Barry Walters, PGA

Barry Walters joined The Clubs at St. James in 2000. Originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Barry is the Head PGA Golf Professional at the Reserve Club. Barry manages day-to-day golf operations at the Reserve Club, coordinates with outside guests regarding their daily policies and procedures and works closely with the golf professionals and golf shop sales attendants.

He came to St. James in 2000 when the community’s ownership group brought in the Jimmy Ballard Swing Connection Golf School to enhance the membership’s instruction experience.

Prior to joining The Clubs at St. James staff, he served as an instructor with the Colbert-Ballard Golf Learning Centers founded in 1994 by PGA Tour Professional, Jim Colbert and legendary instructor Jimmy Ballard. He served as a traveling instructor with the company, with stops in metro-Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa. Barry developed the CBGLC instructor certification program accredited by the PGA of America.

Barry developed a passion for teaching while at Ferris State University, where he majored in the PGA of America’s first Professional Golf Management program and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business Marketing in 1980. “My philosophy as an instructor is to teach students the ability to self-diagnose and self-correct their own individual swing.” “I have a student understand how a club’s path and face angle affect the flight of a golf ball. From there, the student only has to be mindful of three fundamentals to correct poor shot making even while on the course.” “I use a hands-on approach to build a relationship with my students to produce positive results.” “We start with a solid understanding of the set-up fundamentals and golf’s master fundamental ‘Connection’ and progress to developing a swing that they can consistently repeat.” Barry has been honored with the recognition by Golf Digest magazine in its selection of Best Teachers State by State 2013-2014.

On his days off, you can find Barry exploring the local cultures of Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, and Wilmington.

For more information on private lessons and classes to enhance your golf game, contact Barry.