Academy Instructor Bios

    Mike Vardeman, PGA
    Director of Instruction
    2008 South Texas PGA Harvey Penick Teacher of the Year

    Mike was born in Clovis, New Mexico in July 1962. He began playing golf at the age of five and had a very successful junior golf career. In high school, Mike was district medallist three times, named to the New Mexico All State Team three times, and tied for medallist honors his senior year. In 1980, Mike received a golf scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico. He played on the golf team for four years while he studied business and physical education.

    In 1985, Mike moved to Dallas, Texas to work at the TPC Course, home of the Byron Nelson PGA Golf Tournament. There he organized and led teaching operations of the junior golf programs and ladies and men's clinics for six years. Mike gained a great deal of knowledge and experience from such instructors as Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi, Bob Toski, Mike Dunaway, and Dr. Gary Wiren.

    Mike moved to Austin, Texas in 1992 to help start the Harvey Penick Golf Academy as the Head Instructor under Bryan Gathwright, recognized as Golf Magazine's Top 100 Instructor's. Mike gained a great deal of invaluable teaching experience under the guidance of Harvey Penick. At Golfsmith, Mike also taught the Advanced Club Fitting Schools as the Head Instructor under the direction of Tom Wishon, world renowned golf club fitting and design expert. Mike specialized in "teaching the golf swing as it relates to clubfitting."

    In 1996, Mike moved to San Antonio, Texas to begin operations at the Academy at LaCantera, home of the Valero Texas Open. As the Head Instructor from 1996-2006 at the Academy at LaCantera, Mike was Head Instructor for Golf Digest Schools for five years. Mike was honored to spend time with Tim Mahoney, Mike LaBauve, and Gale Peterson, all Golf Digest Top 100 Teachers. Mike is a PGA member, and currently the Director of Instruction at the Academy at LaCantera.

    When Mike is not playing or teaching golf, he enjoys spending time in the gym working out, and riding his mountain bike. Mike has a wonderful wife Lisa, a son Sean, and two daughters Keeley and Ashleigh.

    In 2007, Mike was named in the Golf Digest instructor rankings for Texas at #17!
      Magnus Dohlvik, PGA
      Head Teaching Professional
      Born in Gotherburg, Sweden in 1976

      Family
      -Married to Katie from Goliad, Texas
      -Children, Liam (born 2004) and Kaisa (born 2006)

      Amateur Career
      -Member of the Swedish National Golf Team, 1993-2000
      -Collegiate Golf at The University of Texas at San Antonio, 1996-2000
      -Top 50 among NCAA Div. I players based on scoring average

      Professional Career
      -Touring Professional in Europe, 2000-2002
      -Assistant Golf Professional at LaCantera, 2002-2004
      -Full-time Teaching Professional at the Academy at LaCantera, 2004-present

        Cliff Y. Bounds, PGA Apprentice
        Assistant Teaching Professional
        Born in Mangum, Oklahoma in 1979

        Family
        -Married to Bethany from Oneida, New York
        -Children, Dresden (born 2008)

        Education
        -1998 Graduated from Owasso High School in Owasso, OK
        -2003 Graduated with B.S. in Meetings and Destination Management
        from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK

        Amatuer Career
        -AJGA Member and Participant (1995-1998)
        -Oklahoma State Tournament Qualifier
        -Full Scholarship and Four Year Letterman (1999-2003) at Northeastern State
        -1st Team All-Conference in the Lonestar Conference (2003)

        Professional Career
        -Hooters Tour 2004
        -Adams Tight Lies Tour 2005
        -Touring Professional in Europe on the Telia Tour 2005-2006
        -Full Time Teaching Professional at The Academy at LaCantera (2006-Present)

        Hobbies
        When not teaching, Cliff enjoys playing tournament golf, fitness, and spending time with his wife Bethany, and daughter Dresden.