We have a true passion for golf.

Our mission at The Ontario Golf Academy at Whistle Bear Golf Club is to provide students of all ages and skill levels with an exceptional learning program aimed at developing the required skills to play to their full potential.

By sharing our experience and knowledge of golf, our objective is to help golfers develop their the game, improve their skills and enhance their overall enjoyment of the game.

Meet Our PGA of Canada Coaching & Fitting Team

Adam Tobin

Adam has been a driving force behind Whistle Bear Golf Club since 2015. As a 15-year PGA of Canada member, he has been recognized as a leader in the industry. Throughout his experience he has serviced a number of clubs and facilities around the country such as St. George's Golf and Country Club, Tobiano Golf Resort, and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. In 2012 Adam was recognized as the Assistant Golf Professional of the Year for the PGA of Ontario and introduced into the Nova Scotia Legislature for his contributions to the game of golf. Adam was also recognized as The Retailer of the Year for the PGA of Ontario, the Pat Fletcher National Retailer of the Year for the PGA of Canada in 2016, and the PGA of Ontario Club Professional of the Year in 2018.

Chris Dickenson

Chris graduated from Niagara College’s Professional Golf Management Program in 2016, and shortly after, became a member of the PGA of Canada. Prior to joining the coaching staff at the Ontario Golf Academy at Whistle Bear, he worked as the Head Teaching Professional at the Stratford Country Club. Chris is a highly trained modern golf coach, who is passionate about helping golfers of all ages and abilities achieve their goals. In the short time he has been a PGA member, Chris has distinguished himself as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the industry. He was a finalist for the PGA of Ontario’s Apprentice Professional of the Year Award in 2018 and was also chosen as the Canadian Junior Golf Association’s National Facilitator for the 2019 North America Cup.  He has experience working with players of all abilities, from beginners to NCAA and Touring Professionals. Chris is excited to help you design and execute short- or long-term coaching plans to improve your game!

Mike Martz

  • BSc Kinesiology

  • PGA of Canada Coach of the Year 2021

  • PGA of Ontario Coach of the Year 2021

  • Former Head Coach University of Waterloo Men’s Golf Team

  • New/Developing Competitor Coach Boys/Girls Performance Team

  • Head Coach Team Ontario Boys 2017 Canada Summer Games

  • Coach Team Canada 2- 2015 and 2016 World Junior Girls Championship

  • Head Regional Coach U17 Team Ontario

  • 519-650-2327 ext. 421

  • martzgolf@gmail.com

Mike joined the Ontario Golf Academy with a vast knowledge of the golf swing. Having a Kinesiology degree, coupled with 35 years PGA of Canada experience, has given Mike a sound scientific understanding of human movement and how it could be taught and learned. Mike has been involved with the PGA of Canada in several coaching initiatives including facilitating the Community Golf Coach Program, Coaching Coaches how to conduct age and developmentally appropriate programs and facilitating the “First Tee Level 2” program. He conducted ball striking clinics with Canadian legend Moe Norman over a 16-year span and initiated and conducted clinics for golfers with disabilities and Special Olympians. 

Shauna Wilde 

Shauna is a lifelong golfer and longstanding Class A member of the PGA of Canada. She is thrilled to return to Whistle Bear & the Ontario Golf Academy as the Women’s Development Coach. Shauna most recently spent two seasons as the Head Teaching Professional at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto.  

An accomplished player; is a former Canadian Collegiate National Champion and is an Athletics Hall of Fame inductee at both Humber College and Long Island University. She represented Canada at the World University Games in Thailand. 

When she’s not teaching golf, she’s driving her kids Grace & Luke to their activities and cheering them on like a true sports mom. 

Brett Kudoba

Brett started playing golf at the age of 15 when he joined the Whistle Bear Performance Team. He started to compete in provincial tournaments throughout high school and college. Brett decided to turn his passion into a career by attending Humber College for Professional Golf Management, which led to joining the Whistle Bear team in 2015. He recently graduated from Humber College and is now a PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional. Brett is excited to share his knowledge of Trackman and club technology with the membership and guests.

Brad Larente

Brad has been a PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional since 2014 and was awarded the 2015 Ontario Zone Candidate for Membership Player of the Year. Brad had a very successful competitive career and was previously a nationally and internationally ranked amateur golfer. Brad works closely with his students by sharing his experiences while assisting them in improving their golf game.

Joe Rinker

  • PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional

  • 519-650-2327 ext. 421

Joe has a lifetime of golf knowledge. He is a 4th generation Golf Professional in his family. He had a long and successful playing career including 4 Great Lakes Tour wins, with the first win coming here at Whistle Bear in 2004. Joe travelled throughout North America and Bermuda playing in multiple professional events over the years with great success.

Joe’s specialty is short game. Putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play. He looks forwarded to assisting his students develop a razor sharp short game.

Adam Fritz

  • PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional

Adam Fritz is a PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional, on track to obtain class A by the end of 2024. His passion for the game of golf led him to decide to pursue career opportunities in the golf industry.

Prior to joining the team at Whistle Bear, he worked as a Teaching Professional at Modern Golf and through his own brand Adam Fritz Golf. Adam has a passion for teaching and  helping golfers of all ages and abilities achieve their goals.

Adam has over 15 years of experience in the golf industry which began at Rocky Crest Golf Club and Cherry Downs and he is excited to join the team at Whistle Bear.

Shawn Hilts

  • PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional

Shawn Hilts is an accomplished golf instructor who enjoys teaching all areas of the game at all levels and abilities. He has been a member of the PGA of Canada since 2015 and is a certified club fitter. Shawn has a background in Physiotherapy, and Registered Massage Therapy. He lives in Kitchener with wife Julie, and two daughters Emma and Holly along with their two new family members (12 week old Labrador Retriever puppies) Thor and Loki.

Ben Moser

We welcome Ben Moser back to Whistle Bear Golf Club as the Custom Club Fitting Technician. For several years Ben has led the way in providing customers with the best club fitting experiences possible. He was a member of the Canadian National Junior Team, had a standout career with the University of Houston golf team and is a former Touring professional. The most fulfilling part of his job is ensuring the customer sees improvements in their game in the few hours they spend together. When our clients leave, they will see the differences and be excited about their future in golf.

Luke Moser

  • Club Fitting Technician

Luke is a former NCAA Division I golfer at Troy University in Alabama. Luke has played professional golf since 2018 on the Mackenzie Tour, East Coast Pro Tour, Great Lakes Tour and Toronto Players Tour. His passion, product knowledge and expertise in the golf industry continue to help others better their game through club fitting. 

“As a member of this team, I hope to assist people trying to grow their game by fitting them with equipment that can maximize their potential. With the proper tools, people will continue to be excited about the game we love.”

Ethan Hunt

  • Teaching Professional

Ethan is a PGA of Canada Professional who attended the University of British Columbia, Kelowna campus, on a golf scholarship, where he earned a BA in Psychology. During his final year with the golf team, Ethan was awarded the Leadership and Community Service Award, Most Valuable Player, and earned Academic All-Canadian. 

Ethan began coaching golf in 2020 at the Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna, BC, where he facilitated summer camps, clinics, and development programs. Before joining the Ontario Golf Academy at Whistle Bear, Ethan worked at the Rosedale Golf Club in Toronto, ON for the past two seasons, coaching golfers of all ages and abilities. He is excited to share his passion for the game and help all golfers reach their goals.

Emma Hori

  • Junior Camp Coach

Emma is currently in her second year attending Brock University for sport management. She took up golfing with the junior team in 2019 at Ontario Golf Academy here at Whistle Bear. Emma is excited to help with our junior clinics during the coming summer season and share the love of the game with the younger generations. We are excited to have Emma a part of our Whistle Bear team moving forward.

Brad Mellon

Brad graduated from the Business Administration - Professional Golf Management program at Niagara College in 2016. After graduating he moved into the tournament operations side of the golf industry directing the tour operations for the Canadian Junior Golf Association for 5 years. While with the CJGA, Brad spent time as a nationally certified rules official as well as operating numerous PGA Tour Canada & PGA Tour Champions events. He has spent a lot of time working alongside high level juniors while managing the CJGA Team Canada in their international travels. Brad became a PGA of Canada member in 2021 while working at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.