GOLF PROFESSIONALS
MEET THE PROS
No matter your level of play, you can always improve. At Crystal Mountain, our golf professionals know what it takes to play your best. We use video and TrackMan technology and dedicated, tailored instruction from some of the best Class A golf professionals in the country to give you customized lessons that will help you score lower, play consistently better and achieve your goals on the golf course.
GREG BABINEC, PGA HEAD PROFESSIONAL
Greg Babinec earned professional status in 1984 and has been sharing his knowledge of the game with students across the country ever since. He began his career at Ferris State University teaching numerous junior and adult golf camps and went on to become the Director of Instruction for Japanese Golf at Ferris. Under his leadership, several students in this program returned to Japan to compete on the
women’s tour or who remained in the United States to become members of the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA). Greg also spent three years teaching at Saticoy Country Club in southern
California.
“The best part about teaching for me is when a student has that ‘aha!’ moment with their swing – whether it’s a minor tweak or starting from scratch, it’s always rewarding to show someone something new to try.”
A member of the PGA since 1988, Greg is also on the board of directors for the Michigan Section PGA. He was named PGA Professional of the Year for northern Michigan in 1992, Michigan’s Merchandiser of the Year in 2008 and Michigan PGA Professional of the Year in 2018.
Those who work with Greg will learn to enjoy the game of golf through small tweaks, precise instruction and a true love of the game.
Prior to joining the Crystal Mountain team in 2012, Greg spent 11 years working at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club where he served as Head Professional and Director of Golf.
Brandon Dean, Assistant Golf Professional
Brandon is a class A PGA Golf Professional elected in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree from Ferris State University in Professional Golf Management. He was named the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year in the Northern Michigan PGA Chapter. He has
continued success in his career, winning the 2021 Michigan Section PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. Brandon currently serves on Michigan PGA Tournament Committee.
In the last several years, Brandon has developed a strong passion for golf instruction. As an instructor, he focuses on finding the strengths of each student and utilizes custom techniques to build on that student’s potential.
While attending Ferris State, he studied golf abroad in Scotland learning about the history and culture of the game. He brings knowledge of our new Trackman product from the years studied at Ferris State.
“Each student has their own unique swing, so to be able to utilize high tech tools like the
Trackman to really break down a student’s swing is a game changer. Golf is a challenging game for anyone, but I really enjoy teaching someone something new they can immediately go out and try on the course.”
Prior to joining the Crystal Mountain team, Brandon was the Assistant Golf Professional at
Royal Wellington Golf Club, the host site for the 2017 Asia Pacific Amateur Championships in
New Zealand.
Brandon has been in the golf Industry for 10 years and is excited to continue his career at another pinnacle facility.