Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe McNeil.
Hi Joe, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began my golf teaching career in 2003 on 6 acres in Indiana where I had a bunker, putting green, and 150-yard driving range. I had a reputation as a good golfer, and everyone knew I was obsessed with the game so I had parents bringing their kids to me and adults in my church coming out to my property for help with their game. I was a pretty good amateur player in my small town and I played in Indiana PGA Section events, qualifying for the Amateur Championship 3 years in a row. I played against PGA Tour players, Tyler Duncan and Adam Schenk which made it apparent I was not going to be good enough to play for a living so I shifted my focus to my teaching career. I moved to San Antonio at the end of 2015 to take a job with the Joe Caruso Golf Academy as the lead instructor under Joe Caruso.
At the start of 2016, I formed Joe McNeil Golf which operated at the Joe Caruso Golf Academy on Blanco Road in North San Antonio until July 31 st 2019. During my time at the Joe Caruso Golf Academy, I was in charge of all junior camps, weekly junior groups, and coordinating USA Junior Team practices. I had 120+ kids through summer camps every year for 4 years, my junior groups were the largest in San Antonio at the time with 70 kids on a weekly basis. I also taught 1000+ private lessons each year. I learned how to structure and run a Golf Academy during this time which was extremely important to my career as a Golf Instructor and Academy Owner. I also worked in club fitting for my customers, this would include analyzing their current equipment with a Trackman Radar session and then fitting them for new equipment where I could optimize spin, dispersion, launch angle, and distance.
In 2019, I was approached by a golf course on the west side of San Antonio and asked if I would come in and handle all instruction at their facility. At the time they had no one teaching, no camps, clinics, or anything of the sort. As this was a good 45-50 minute drive from the Joe Caruso Golf Academy, I would essentially be starting from scratch building a program from the ground up. I consulted with some older instructor mentors who both advised me not to do it as several had tried at that location in the past and had pulled up shop because of the lack of business.
I disagreed with both of them and on August 1 st Joe McNeil Golf officially opened on the west side of San Antonio. It was very difficult at first as I had to handle all of my own marketing, and some of the staff were not happy with the changes.
However, I started kids group classes and had 12 the first month, it continued to grow every month, and by
October 2021 I had 90 kids in weekly classes, by far the largest junior groups in the city of San Antonio. I offered adult group classes as well which were very popular with 10-12 adults signing up each time for a 6-week
program. I even ended up winning nationally a Top 50 Instructor award from US Kids in 2021. Over the course of time, the GM at the golf course I was located at was replaced and the new GM saw our program and revenue and wanted to keep it in-house.
Additionally, the programs were too big for the facility at the golf course which caused complaints for day-use guests. After much discussion, there was not going to be a resolution that benefited both sides. At this time I began searching for land to build my own private Academy and I joined up with Scott and Wade Fieber and moved the business to Lacoste, Texas in January 2022 with the plan of building out a full Academy on 20 acres that we purchased.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been difficult. Moving my family 1100 miles from Indiana to San Antonio in December 2015 was extremely challenging, we did not know anyone and we were starting from scratch. Moving from the Joe Caruso Academy in 2019 and a business where I had built up a sizeable base to a facility where I would be tasked with building up the instruction program was incredibly challenging, especially when you do not have a fallback job, this was success or failure.
The reason I did this was the potential payoff of having my own Academy. Not only did I have to handle all my own marketing where I was essentially unknown, but I also had to overcome staff at the golf course that was constantly trying to sabotage my business and a golf course that was poorly run and kept in very poor condition.
As you know, we’re big fans of Joe McNeil Golf. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a Top 50 Golf Instructor and I have weekly kid classes I also offer one on one private lessons, in-person and also virtual. I offer club-fitting and sell Mizuno golf clubs. I have 6 kids myself, 2 of which are in college, they all play golf and the older ones help teach our classes.
I am constantly learning, I read a lot of books about golf instruction, personal growth and development, and achievement. I am a very competitive person and I am always striving to be better, learn more and win. I am FlightScope certified, Swing Catalyst Certified, Top 50 Instructor by US Kids and I am a John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Coach.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the people, I have met so many incredible people who have opened doors and supported my business. I would not have made it if it wasn’t for all the great people, people like Joe Caruso, Bryan Gathright, Bill Rogers, Jim Barker, Bruce Haddad, and Bob Mahan.
These people have been so generous with their time and contributed to my success and for that, I am extremely grateful. I also love the Tacos!! We did not have breakfast tacos in Indiana and it was a totally new experience I do not think I could live without them, lol. What I like least are the Allergies and Traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joemcneilgolf.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joemcneilgolf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joemcneilgolf
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC–3wmPd9jIXPNlAnwdVTDg/
