrook Resort, became a certified Arnold Palmer Instructor teaching juniors and Adult classes. working for the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. In 2004 he was appointed the Director of the Saddlebrook Prep Junior program. He has developed numerous nationally ranked players, in 2003 his student Martin Ureta was the number two ranked junior player in the country by Golfweek, he graduated from the University North Carolina, and know plays on the Nationwide Tour. Mark has had many players go on and play at the Division 1 level and obtain scholarships. He is know proud to have joined the elite program and coaching of the Bann Lynch team.

Mike Tali - Certified Instructor

Born in Flint, Michigan, Mike grew up in the suburban Detroit area, where he graduated from high school in 1974, then attended Northwood University. Mike began competitive golf in junior high, and he played four years on the varsity high school team. His teaching career began at age twenty, when he became a professional ski instructor. He has been at Saddlebrook since 1990 and has been a certified golf instructor since 1993. Mike was a runner-up at his playing ability test for the PGA. Mike has given over 1,200 hours of instruction per year since 1998 and is currently the Saddlebrook Prep girls’ high school team coach. He is a proud member of the Bann/Lynch coaching team at Saddlebrook Prep Golf Academy, who enjoys working with players of all ability levels.

Eddie Lemmens - Teaching Professional

Eddie joined the Saddlebrook team in 2009 and is currently a certified teaching professional as well as a resident assistant for our Saddlebrook Prep junior students. He played four years on his college varsity golf team at the Golf Academy of America. He was on the Wesley Chapel, Florida Second Team All Conference. Eddie furthered his golf education by receiving his Associates Degree at the Golf Academy of America. Eddie is a proud member of the Bann/Lynch team of Saddlebrook Prep Golf Academy, who enjoys playing golf daily as well as teaching the fundamentals of the game to students of all ability levels.