The Miami Lakes Golf Club has a new head golf professional who will share his knowledge with readers of the monthly Tee to Green column, too.
Mike Stern, 35, was a teen competitor at Killian High, a golfer on scholarship at the University of Central Florida and a professional on mini-tours and at PGA Latin America tournaments.
It’s all experience that he can draw from and share with members and visitors to the landmark club that opened in 1965.
“I keep it pretty simple,” Stern said about his teaching style. “There is a lot of information out there that you can find, and some of it can be a little confusing and contradicting. What works for one student may not work for another.”
Stern is a grandson of the late Charlie DeLucca, the first golf pro at the course who led First Tee Miami at Melreese Country Club in Miami, and is a nephew of Charlie DeLucca III, who runs the First Tee program and golf operations at the Miami Lakes Golf Club.
Stern lives in downtown Miami with his wife Megan Pak and their baby, Michael, 6 months, known as MJ.
Teaching is just one of his duties.
“I oversee the membership, 95 golfers and their events, and anything they need,” Stern said. “I also handle day-to-day operations. I teach mostly adults, recreational players to good players who are at an amateur level who might play tournaments, and some juniors who play competitively.”
He said one of his strengths as an instructor is to “do lessons where we’re on the range doing full swing stuff, short games and playing lessons and working on strategy.
“I played golf at every level, I know what it looks like to get there, what it takes to get there,” Stern said.
“I was fortunate to be involved and around my family who helped me learn the game,” Stern said. “I can use those experiences to help people and share with students and help them get to their goals.”
Golfers can reach Stern to arrange lessons with him or other teaching professionals on staff, at MikeS@miamilakesgolf.com.