About Us
 
Our Teaching Philosophy
McCord Academy Golf Professional Team

The McCord Golf Academy teaching philosophy is to make our students aware of what is truly "Fundamental" in the golf swing and what is not. Understanding what you need to do with the club to create the desired golf shot is the only true fundamental of the golf swing. All the feels and so called "body positions" you experience are born out of what you do with the club in your attempt to hit a golf ball.

The golf swing is a rhythmical motion of the club and body. The body's response to the motion of the club is a subconscious reaction.

Understanding and experiencing this will make you realize that consciously focusing on positions of the body during the swing will adversely affect the rhythm of the swing resulting in less than desired results. The biggest obstacle we have to overcome in allowing the club to travel in the direction necessary to achieve success is the body itself. Preconceived suggestions of how to position or hold body parts as you swing the club cripples your ability to carry out the task. Once you grasp the image of allowing your body to move the amount needed to accommodate the necessary path and position the club travels you will experience what is "Fundamental" to a well struck golf shot with any club in you bag.

Rick McCord Director of Instruction
Rick McCord
Windermere,FL
rmccord@orangelake.com

About Rick McCord:
Rick McCord has been golf professional for 38 years and is a member of the North Florida section of the Professional Golfer's Association of America. Rick has been Orange Lake's Golf Director and the Director of The McCord Golf Academy at Orange Lake for over 29 years since its inception in 1982. In that time, he has conducted a number of private lessons, clinics, and golf schools for the owners and guests of Orange Lake. He was hired by Holiday Inn and Orange Lake founder Kemmons Wilson to coordinate and build the original 27-hole resort golf course and direct the golf operation; which has presently grown to a 54-hole golf destination resort.

McCord is widely recognized for his reputation as a golf instructor. In 1991, he was recognized as Golf Magazine's original "Top 100" Teacher in America list and has been a fixture on that list every year since. Golf Digest magazine also recognizes him on their best teachers list. He has also been distinguished as North Florida PGA's Teacher of the Year three times. Rick has directed and recorded numerous instructional videos, appeared on the Golf Channel Academy Live show and has been featured in a weekly instructional series by the Japanese television network NHK reaching over a million Japanese households.

The Swing's the Thing golf show has been conducted every week at Orange Lake Resort since its inception. The complimentary golf show is an entertaining exhibition with an instructional theme performed by the The McCord Golf Academy instructional staff. Rick has been recruited to teach, conduct golf schools and lecture on his teaching philosophy throughout the world. During the summer season, for the past thirteen years, he has served as the Director of Instruction at Canterbury Golf Club and Barrington Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio.  

"It is our intention to provide students with the technique and skills they need to improve their golf performance. Providing excellence in golf instruction to the students at The McCord Golf Academy has been a commitment and passion of mine since the inception of The Academy in 1982. The McCord Golf Academy at Orange Lake is a state-of-the-art teaching facility designed to preserve that vision. Whether you'd like to learn the game or develop skills that will take your game to the next level, we have an instructional opportunity for you. We're here to get you on course and to have some fun in the process. Just choose the clinic or private instruction lesson that's right for you, and you'll be on your way to discovering your true potential!"   

 
Rick McCord Director of Instruction
Rick McCord
Windermere, FL
rmccord@orangelake.com
Jason Kuiper Senior Teaching Professional
Jason Kuiper
Mt. Bethel, PA
jkuiper@orangelake.com
Max Frey Certified Teaching Professional
Max Frey
Dayton, OH
mfrey@orangelake.com
Rico Riciputi

Certified Teaching Professional
Rico Riciputi
Somersworth, NH

mriciputi@orangelake.com

Bryan Myrick Certified Teaching Professional
Jordan Lazenby
Casselberry, FL
jlazenby@orangelake.com

Bryan Myrick Senior Teaching Professional
Brian Myrick
Evansville, IN
bmyrick@orangelake.com

Jason Reddington Senior Teaching Professional
Jason Reddington
Sandusky, OH
jreddington@orangelake.com
Dick Farley Head Teaching Professional Emeritus (Seasonal)
Dick Farley
Sciota, PA
dickfarley@yahoo.com