Our PGA Professionals Staff is trained and certified in golf instruction that will improve your golf game! The Makefield Highland’s PGA Pros will help you get your game to the next level.
Makefield Highlands Golf Club feature on InsideGolfTV, August 2015
Ed Gibson
PGA General Manager
Ed has over 16 years of teaching experience and is a PGA certified Professional as of 2002.
Ed Gibson is the active Director of Instruction at Makefield Highlands Golf Club. Prior to Makefield Ed was the Head Golf Professional at Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern, PA.
Ed was named the Philadelphia PGA Section “Assistant Professional of the Year” in 2007, and was also named one of the Top 25 Golf Instructors, in Philadelphia Magazine, May 2008. Ed has served as the President of the Philadelphia Assistants Organization, and currently on both the Philadelphia PGA Growth of the Game Committee, and Membership / Mentor Committee since 2007. Ed was a nominee for the 2010 and 2011 Philadelphia PGA Teacher of the Year and Junior Golf Leader, and was also named 2011 and 2012 US Kids Top 50 Honorable Mention.
Ed was the winner of the 2004 Philadelphia Pro-Scratch Tour Event, and also has placed Top 10 in the Haverford Trust Philadelphia PGA Section Event in 2012 and was a 2012 Teacher of the Year nominee. Most recently, Ed was awarded the 2015 Philadelphia PGA Youth Player Development Award.
Ed Gibson is very involved in PGA Growth of the Game program which is the core foundation for Spirit Golf Management: “Growing One Club at a Time.” Ed believes strongly in the program in order to keep building the game, helping students improve and want to play more golf!
David C. Smith, Jr.
PGA Director of Golf
A Philadelphia native with over 20 years’ golf industry experience, David graduated from Methodist University in 1993 with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrated in Professional Golf Management. Earning his PGA membership in 1997 and becoming a Certified PGA Professional in General Management 2014, his expertise in golf swing knowledge comes from extensive reading, classroom training, and thousands of hours in practical lesson tee experience.
Having worked at golf facilities such as Bala Golf Club, Atlantic City CC, Cape May National GC, and Yardley CC, David joins our team from his most recent dual position as The Director of Golf at Walnut Lane Golf Club and Site Director for The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. During his tenure, he built a startup youth development program which currently facilitates 2500 juniors to learn the game of golf annually.
In 2012, David was awarded PGA Section Presidents Plaque for Player Development and sits on the Junior Golf Committee for the Philadelphia Section.
Joe Garstka
Assistant Golf Professional & Junior Golf Coordinator
Joe Garstka comes to Makefield Highlands from First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.
As a coach, science of golf instructor, and outreach manager with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, Joe has worked in the golf business for 5 years. He has an extensive background working with youth education and development for over 14 years. He holds a Masters in Elementary Education from Holy Family University and has worked as a second grade, sixth grade, and music teacher.
Currently, Joe is working on completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in assessment and student engagement. In addition, he is continuing his golf education to become a certified PGA Professional.
Howard Hirsch
PGA Teaching / Playing Professional
Howie is a Lifetime Member of the PGA and brings a wealth of experience to the Golf Academy. He has worked as Head Golf Professional for Frenchman’s Creek Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Hidden Springs Golf Club (now Commonwealth National) in Horsham, PA; and as Director of Instruction at Marriott’s Sea View Golf Resort. Some of Howie’s career highlights include playing on the Canadian PGA Tour from 1977–1980. Howie’s passion for golf and his family has never wavered – he believes that any day on the links is a great one!
Makefield Highlands feature in Golf Business Magazine, May 2016
“Makefield Highlands, an 18-hole, links-style public facility located on the state’s eastern flank by the Delaware River, may be an anomaly in that it is so busy. But that success is no accident. Instead, in an age of sleek slogans where the promise often exceeds the product, it suggests that Makefield Highlands is actually honoring its pledge of ‘redefining public golf.’”
Makefield Highlands Golf Club feature on InsideGolfTV, June 2014
Makefield Highlands Golf Club feature on InsideGolfTV, April 2012
