Skip is unlike any coach I’ve had because of his passion for the game of golf. When I think of a coach, I think of someone who is invested not only in teaching but also in me as a player—and Skip embodies that completely. He doesn’t sugarcoat things; he tells the truth. He lets you know if you’re putting in the work and gives you ways to improve.

He is always looking for ways to help, whether it’s through a phone call, a text, or an in-person conversation. He constantly finds ways to support his players. He has taught me that golf isn’t just about the swing—it’s a game that mirrors life, full of ups and downs.

When I first went to Skip, I was struggling to see what I wanted to do with golf and whether I wanted to keep playing. His passion for the game reignited my love for it. As a coach, he quickly recognizes what type of golfer you are and adapts his coaching style to fit your needs.

But he is more than just a coach—he is an incredible friend and someone I would consider a brother. If you go see Skip, you’d better be committed because he’s going to put his whole heart and effort into you.

-Adrian Soriano

I live in Finland where the golf season is short due to the weather. During the long winter it is easy to forget your golf skills – this happened to me.  I came to San Diego to visit my cousin and decided to take some golf lessons from a pro. I contacted Skip and took a couple of lessons and amazing, how big change in my golf.  He was the first pro to understand how to teach me and he was able to improve my skills. And the learning process was so easy.  I had been taking lessons from a couple of pros in my country and I didn’t learn much.

I strongly recommend to all taking lessons from Skip -  it´s worth it!

 Erja Wasenius-Kesseli

I have been working with SVM (Skip) for about 11 years. I was a 52 year-old man and when I first came to Skip I was a frequent player (2-3 times/wk) with a double-digit handicap. Skip asked me how serious I was about my game and I told him I wanted to get down to a 5 (or lower) index. He informed me it would take some major work on my part, but it could be done. About 15 months later, seeing Skip once a week (and working on my swing 2-3 times a week at the range) I hit my low index of 3.9. I currently play to a 5.6. Listed below are some of the key factors to this improvement I attribute to Skip:

- Videos and key pictures to help reinforce proper swing mechanics

- Adjusted/modified techniques unique to my learning style

- Constant discussions and follow up, not only about the swing but the game of golf. This improved my golf IQ enormously

When my swing mechanics improved enough we went out on the course to really test it. This is a factor that is huge to improve self confidence

Once my golf friends saw my improvements (and they realized they were losing money to me) they wanted in. In fact, I have sent several friends over and they have also seen vast improvement in their game.

-Jeff Bibbs

My forty plus years of golf have lead me to countless instructors, training aids and videos all the while struggling with the same problems and tendencies.  Over the past few years, with Skip’s guidance, I am seeing real progress in my game.  His broad knowledge of the swing and mental approach to the game has drastically improved my golf game and made it enjoyable again.  Efficient, adaptable and focused on real results, Skip has designed a teaching program tailored specifically for me and my natural tendencies and specific physical challenges.  It is very apparent to me that had I found Skip sooner I would have enjoyed the game more and certainly played at a higher level.

Thanks Skip and see you at the range next week.

Jim Alger