Programs
Whether you’re correcting a few flaws in your swing or completely overhauling your entire game, private golf instruction at the Las Sendas Golf Academy is the ideal way to realize your goals. We offer a multitude of programs specifically designed for golfers of all ages! Our ability to hone in on the key elements of your game, customize an instruction program suited for you and monitor your progress along the way lies at the heart of our successful golf instruction philosophy.
Contact us to request information about our golf instruction programs.
Playing Lessons
With on-course playing lessons accompanied by instruction from the Las Sendas Golf Academy, you’ll not only learn the fundamentals of golf, but, you’ll learn how to play the game. It’s a fact, golfers play differently when they are on the range versus on the course. Playing lessons with an LSGA instructor, allows you to see live situations and provide the right instruction to help you play better and also strategically think through the round.
Features include:
- Understanding your goals
- Warm-up
- 9 holes with the instructor of your choice
With playing lessons from the Las Sendas Golf Academy, you’ll learn to minimize mental errors, and play to your strengths along with other valuable skills that you can apply to any golf experience. Understanding the many graduations of strategy and course management is an art form that we learned through a lifetime of competition on the highest level as well as through our many years of instruction.
Golf School
The Las Sendas Golf Academy embraces a personalized, comprehensive set of programs, complete with full-swing instruction and short-game skills. With instant video feedback, your lessons will provide a clear understanding of what you need to do for immediate improvement. Features:
- Comprehensive full-swing and short-game instruction
- Video Analysis and swing review
- Putting, Chipping, Pitching, Sand (Short Game)
- Personal improvement drills and practice plan
- Development of a consistent pre-shot routine
- On-course play
Private Groups
The Las Sendas Golf Academy events provide the perfect setting to build upon relationships. Whether you are looking to strengthen client relations…or just reward employees, private golf events with LSGA instruction is a perfect strategy for business owners.
Let the Las Sendas Golf Academy staff create a golf experience that fits your needs:
- Entertain and thank your clients
- Network with potential clients
- Conduct a Team Building event
- Motivate and reward your sales team
- Train employees on how to use golf as a business tool
- Raise additional revenue at your golf outing
- Add an interactive element to your conference
The LSGA staff would be happy to design a customized private golf group event for your company with your golf, business goals, and budget in mind.
Junior Golf Sticks Program
Do you know how many golf scholarships go unused every year? Do you want to get your children started in golf? Is it time to prepare your junior for high school golf or competitive golf? Do you need some family time and want to have fun with a golf outing?
The Las Sendas Golf Academy offers a developmental approach to the game. We stair-step our lessons to match the skill levels as the junior golfer becomes more experienced. The goal of our junior golf programs is to not only develop the fundamental skills of the golf swing, but to also teach each player the characteristics that will make them champions in life. Most importantly, create a love for the game.
Our programs teach the basic fundamentals of the game including full swing, short game, putting, golf course etiquette, rules of the game, and on-course play. The ages of students range from 5 to 15 years of age. Juniors are grouped according to age, gender, and skill level.
We provide instruction on the game of golf to your young golfer in a fun and creative learning environment. We have a team that includes PGA and LPGA Teaching Professionals who take pride in providing superior junior golf lessons in a fun environment.
Meet Our Instructors & View Their Rates
James Contreras
PGA Teaching Professional
Class A
As an accomplished player, James will share with you how to take your game to the next level.
As an Arizona native James’s passion for golf began in junior golf. He played high school and college golf before turning Professional after graduating from Arizona State University in 1987. While working at Camelback Golf Club as an assistant professional, James started their first junior program. After becoming a Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) Class A Member in 1992, he started instructing full-time teaching students in golf schools and corporate outings. In 1996 he found a summer teaching position in Alaska, and to this day continues to teach golf each summer there. James has been a Teaching Professional at Las Sendas Golf Club since 2002 providing instruction for all types of players from beginners to professionals. Programs for members, individuals, juniors, clinics, groups, corporate, and golf schools. James provides individual analysis and works to make each student’s swing work best for them.
Education and Credentials
- Class A Member PGA of America
- 1991 Assistant Professional Champion SWSPGA
- 2000 PGA Tour Phoenix Open Participant
- President Alaska Junior Golf Association
- Former First Tee Coach
James Contreras
Class A PGA Professional
Phone: 1(480) 275-0093
jcontreras@lassendas.com
David Huffman
PGA Teaching Professional
Jack Nicklaus Certified Instructor
David’s passion for the game of golf and coaching shines through to his students. He has worked with students from all over the world while here with us at Las Sendas, And they continue to seek out his tutelage here in Arizona.
A very dedicated Instructor, David enjoys success in helping golfers improve and enjoy their games more.
I have been very fortunate to play this game professionally and to coach this game at a high level. The game has allowed me to travel the world, see 38 countries, and meet so many terrific people along the way.
I competed internationally as a junior in golf and tennis, competed for Clemson University, and competed worldwide as a touring professional. As a player, my competitive background includes tennis at a high level in addition to my golf. I played over 8 years of professional golf and enjoyed 4 wins. I’ve been fortunate to hold or have held course records at 5 golf courses including a low Professional round of 61 at Rand Park GC in Johannesburg, South Africa.
As an Instructor, I’ve been fortunate to have trained with and under three very recognized Golf Instructors. In South Africa, I spent a year under the guidance of Martin Whitcher, RSA Instructor of the Year. In South Carolina I worked under the guidance of PGA “Carolinas Section” Instructor of the Year, Mike Schroder, and for the past 17 years under the tutelage of 2011 PGA National Instructor of the Year, Mike Malaska. I try to utilize those experiences both as a tournament golfer and as a student of the game to develop my coaching skills.
I’ve been fortunate as a coach to work with golfers of all ages and levels and enjoy the process with each student. The groups that we’ve started at Las Sendas have been terrific fun. I have also been fortunate to train instructors with GreatLIFE Malaska Golf & Fitness in Sioux Falls, South Dakota the past two summers. The experience of coaching other instructors has helped me to grow further as an Instructor myself.
I look forward to working with you at Las Sendas Golf Club this season.
Experience and Credentials
- Instructor First Tee of Richmond. Richmond, VA
- Instructor at Jack Nicklaus Academy
- at The Presidential Club. Dulles, VA
- Instructor with the Malaska Golf Academy
- Director of Instruction GreatLIFE Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD
- Instructor Malaska Golf Academy at Las Sendas
- Currently Instructor the Las Sendas Golf Academy.
- Jack Nicklaus Academy Certified Instructor completed training 3 times
- PGA of South Africa Tour Professional Division
David Huffman
Phone: 1(480)677-1533
davidhuffmangolf@gmail.com
Braden Bentley
PGA Associate
Braden’s obsession with the game of golf started at a young age. He began playing junior golf at age 6 and found a passion for competing. After a promising high school career, he played collegiate golf at Lewis University. Braden graduated in 2020, turned professional, and moved to Arizona. He began working at Las Sendas Golf Club in 2020 and is now the Assistant Golf Professional and a PGA Associate. Shortly after, Braden found a new passion in coaching. Braden has been a volunteer junior golf coach for 6 years with many organizations, including The First Tee. Lessons and programs are available for individuals and groups of all ages and skill levels, including a monthly subscription service. Inquire for details.
719-641-2998
bradenb1@gmail.com