RTJ Academy of Golf at Oxmoor Valley and Ross Bridge

We have a dedicated staff whose goal is to make your game, and the enjoyment of your game, better. Our staff is PGA-qualified and TPI-certified, ensuring the quality of instruction is first-rate.

Neil Thompson, Director of Instruction at Oxmoor Valley and Ross Bridge
Neil is a Class A member of both the PGA of America and the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, and was honored as the 2011 Dixie Section PGA Teacher of the Year and the 2009 Dixie Section PGA Alabama Chapter Teacher of the Year.

Neil hails from England and attended college on a golf scholarship in the United States, achieving 1st Team All-American status before turning professional where he has won at local and national levels.

Neil has been teaching golf students since 1993. Currently, he teaches all ages and abilities, from first-time golfers to tournament professionals, including winners on the PGA Nationwide Tour.

Neil has attained Level III status from the TPI (Titleist Performance Institute), is a certified K-Vest 3-D instructor and holds certifications in club fitting. Neil's qualifications, together with his playing background and his enthusiasm for learning, have molded him into the esteemed teacher he is today.

Book a lesson, you won't be disappointed!
Contact Neil: nthompson@rtjgolf.com / 205-283-0871

Eric Ross, Head Teaching Pro at Oxmoor Valley and Ross Bridge
Eric started his golfing career at the Golf Academy of America in 2003. After graduation, Eric obtained his first job at Myrtle Beach National, a resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. From there, he worked as the First Assistant at Crystal Lake in McDonough, Georgia. With a passion for teaching, Eric landed his first teaching job as the Director of Instruction at Edwin Watts Academy in Birmingham, Alabama. Since then he has worked at Vestavia Country Club and was also the Head Golf Professional at Grayson Valley Country Club. He is currently the Men's and Women's Assistant Golf Coach at the University of Montevallo.

Eric is a Class A PGA Member of the PGA of America and is also TPI Certified.
Contact Eric: eross@rtjgolf.com / 662-397-3510

Strano Golf Academy at Capitol Hill

Rob Strano is based out of Destin, Florida and combines his unique experiences as a player on professional golf tours and teacher into a training program for golfers at all levels of ability. He also has been an instructor/Lead Instructor with the golf schools at Pine Needles Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Rob’s training program is an accumulation of experience as a teacher, student and player on the professional golf tours.

Rob is a native of St. Louis, MO where he grew up at the same country club as 1968 Masters Champion Bob Goalby and touring professionals Jay and Jerry Haas and Frank Connor. At the age of six he began playing and was aided by a putting green his father installed in the backyard of their home. Previous to coming to Kelly Plantation he played professional golf for 15 years. Rob played tournaments on the three major US Tours (PGA, Nationwide, NGA/Hooters). As a player, he won 5 times with his last at the 1999 Energizer Invitational. Rob also earned his reputation as one of the "nicest players on tour" by donating a significant amount of his time to share his expertise at numerous charity events and outings. In 2003 Rob developed a national deaf youth instruction program and he currently travels the country teaching deaf children how to play golf in sign language at PGA Tour events. He is the only professional in the world actively teaching out to the deaf kids in the United States.

Along with the individual instruction that is available he also does corporate and charity clinics and outings during the year that are tailored to the needs of the client and the group. Rob coaches players of all levels including several Touring Professionals from the PGA Tour and mini-tours as well as the top boys and girls high school players in the panhandle of Florida. Rob was named an honorable mention Top 50 Youth Golf Instructor by US Kids Golf in 2010 and in one two week stretch this fall his juniors amassed 6 wins and 9 tops tens in the three tournaments played for boys and girls.

Strano has the goal of making golf easier to understand and play. To teach you as an individual; and give you a golf swing that fits your body build and helps you make as athletic a golf swing as possible. A lesson objective is to have an enjoyable experience and see improvement.

Capitol Hill Golf Academy Director of Instruction Rob Strano was recently selected for the second year in a row as an Honorable Mention Top 50 Youth Instructors in the United States by US Kids Golf. Rob will be introducing his 2012 youth programs that will include: private lessons, after school programs and youth summer camp in the next few weeks.

Contact Rob: stranogolf@gmail.com / 850.517.7437