John Bierkan Contact

John has been around golf his entire life. His father, Dick Bierkan, has been a PGA Professional in Connecticut for 44 years. John credits his father’s work ethic, character and integrity as a driving force in his life. John’s early childhood home was on club property and he would spend much of his time with his father. John was always hanging around the club working on his game and learning the business of golf. John knew from an early age that he would one day grow up to be a PGA Professional. His love of competition, fascination with the golf swing and desire to help others play better has been a strong motivation in his career.

John played as a junior and continued to hone his game during his teenage years and was a standout player in high school. He also played collegiate golf at The University of Connecticut where he had several top finishes. During that time, John was rated in the Top-Ten of all Division I golfers in New England. John competed in several Connecticut State Amateur tournaments and several state open championships in Connecticut and Maryland. John continues to compete in PGA of America events in both the Philadelphia PGA Section and at the national level. In June of 2016, John competed in his sixth straight PGA Professional Championship.

Upon graduating from UCONN in 2000, John accepted a position as Coordinator of Junior Golf Events for The Golf Channel in Orlando, Florida. John was part of a team that traveled all over the U.S. for two years conducting The Golf Channel’s Drive, Chip & Putt Skills Competition. Once that commitment was fulfilled, John turned his focus to instruction and coaching-which is what he always wanted to do. John spent three years working and studying with Dr. T.J. Tomasi, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. John then worked for Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher, Jim McLean, for three years at Trump National Doral. John also credits great teachers such as Christopher Toulson, Bill Davis, Chuck Cook, Dr. Rob Neal, Dana Dahlquist, Andrew Rice, John Graham, David Orr, Justin Sheehan, Jared Isaacs, John Webster, Trillium Rose, Glen Farnsworth, Mariano Bartolome, Kevin Sprecher, Michael Hunt, Shannon Hamel, Tommie Marino and Tom Dyer for influencing his teaching career.

Prior to becoming the Director of Instruction at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, John served as the Director of Instruction at Caves Valley Golf Club in Baltimore. In the winter, John is the Director of Instruction at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Prior to moving to Old Marsh for the winters in 2016, John served as the Director of Instruction at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida for eight years. Golf Digest has rated John one of America’s Best Young Teachers since 2010, was named the 2014 Philadelphia PGA Teacher of the Year and in 2013, 2015 & 2017 John was voted by Golf Digest as one of the Best Teachers in the State of Pennsylvania. U.S. Kids Golf named John one of the Top 50 Kids Coaches (Honorable Mention) in 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017.