Being Colorado’s Golf Instruction Leader Means We Do What Is Right For You!   IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!

Trent Wearner Golf has a committed culture that is unmatched, the finest coaching staff, amazing practice facilities and the premier learning environment in Colorado.  You are unique and we treat you as such!  Many golf centers teach the same thing to everyone who walks in the door.  We don’t do that – we work with you.  Our staff doesn’t dabble in teaching, we don’t do this part-time, and we don’t hire people who are just starting their career.  Our staff is highly experienced and committed to deliver the highest level of coaching possible which is why we’re the top golf coaching establishment in Colorado.  We are extremely excited to work with you regardless of your age, ability and gender – we love what we do and that will be evident every time you arrive.  You are encouraged to stay in constant communication with your coach with any questions you may have while away from the golf academy or to fill us in with your wonderful triumphs.

Trent Wearner coaches at Cherry Creek Country Club and does some clinics at our other locations.  He is a Three-Time Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year, a Three-Time winner of the Colorado PGA’s Adult and Youth Player Development Award and often rated the #1 Golf Course Teacher in Colorado by his peers and Golf Digest Magazine.

He has been on The Golf Channel and Morning Drive numerous times as well as regularly on Altitude Sports Television’s Golf@Altitude, 9News and CBS4. Being a Colorado native hasn’t kept him from traveling the country to work with and learn from the nation’s top coaches/teachers.  He has taught side-by-side several top instructors including Keith Lyford in Scottsdale and in New England before being hired to work at the McGetrick Golf Academy. He has also taught clinics with other Top 100 Teachers and regularly gives presentations to other coaches around the country.

MORE ABOUT TRENT

Trent grew up with the game and has an uncle who played on the Tour with the legends of the game. As a young golfer, Trent played a lot of competitive junior golf and continues to play in Colo PGA Section Professional events. He works with players of all ability levels and spends his time equally between Adults and Juniors many who are considered the state’s top amateurs, juniors and mini-tour players. With over 120 students playing or having played college golf, he is the most sought-after junior coach in the region. 

Trent regularly leads instructional seminars for other PGA members and consistently volunteers his time for junior golf in Colorado. He is a Certified Golf Coach certified by Dr. Rick Jensen, who is a very well-respected sports psychologist. In addition to being an honored PGA member and teacher, Wearner has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, both locally and nationally, which you can see below. 

  • #1 Rated Teacher in Colorado (Golf Digest)
  • Top 25 Master Elite Junior Golf Coaches in the U.S.
  • Three-Time Colorado PGA Teacher of the Year
  • Two-Time Colorado PGA Player Development Award Winner
  • Top 50 Kids Teacher in America (U.S. Kids Golf)
  • Top 20 Best Young Teachers in America (Golf Digest)
  • Colorado PGA Youth Development Award Winner
  • Top Teacher in Southwestern U.S. (GOLF Magazine)
  • Best Golf Teacher in State List (Golf Digest)
  • No.52 Golf Tip in the History of the Golf Channel
  • Author of popular practice book Golf Scrimmages
  • “Golf@Altitude” TV Show Instructor (Altitude Sports TV)

Ben Portie coaches at Meadow Hills and Colorado National and has spent the last 24 years of his life learning, competing, and teaching the game of golf.

As a past member of the University of Colorado golf team, he continued his drive to succeed in golf by creating a successful career at TWGA by teaching others.  After a great collegiate career, he went on to compete in PGA, Nationwide, Canadian, and European Challenge Tour events while winning over 35 professional events across the country. An avid thirst to continue learning the game himself has also pushed him to teach the game to others of all abilities. Ben has taught private and group lessons at public and private facilities, as well as junior golf instruction, camps and clinics. He has taught Nike Junior Golf Camps, CU Elite Golf Camps, Gold Crown Junior Golf Instruction, and other summer long junior golf clinics.

MORE ABOUT BEN

He has passed on his knowledge to collegiate golfers as an Assistant Men’s Golf Coach for the University of Colorado, an Assistant Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach for the University of Northern Colorado, the Head Women’s Coach for Metro State University and most recently, as the assistant for the Colorado School of Mines Men’s Team.

  • 2011 Colorado Open Champion
  • 2002 U.S. Open Participant
  • Winner of over 35 professional mini-tour events
  • Participant in U.S. Amateur and U.S. Public Links Championships
  • Participant in PGA, Nationwide, and Canadian Tours as well as the European Challenge Tour
  • 2001 Colorado Golf Association Player of the Year

Ashley Tait coaches at Meadow Hills Golf Course and is one of the most respected players Colorado has ever had. Pair that we her tremendous coaching talent and background, and you have yourself a very well-rounded teacher/coach.

Ashley was born and raised in Colorado. She had a stellar junior career thanks to an early start, a PGA father, and lots of time practicing and playing. She had a great college golf career and has also played professionally.  She is a PGA and LPGA Member and previously spent time instructing at two courses in Colorado as well as coaching girls teams at Columbine and Mullen High Schools. Most recently, Ashley has been teaching at Baltimore CC where she oversaw the Player Development Programs for both adults and juniors.

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MORE ABOUT Ashley

Ashley competed in the Junior World, U.S. Girls Junior Championship, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, U.S. Women’s Amateur, AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions, and won the CJGA Junior and Women’s Stroke Play Championships. She played her high school golf at Mullen, where she won three individual state championships. Ashley went on to play collegiately at Tulane University and transferred to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington after Hurricane Katrina. She had a successful athletic and academic college career; her highest honors being her win at Conference Championships her first year at UNCW and the 2008 CAA Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year.

  • Turned professional in 2010
  • Trackman University certified
  • GOLFFOREVER Ambassador
  • Mullen High School Hall of Fame
  • Played on the LPGA Epson Tour
  • Qualified to play in the KPMG in 2022
  • Played college golf at Tulane and UNC-Wilmington
  • Winner of 3 individual state championships

“We are terribly excited to have Ashley as part of our staff. She has a perfect attitude and shows enormous passion for teaching and coaching. Our academy and students will benefit greatly from her approach and love of the game.”  – Trent Wearner

Dana Smith coaches at our Walnut Creek and Legacy Ridge locations and has spent the last 35 years passionately dedicated to each student and their improvement. He’s been a longtime teacher in Colorado who has also worked with many of the best coaches in the country.
 
Motivated by the mission to create an atmosphere of self-guided discovery and allowing each student, through diligent coaching, a clear understanding and practice, to enjoy the awesome journey of fulfilling their goals. Dana has written articles for Golf Digest, Golf Tips, Golf Illustrated and Avid Golfer and has been a Best Teacher in State by Golf Digest.
 
 

MORE ABOUT Dana

Dana was a founding player-member of the Golden State Tour early in his career and has been the Director of Instruction at two Top 10 Golf Schools – the Stratton Golf School and the McGetrick Golf Academy. He’s spent time working side-by-side Mike McGetrick helping the games of Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Betsy King, Beth Daniel and Lauri Merten.

He was also the Director of the non- profit Park Hill Junior Golf Academy here in Denver. More recently Dana has been teaching in Tahoe in the summers at Old Greenwood and at Los Caballeros in Arizona in the winters. He and Trent have worked together in the past where they developed a great golf academy here in Denver.

  • Best Teacher in State by Golf Digest
  • Written dozens of published articles
  • Spent time with LPGA Hall of Famers
  • Coached and caddied on the LPGA European Tour
  • Director of Instruction at the country’s Top Academies
  • Customer service oriented and friend to many!

“It is so wonderful to have Dana on our team. Before coaching in Tahoe and Arizona, Dana was a staple here in Colorado known as one of the Best Teachers in State and well deserving of his work with students of all ability levels. We are so fortunate to have him as part of our dedicated team!” – Trent Wearner

Alex Gough coaches at Legacy Ridge and Walnut Creek and is one of the few PGA Members in the country with a Specialization from the PGA in Teaching & Coaching. He was mentored by a well-respected teacher in Colorado and has a true passion for working with students to improve their game. He is bringing his decade of experience to TWGA and ultimately to you.

He is also certified in Golf Motor Learning and the Skilled Coaching Alliance which is one of the most prestigious coaching certifications in the golf teaching industry right now. He has a certification in the American Development Model and Trackman University. He spent several years learning from and being mentored by a local PGA Teacher and is a certified club fitter with just about every manufacturer.

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MORE ABOUT ALEX

Alex brings to Trent Wearner Golf Academy an abundance of knowledge and passion to help our diverse student base. When he’s not on green grass you can find him with a fly rod in hand.

  • Specialized in Teaching & Coaching from the PGA of America
  • Certified in the prestigious Skilled Coaching Alliance
  • Golf Motor Learning certification
  • Certification in the American Development Model (ADM)
  • Trackman University certified

“As a coach, I look for great people who are just as passionate as I am about helping others improve and reach their goals. I look for people whose demeanor speaks to many people and Alex is just that. He has a fantastic track record of helping players see how good they can get and we are lucky to have this diamond in the rough.”  – Trent Wearner

Chris Melendez coaches at our Meadow Hills Golf Course location.  He has a phenomenal track record helping players of all ability levels truly develop and he has a knack for fitting clubs too.  We’re lucky to have him as he’s so versatile and does a great job for us with both adults and juniors.

Chris Melendez has been known by his peers as one of the most respected coaches in Colorado.  He has somewhat slid under the radar with golfers looking to improve, but not any longer!  His students have known him to be a hidden gem and we’re so lucky to have him as part of our coaching staff.  He has offered great programs and private coaching for both adults and juniors through the years.  Some of his juniors have won the high school state championship and he’s coached several teams to a title win as well.  He’s been teaching in Colorado for over 10 years and we’re so fortunate to have Chris as part of our elite coaching staff.  He is a CU grad with a degree in Psychology which obviously comes in handy with the game of golf.

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MORE ABOUT Chris

His continuing education includes certifications by many of the best programs.  They include Wedge Matrix by world-renowned short game coach James Ridyard, Trackman University, First Tee Training, and Swing Catalyst to name a few.  He is also a Master club-fitter who has been fitting for an extensive amount of time.  Chris’s experience and his success as a golf coach to people of all ages and abilities makes him a wonderful fit here at Trent Wearner Golf.  As an expert coach and club fitter, who has been through numerous certification programs, Chris knows his way around technology and utilizes it to help his students excel.  Chris’s calm demeanor, great communication skills and ability to properly guide a student to better golf are things that we look for in a coach.  He is a great addition to our coaching staff and we’re sure you’ll benefit from him as your coach at Murphy Creek Golf Course.  When Chris isn’t coaching golfers, you can find him on a river wetting a line with his dog by his side.

  • Trackman University certification
  • First Tee Certification
  • U.S. Kids Golf certified
  • Wedge Matrix certification
  • Swing Catalyst Level I certified
  • Positive Coaching Alliance certification
  • Master Club Fitter
  • CPR and First-Aid (bi-annual)

“I couldn’t be more excited to have Chris as part of our team.  His genuine love of coaching and passion for helping golfers improve is evident with every person he works with.  His demeanor and easy-going personality make for a perfect coach.”  – Trent Wearner

Jerry Walters coaches putting for us at Meadow Hills and does putting clinics at Legacy Ridge and Walnut Creek.  He is a fixture in the Colorado golf landscape. He has been with us for nearly a decade working on people’s putting strokes and he’s had a longstanding golf radio show that has earned him two Colorado PGA Section Awards.

He is the boys’ golf coach for South High School and has had a popular golf radio show in Colorado for close to thirty years. Jerry worked on the tour for years representing a putter company and also spent time with Avid Golfer Magazine. In addition to doing putting clinics with us, he spends time working for Eyeline Golf, which is a local golf training aid company. He’s been working with people on their putting and short game for over twenty years and has an easy-going style that you’re sure to enjoy.

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MORE ABOUT JERRY

A recent student sent this to us about Jerry:
“The cues and drills you gave me have made a dramatic
improvement! Where I feared even a 3 foot putt, now I
feel confident from 15 feet in. I’m making 20+ footers and

feel confident over every putt. Thank you for you exper-
tise. You’ve made the prospect of lower scores a reality

for me!” – Dave J.

  • Spent time on all the tours representing YES Putters
  • Numerous hours talking with the best caddies and players in the game
  • Supported and promoted the game in Colorado for three decades
  • Knowledge of all training aids and the best ones to help your stroke

“Jerry loves talking golf and helping people with their putting. He has a plethora of drills and training aids to help every person with their stroke. His casual humor will make you feel at ease and, just maybe, that light atmosphere is exactly what you need mentally and emotionally to hole more putts.”  – Trent Wearner

Coaching Philosophy

We always start by sending you a questionnaire so that we can learn as much about you, your game and your goals before the first lesson even begins. This allows us to know some history about your game and begin a plan for helping you improve. Our questionnaire is comprehensive and will spell out some things that aid in our ability to help you improve.

We do not teach the same thing to every person. People are built differently and have different goals and time to dedicate to improving. Our overall philosophy relates to (1) Improving your technique to gain better control of the ball with consistent results, (2) Developing sound practice habits that roll over to the course and also guidance on how to best practice so that you’re getting the most out of your time, and (3) Developing on-course skills like game management, self-management, key mental tactics and decision-making. This flexible philosophy addresses the needs and desires of each student as the teacher/coach adapts to your learning style. This individuality and attention to one’s overall game along with our ability to communicate on a level clear and understandable is what has made Trent Wearner Golf the most sought-after golf instruction in the region.