Isleworth’s Brett Cafferty goes from Golf Academy of America to playing with Tiger Woods
Birmingham, Ala. – Brett Cafferty came to Golf Academy of America with an engineering degree and a 7 handicap. He left 16 months later with a job at prestigious Isleworth Country Club that included frequent rounds with member Tiger Woods.
Now as Isleworth’s head professional, Cafferty enjoys one of the highest-profile club professional jobs in the world. The membership at the Orlando-area club includes about two-dozen PGA Tour and LPGA Tour pros, including Bubba Watson, Retief Goosen and Paula Creamer. Woods was a member before relocating to Jupiter, Fla., in 2011.
Though Cafferty is only one of hundreds of Golf Academy of America graduates who have gone on to become PGA of America club professionals, working at Isleworth affords him rare opportunities to mingle and work with the game’s biggest stars – whether enjoying a leisurely round or planning an upcoming Tavistock Cup.
“Brett came to Golf Academy of America highly motivated and eager to learn,” said Golf Academy of America Orlando campus director Brad Turner, who has maintained a close relationship with Cafferty. “He took advantage of our many resources, and now he has a dream job.”
Cafferty is one of the few club pros that may have understood how the 20 PGA members at the past weekend’s PGA Championship felt playing beside Woods and the world’s top golfers.
“Tiger and I played quite a bit of golf together,” said Cafferty. “He used to like to give me his driver and see how I hit it. When we saw each other, we’d always insult each other in a friendly way.”
One of Cafferty’s favorite stories is about a match against Woods, who phoned PGA Tour veteran John Cook on the course after Cook, Cafferty and two partners had teed off. Cook concocted a match pitting Woods against the best-ball score from the existing foursome with Woods forfeiting all holes played prior to his arrival. Under Cook’s rules, Woods trailed by seven holes when he joined the group on the eighth tee. Woods began with six straight birdies to pull close before Cook responded with some birdies of his own as the foursome held on to win.
“It’s tough getting into Tiger Woods’ wallet,” said Cafferty, whose handicap is down to less than one stroke.
Cafferty didn’t imagine keeping such heady company when he enrolled at Golf Academy of America’s Orlando campus in 2003. But he knew his passion for golf far exceeded his drive to be an engineer. And he was eager to begin training for a new career in golf.
So Cafferty sought out instruction from several members of Golf Academy of America faculty, learning various teaching techniques. He drew on classroom instruction at Golf Academy of America to move through the PGA apprentice program and earn his PGA membership.
“My training at Golf Academy of America really helped,” Cafferty said. “Seeing the different methods taught by golf instructors at Golf Academy of America was a great learning experience. Golf Academy of America helped me with a resume and offered networking opportunities that aren’t offered anywhere else.”
Contacts made at the Golf Academy of America also have played a major role in Cafferty’s success. A fellow student working part-time at Isleworth helped Cafferty get his foot in the door at the club. Cafferty said he often turns to Orlando campus director Brad Turner for advice.
Recent Golf Academy of America graduates display their skills at top private, public and resort golf courses throughout the country.
Lester Poole, a 2011 graduate of Golf Academy of America’s Myrtle Beach campus, was quickly promoted to head professional at Royal New Kent Golf Club, rated as high as No. 84 on Golf Digest’s list of “100 Greatest Golf Courses.” Myrtle Beach classmate Jesse Noelke is the head professional at The Rail Golf Course, which hosted an annual LPGA Tour event for three decades, in his hometown of Springfield, Ill.
About Golf Academy of America
Golf Academy of America (formerly the San Diego Golf Academy) is the largest and longest-running two-year golf college in the world. Golf Academy of America’s 16-month program balances classroom studies, practical experience and comprehensive understanding of both the game and the business of golf. Campuses are located in San Diego, Phoenix, Orlando, Myrtle Beach and Dallas. For more information, call 800-342-7342 or visit www.GolfAcademy.edu. The schools are owned and operated by the Education Corporation of America, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Visit www.ECAColleges.com for more information.
Contact:
John Brasier or Erin Barrett, The Brandon Agency, (843) 916-2000
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