Kim Stevens Director of Instruction
Kim learned to play golf at age 4 and started developing her teaching skills as a swim instructor through high school and college. After establishing a long career in the hi-tech industry she decided to go back into instruction and has been teaching golf since 2001. For 10 years she was with American Golf as Director of Instruction for both Summitpointe and Monarch Bay Golf Clubs. She developed and directed Corporate Instruction Programs and Team Building events. Kim started the Silicon Valley Golf Performance Center (SVGOLFPC) in January 2012.
Kim is a proud member of the LPGA, is a Class “A” Teaching Professional and a graduate of Titleist Performance Institute Seminars (www.mytpi.com). She enjoys helping people realize their full potential as a golfer by identifying their body’s needs for strength and flexibility that could be limiting their swing and game. For Kim, this has made golf instruction not only more exciting, but more meaningful by helping each individual become physically stronger on and off the course!
Kim enjoys all levels of instruction from helping good players become great to helping new golfers by “de-mystifying” the game and making it more enjoyable.
Bernadette PerenneTeaching Professional / Nike Camp
Bernadette played competitive golf for Moreau Catholic High School and set a record for the girl’s varsity golf team, placing 8th in the NCS Division 2 Tournament qualifying her to play in the NCS Division 1 Tournament.
She also competed in JGANC junior golf tournaments through high school amassing several first place and top 10 finishes. After high school she went on to coach at Moreau for an additional 2 years before joining SVGolf.
She is now completing steps to earn her LPGA certification. She has played golf since the age of 8 and loves to help everyone from kids to adults improve their golf game.
Matt TeuscherTeaching Professional
Matt’s athletic background began at four years old. He grew up playing soccer and baseball year round until the age of 20. Golf finally became his passion when he entered college and started studying the effects that exercise has on athletic performance. His passion for the human body and healthy lifestyles led him to become a certified personal trainer and eventually earn his bachelors degree in Kinesiology from San Jose State University.
With an extensive background in the fitness industry and a certification through TPI (Titleist Performance Institute), Matt uses his knowledge of the biomechanics of the human body to unlock each individuals potential to become a better golfer and enjoy the game. Being able to pass on his knowledge to someone and have a positive affect on their life is what drives Matt as a coach and an instructor.
Matt joined Silicon Valley Golf Performance Center in 2016 and enjoys instructing students of all levels and ages
Shelley EarlTeaching Professional / Nike Camps
Shelley’s teaching career was born out of her love of sports, natural athletic ability and her desire to help others reach their potential. She worked for several years in the Napa Valley school system as a Physical Education teacher and later migrated toward the areas of Health and Fitness and Life Coaching.
Golf came into Shelley’s life in 1997, when, after a few lessons, she felt the call of competition too strong to ignore. As an accomplished amateur, Shelley finished out her playing career by qualifying for the USGA Women’s Senior Amateur National Championship. Having achieved her competitive goals, she turned to her passion – teaching.
Aha! is the moment of transition from the often confusing shadow of any learning process to the light of understanding. That is the moment Shelley has lived for since she discovered her passion for teaching over 25 years ago. That “light bulb” moment and the joy that accompanies it, for both the student and teacher, are unmatched in her eyes.
Victoria Baars “Coach Vicki”Co-Director Nike Golf Camp / Instructor
Victoria began her golf journey around 2001 when her sister asked if she would play in a tournament with her. She was hooked and started to learn the game.
Fast forward to 2016, she joined the team at Silicon Valley Golf Performance Center.
As an Instructor, Victoria is patient and understanding. Her focus is on teaching the basics of golf with drills and games. Her philosophy is anyone can master the game if they know the proper techniques.
As a Co-Director, her priority is the safety of the campers and then to see that everyone is having fun. Under the guidance of the Director, she has been successful in running the summer golf camps.
Victoria is a U.S.Kids Golf Certified Coach and Positive Coaching Alliance.
Sam BraunCo-Director Nike Golf Camp / Instructor
Sam has been involved in competitive sports since an early age, including 4 years of collegiate baseball so he knows and understands the commitment it takes to become an accomplished athlete.
Sam picked up the game of golf early on as well and has been teaching Nike Summer Camps for SVGolf for the past 3 years.
This May, Sam will graduate from college with the intent of getting his teaching credential and becoming a schoolteacher. His joy for teaching and passion for sharing knowledge with others has made him a great golf instructor!
Thomas RileyCo-Director Nike Golf Camp / Instructor
Thomas’ athletic background started at an early age as he grew up playing multiple sports competitively through high school. His high school career was highlighted by earning first team all-league in both basketball and baseball.
Though golf did not come to Thomas until after high school, he found a new passion and from there on was hooked! Since then, he has been working and teaching in the golf industry for 6 years.
In 2019, Thomas began mentoring under Kim Stevens, owner of SVGolf and LPGA Class A Instructor, where his instruction skills were further refined. Since then, he has been working with SVGolf to help others develop great swing mechanics and feel for the golf swing. His passion for teaching golf at all levels drives him toward getting his PGA Class A teaching credential. In addition, his recent Sociology degree from SJSU along with his excellent interpersonal skills has enabled him to help hire and train new staff.
Mark TowarInstructor
Mark developed his passion for golf at the age of 9 when he had finally grown tall enough to swing a set of Junior clubs. Over 50 years later, he still enjoys playing with his 94-year-old Dad.
During his ‘Teen’ years, Mark spent most of his time at the Golf Course, either playing or helping his High School win a State Championship in Cross Country running. He then spent over 20 years as a Volunteer Youth Coach and Administrator in several Sports, and as a Program Director for Youth Camps. He has used the game of Golf to teach corporate executives Positive Coaching (Leadership) and the values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork and etiquette.
A round of miniature Golf with his 3-year-old Grand Daughter reminded him of his youthful joy learning the game, so he decided to retire early from a successful Engineering career to spend more time on the Course, coaching youth, beginners and developing players how to Love the game of Golf so they can play for a Lifetime.
Mark hopes every beginner he coaches will develop a Life-long Love of the Game by learning basic fundamentals through skill games.
Peter Del PreteInstructor
Peter was introduced to golf at the age of 3 and began playing golf at the age of 7 when he joined the Metropolitan Junior Golf Program. While at MJGP he learned a lot about the game of golf as well as many important life lessons from his instructors Ron Gamble and Ira Fair, who is still his swing coach today. At 12 Peter began golfing competitively and has continued to do so in both California amateur and Golden State Tour events as an adult.
In 2018 he began working in the golf industry with Silicon Valley Golf and found a passion for instruction. After almost a year with SVGolf, he went on to work at The Golf Club at Boulder Ridge in San Jose where he gained more experience in instruction as well as learned how to do club fitting, club maintenance (regripping and bending) and tournament setup under Craig Davis, PGA. While at Boulder Ridge, Craig also helped him secure a staff deal with Cobra and Puma Golf for the 2020 year.
After a break from the golf industry to gain experience in the field of mechanical engineering, his other passion and focus of major study at university, Peter has returned to Silicon Valley Golf to reignite his passion for golf instruction and share what he have learned about the game with golfers of all skill levels.
Wayne YoungInstructor
Wayne has spent the last 30+ years coaching and teaching. From individual sports to team sports, Wayne has helped many athletes take their game to another level.
While in the US Air Force serving 4 years on active duty, he found his passion for golf. Over the years he has improved his game, leading him to play in NCGA and Regional Tournaments. In 2010, Wayne won the NCGA Senior Net Championship for Northern California.
Over the past 12 years, Wayne has coached high school golf for boys and girls varsity teams, instructing and teaching players from basic fundamentals to advanced golfers, who have gone on to compete in AJGA and JGANC Tournaments in Northern California.
The Young family is a golf family. His sons, grandsons, nephews and nieces are all learning to love and play golf. Wayne’s son shared the same passion for golf so much that he went on to be a Golf Teaching Professional for many years.
Wayne is known for his positivity, patience and making golf fun. His teaching style is to keep instruction simple, focus on fundamentals and build a game improvement plan unique to each golfer.