Instructional Staff at Ocotillo Golf Resort

Kay Cornelius, Director of Instruction & LPGA Class 'A' Member

Kay Cornelius was voted by her LPGA peers as the 2004 and 2007 LPGA Section “Teacher of the Year.” She began teaching at Ocotillo Golf Resort in 1995 and has been an Ocotillo community resident since 1997. Her golf history is extensive, having grown up on the LPGA Tour (mother Kathy Cornelius is a 27 year LPGA Tour veteran and the 1956 U.S. Womenʼs Open Champion & father Bill is a PGA Life Member) as a “tour baby.” Kay began to forge her own way in golf when she was the youngest winner of the U.S. Girlsʼ Junior Championship in 1981 (age 14). She continued her success as a junior golfer winning the Junior World Championship and the Arizona State Junior Championship twice during the early ʻ80s. As a junior and amateur golfer, Kay played in 19 USGA Championships from 1979 to 1987, including the U.S. Womenʼs Open in 1982 at age 15. Kay played college golf at Stanford University from 1984 to 1988, competed in four NCAA championships, and earned NCAA All-American honors in 1988. After earning a B.A. in sociology from Stanford University, she turned professional and competed on the following worldwide tours: Ladiesʼ European Tour, the Ladies Asia Golf Circuit, the Futuresʼ Tour & the Playersʼ West Golf Tour from 1988 to 1997. While playing on the Ladiesʼ European Tour, Kay qualified for and played in three Weetabix British Open Championships, making the cut on two occasions. Since 1996, teaching and coaching golfers of all ages and experience levels has been and continues to be her passion. She has a special gift for teaching junior golfers and has taught several current and past NCAA Division I collegiate players. Kay began her involvement with the LPGA/USGA Girlsʼ Golf Club in 1996 and directed the Future Stars program from 2001 to 2006. She also founded the Ocotillo Golf Resort After-school Junior Golf Program in 2000. Even though junior golfers encompass a large part of her clientele, Kay teaches/coaches men and women golfers of all ages and ability levels. In addition to being voted by her peers as LPGA Section “Teacher of the Year” on two occasions, she was nominated as a Golf Magazine “Top 100 Teacher” for 2007-2008. Currently, Kay is recognized by Golf Magazine as a “Top Regional Teacher” & by US Kids' Golf as a "Top 50 Kids Teacher", and serves the LPGA as a National Evaluator. Kay's website/contact: www.kaycorneliusgolf.com. When Kay isnʼt at the golf course, she enjoys photography, doing yoga, working out, hiking, reading, and walking around the Ocotillo ʻcircle.ʼ Email Kay

Mark Bakeman, Director of Golf & PGA Class ʻAʼ Member
Mark is a highly respected PGA professional who has been in the Valley of the Sun since 1979, when he came here from Southern California to study and play golf at Arizona State University. Markʼs passion for the game of golf began when he was a kid growing up on the Monterey Peninsula. As a junior golfer, he competed in Northern and Southern California Junior Golf Association tournaments. In 1985, Mark turned professional and was elected to PGA Class “A” membership in 1990. Mark has worked for Marriott Golf, Intrawest Golf, and Troon Golf and has worked at these fine golf facilities throughout the Phoenix and Tucson areas: Camelback GC, Kierland GC, Phoenician GC, El Conquistador CC, Raven GC both at Sabino Canyon & South Mountain, and Trilogy at Vistancia. Mark brought his expertise as a head professional to Ocotillo Golf Resort in October 2008. In addition to his duties at Ocotillo Golf Resort, Mark continues to be involved with the Southwest Section of the PGA and competes in tournaments on a regular basis. He is also a former champion of the Southern Chapter of the Southwest Section of the PGA. Mark and his wife Cynthia have two children, Cole and Taylor Melissa, and reside in Chandler. Email Mark

Stephen Kahler, Head Golf Professional & PGA Class ʻAʼ Member

Stephen has been with Troon Golf since 2007. He has worked as the Head Golf Professional at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Lake of Isles in Connecticut and Ocotillo Golf Resort. Stephen is originally from Des Moines, Iowa, where he grew up playing golf. He attended the Professional Golf Management program at Arizona State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in May 2007. He was elected to the PGA of America as a Class “A” Member in 2008. Stephen has taught at the Troon Golf Academy as well as teaching the Afterschool Junior Program at Ocotillo Golf Resort for three years. Stephen has worked with golfers of all ages and ability levels, from the new golfer to the advanced player. His teaching philosophy is based on the goal of the individual student. Whether it’s the aspiration to play on tour, or simply to have fun on the weekend with family and friends, Stephen tailors each lesson to the individual. His intention is for each player he teaches/coaches to get the most out of their natural ability. On a personal note, Stephen and his wife Audrey just welcomed their first child, baby boy Tucker. They reside in Chandler with their English Mastiff Maximus. In addition to his love of golf, Stephen’s other interests include all sports, poker, and music. Email Stephen

Clay Mitchell, Tournament Coordinator & PGA Class ʻAʼ Member

Clay grew up in Thatcher, a small town in southeastern Arizona. He started playing golf at the age of 10 and competed in numerous Junior Golf Association of AZ (JGAA) events during his years as a junior player. He played number one on the golf team for all four years of high school. A highlight of his high school golf days was his freshman year when he helped Thatcher HS win the 2A AZ State Championship at Johnson Ranch in Queen Creek. He finished tied for 6th as an individual that same year. Clay graduated high school in 2003 and went on to attend the Arizona State University PGM Program. Clay graduated from ASU in 2007 with a BS degree in Agribusiness with a focus on golf management. He was elected to the PGA as a Class “A” Member in 2007. Clay joined the staff at Ocotillo Golf Resort in May of 2006. Once he gained PGA membership, he became supervisor of the guest service staff. He worked in this role until he was promoted to the Tournament Coordinator position in August 2012. Clay has a simple approach to teaching. He caters his teaching to the individual’s swing and capabilities. Clay especially enjoys teaching short game and course management. Aside from golf,he enjoys cheering on the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bulls. Email Clay

Derek Freeman, Assistant Golf Professional & PGA Class ʻAʼ Member

Derek is a highly motivated PGA professional who moved to Arizona from several prestigious golf facilities on the east coast. His passion for the game began at a young age where his father introduced him to the basic fundamentals of swinging the golf club. Those fundamentals led to him competing in junior tournaments, and then to pursuing a career in the golf industry. Derek earned a degree from Campbell University through the Professional Golf Management Program and was elected to PGA of America Class “A” membership in 2006. He has worked as First Assistant at Boonsboro Country Club (VA), Kiawah Island Golf Resort (SC), and TPC Sawgrass (FL), home of the PGA Tour. Derek joined the professional team at Ocotillo Golf Resort in the summer of 2012. Throughout his career, Derek has been involved in junior golf development programs such as the HUG foundation at TPC Sawgrass, which is focused on children diagnosed with autism. Derek and his fiancée, Jennifer, both reside in the Chandler area and have a wedding approaching in June 2013. Email Derek

Erik Andersen, Assistant Golf Professional & PGA Class ʻAʼ Member

Erik has been a part of the Ocotillo Golf Resort team for over four years. Originally from Woodside, California, Erik has been in Arizona since 2003. He successfully completed the Arizona State University Professional Golf Management Program, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and was elected to Class “A” membership in the PGA of America. Erik’s background in golf has spanned the last 12 years, including a stretch at Nevada Bob’s Golf Shop where he gained knowledge of golf equipment and customer service skills. Erik has worked at prestigious courses including The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Grayhawk GC in Scottsdale, and Southern Dunes GC in Maricopa. Erik has a passion for the game that was instilled by his father at an early age. He believes in mastering the fundamentals, then assisting the student in developing a powerful, repetitive golf swing. His teaching philosophy is simple: fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. “Every golfer is unique. We need to find what the golfer can do on a consistent basis. This starts from the ground up with grip, posture, alignment. Once these aspects are second nature to the golfer, the swing can become. Email Erik

Instructional Staff at Ocotillo Golf Resort

3751 S. Clubhouse Drive, Chandler, AZ 85248 | 480.917.6660