Geoff Dean

Director of Player Development

Phone: 760.564.3914
Email: [email protected]

Geoff Dean, PGA Director of Player Development has developed his unique ability and skill-set as a golf teacher from 30+ years of playing, competing and teaching. Geoff, a native southern Californian, started playing golf as a junior golfer. In the early days, he and his Dad, Dr. Louis Dean had the great honor to call themselves original PGA WEST members. He attended the University of San Diego, studied business and was the #1 player for the USD Golf team. Geoff graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Geoff began his professional career as a tour player. He learned the art and science of playing and competing from professionals such as JD Sanderson, Paul Runyan, Dave Stockton, Mac O’Grady, and John Geertsen Jr. He competed in hundreds of professional golf events in North America. Notables were on the The Nike Tour (what is now the Korn Ferry Tour), The Canadian PGA Tour, The Mexican PGA Tour and the PGA Tour of America. After developing as a touring professional, Geoff decided to move his career in a different direction. In 1994, he began teaching at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort, in Palm Springs, California, an Arnold Palmer managed facility. As part of the Arnold Palmer team, Geoff had the fortune of spending time with Brad Brewer, PGA Director of the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. Geoff served as the Director of Instruction for Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort for four years. In that time, he successfully established the Arnold Palmer Player Development Program – a comprehensive program designed to teach all ages and abilities. On a parallel time frame, Geoff entered the GPTP - The Golf Professional Training Program of the PGA of America. Upon successful graduation, Geoff earned full PGA membership in 1999. Geoff never lost his love for competition and in 2003, he won the Southern California PGA Section Championship and earned 3 PGA Tour exemptions. He competed in the 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hosted at PGA WEST, The Buick Open of San Diego and the 2004 & 2007 Nissan Open, in Los Angeles CA. He also competed in the 2004, 2010 and 2019 PGA National Club Professional Championship. Adding to his professional experience in 2008, Geoff turned toward media correspondence. He became a featured columnist for Golf News Magazine, and the television host of “Inside Valley Golf," a golf lifestyles segment airing in the Sunday Night Newscast for our local KMIR 6 News. In 2011, Geoff was recruited by the Sunrise Golf Group for a role in club management. He served a dual role at Escena Golf Club in Palm Springs as the Director of Sales & Marketing and the Director of Instruction. Upon establishing a well-founded sales and instruction program, Geoff refocused his career on teaching exclusively and joined the PGA WEST Golf Academy as a Lead Instructor in 2013. After returning home to PGA WEST, Geoff developed a new curriculum which focused on providing exceptional golf instruction which evolved into the Player Development Program. This program has not only been successful in helping members and guests, but it’s also been a great training ground for our staff of professional teachers. Today, the PDP provides our Golf 101 Clinic Series, customized private lessons, junior golf programs and special instruction events. The PDP is great for any golfer at any skill level. Geoff’s teaching and developed programs have been recognized by the Southern California PGA and the Desert PGA whereby he was awarded the 2016 Southern California PGA Player Development Award, and the 2016 and 2021 Desert PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year. Today, you can find Geoff at the Private Practice facility giving a lesson or clinic or telling a golf story or two. If you’d like to set up a golf lesson or have any questions about the Player Development Program, please contact Geoff at [email protected].