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Aviara Golf Staff

For clinics and private lesson inquiries, please call 760.603.6900

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Philip White - Assistant Golf Professional

Philip is a seasoned golf professional with over 22 years of experience in the industry. Growing up in Escondido, California, he was a talented athlete excelling in both water polo and springboard diving during his time in college. Despite his love for these sports, Philip’s true passion has always been golf, and he dedicated himself to becoming an expert in the game establishing himself as a PGA member in 1999.

Philip has spent the majority of his career working as the Head Pro and Director of Instruction at Vineyard Golf Course, where he has gained a reputation for his exceptional teaching skills and knowledge of the game. In his time at Vineyard Golf Course, Philip has worked with golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned pros. He is known for his patient and thorough approach to instruction and has helped countless golfers improve their swing and lower their scores. He is highly respected by his colleagues and is known for his strong leadership skills and ability to create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for golfers.

In addition to his work as a golf professional, Philip has a number of hobbies and interests outside of golf. He enjoys officiating high school and college sports, particularly baseball and water polo. He also values spending time with his family and loves visiting the beach in his free time. Overall, Philip is a well-rounded individual who is dedicated to both his work and his personal passions.

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Chandler Crutchfield - Assistant Golf Professional

Born and raised in San Clemente, California, Chandler first started playing golf at the age of 12. Joining summer junior camps at San Clemente Muni and playing for quarters with the other kids are one of his favorite memories growing up. Chandler played competitively through high school and continued into his college years playing for two years at Saddleback Community College. In 2018 he moved South to Carlsbad and worked with his father in the family produce business at La Costa Farms. In 2020 golf came calling again and Chandler started his career in golf as an Assistant Professional at St. Marks Golf Course. and in 2022, Chandler became an Assistant Professional here at Aviara.

Chandler has been involved in the PGA program and enjoys teaching all skill levels to help improve players abilities and skills. He brings a positive and fun environment for all his students when teaching the mechanics of the golf swing. He also continues to learn and grow while working at Aviara around his knowledgable colleagues.

Straying away from golf, Chandler enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and skimboarding at the local beaches in San Diego if he is not getting in “a quick nine”. Chandler’s favorite hole at Aviara is #14, as it is the longest par 3 on the course and has a large body of water that guards the front of the green, making for a fair but long and challenging tee shot.

Dominic

Dominic Rivera - 2nd Assistant & Tournament Coordinator

Born at Camp Pendleton and raised right here in Carlsbad, Dominic has been a fixture around the resort since 1999, where he has held various roles, including supervisor positions at the front office, safety and security, food and beverage, and concierge.

In 2020, as a member of the Hotel Concierge team, Dominic was tapped to temporarily assist at the golf pro shop while Park Hyatt Aviara was undergoing renovation. Little did anyone know that this would be the start of his career at Aviara Golf Club.

Present day, Dom is an avid golf enthusiast who you’ll regularly see practicing at the driving range or putting green during his lunch break. While not here at Aviara enjoying golf life, Dominic enjoys the beach life and spending time with his lab and pit mix, Biscuit. Dominic’s favorite hole at Aviara is #7 for its scenic panoramic view. Dom enjoys providing instruction to beginner and junior golfers.

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Cesar Hernandez - 1st Assistant & Tournament Director

As a San Diego native, Cesar has always enjoyed coaching. He spent 20 years as a competitive soccer coach before turning his passion into golf instruction. Cesar graduated from the Golf Academy of America San Diego with an Applied Business in Golf Complex Operations and Management degree. 

Cesar brings a variety of experience of coaching and golf retail before joining the Aviara team in 2017 as Assistant Professional and promoted to 1st Assistant in 2019. As an instructor, Cesar has a passion for engaging others into the game of golf and enjoys seeing students learn and practice their skills on the course. Cesar’s favorite hole at Aviara is the par 3 Hole #14, playing from the back tees at 201 yards with water in play will always make an interesting decision of club selection. Maybe #14 will be where he makes his first hole-in-one!

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Steve Shumaker - Membership & Golf Sales Director

From Cleveland, Ohio, Steve was introduced to the game of golf by his father at age 12. He continued his passion for the sport and later attended Kent State University majoring in Tourism Management. With his degree in tourism, this naturally paved the way for him to head to sunny San Diego, specifically Carlsbad, the “Golf Manufacturing Capital of the World.” Being in a city surrounded with golf, Steve was drawn back to the sport of golf and furthered his education at the Golf Academy of America. Upon graduation he began his career at Fujikura Golf as a custom club builder. In 2013 he joined the Aviara Golf Club as an Assistant Golf Professional and after two years launched the club’s membership program and was promoted to be the club’s first Membership & Golf Sales Director.

Steve’s favorite hole to play with prospective members is Aviara’s #8 because he made a Double Eagle on July 26, 2014. His favorite thing about golf is that it is played in beautiful places with friends, and can be very casual or very competitive. Steve has yet to make a hole-in-one but that day is on the horizon.

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Johnny Walker - Head Golf Professional

Born in London, England, Johnny learned the game of golf from his father at the young age of 5. After moving to the San Diego area and graduating from the San Diego Golf Academy in 2003, he began his career at Eagle Crest Golf Club as an assistant golf professional. In 2005 he joined the team at Aviara Golf Club and is currently our Head Golf Professional.

Prior to his golf career, Johnny served in the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Technician. He is an avid volleyball fan and has coached the sport for 30 years.

When asked what his favorite hole at Aviara is, Johnny say’s “Hole number one, because it has trees named after me.” Hand-in-hand with that comment, his favorite thing about the sport is that it is one of the most frustrating and satisfying things you could ever do. Johnny has 6 hole-in-one’s including one here at Aviara is on the third hole.

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Franco De Jesus - Assistant Superintendent

Franco was born in Oaxaca, Mexico and holds the title as the longest employed associate at Aviara Golf Club. The course was still under construction when he was hired in 1990. After completing his Golf Course & Turf Management Certificate at Mira Costa College, Franco was hired at La Costa Resort before moving to the newly constructed Aviara Golf Club. Only after being hired at Aviara did he learn how to play golf! His favorite hole is #3 because of it’s beauty and he warns that you can easily be distracted by the water features and flowering plants. While no hole-in-ones have come his way yet, he knows it is bound to happen. Until then he will enjoy his favorite thing about the game of golf – being in nature.

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Kevin Kienast - Grounds Superintendent

Born in Lansing, Michigan and raised in the state of Washington, Kevin’s passion for golf began as a teenager at the local municipal golf course. While attending Western Washington University, he played two years of football as a fullback and earned his degree in Business Management. Kevin has a diverse background in golf resorts including, Omni Tucson National Resort, Pala Mesa Resort and Morgan Run. He joined Aviara Golf Club as Golf and Grounds Superintendent in 2003 and is an integral part of the golf experience at Aviara.

Kevin’s position enables him to enjoy his primary passion on a day-to-day basis and affords him the opportunity to have a significant and enduring impact at the Aviara Golf Club. His favorite hole at Aviara is #11, the most picturesque from the tee and a great par 3. So far Kevin has made two hole-in-ones in his lifetime, one of which is hole #3 at Aviara. Still, his favorite thing about golf is spending good times with his friends.

Renny

Renny Brown - Director of Golf

A San Diego native, Renny has always been around the game of golf thanks to his dad. At 12 years old he spent the summer caddying for his dad and friends at Singing Hills Resort (now Sycuan). After carrying the bag for 18 holes he was rewarded with a Coke and $7. After graduation from SDSU with a degree in Economics in 1994, Renny became an Assistant Golf Professional at Singing Hills and three years later moved up the coast to Aviara Golf Club in the same capacity. He earned his PGA Membership in 1998. Beginning his journey at Aviara in 1997, Renny is now the Director of Golf. His favorite hole is #18, a par 4 that requires you to hit two really good shots, and in his opinion has to be one of the best finishing holes in Southern California. Once upon a time Renny had a great month, getting two hole-in-ones within three weeks of each other. Renny has a total of 4 career hole in one’s, but still needs four more to catch up to his dad! Until then Renny enjoys the sport of golf for the challenge. He says that golf is one of the only games that you can play and enjoy by yourself. It is always fun to play with others, however there aren’t too many sports that you can play by yourself and still feel challenged each time you play.

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