Golf Instruction

La Cantera Golf

The Course

La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas features a variety of golf lessons and instructional programs designed to help you elevate your game. Step into our learning center and take advantage of the spacious grass hitting area for both long and short game work.  Instruction will include consultation, practice plan, camera analysis and flight scope data.

Individual Golf Instruction

Half-day golf school

The Half‐day Golf School is the perfect way to improve your game. This program features up to 3 hours of group instruction (up to 5:1 student ratio) covering the full swing and chipping. We guarantee results. $199.00 per person. Advanced reservations required.

Ultimate one-day experience

Our most popular training program. It includes 3 hours of group instruction (up to 5:1 student ratio) covering full swing and short game, video swing analysis and a round of golf at LaCantera Golf Club. $299.00 per person. Advanced reservations required. Golf schools for 1 person are available but time is 2.0 hours due to focused attention.
Two‐ and Three‐day Comprehensive Golf Schools are designed to not only introduce you to golf fundamentals but to help you perfect them through instructor supervised, structured practice. Our professionals will help you master the full swing, short game, mental game and course management skills that will make you a better player. Schools include: 3 hours of group instruction (up to 5:1 student ratio) each day, video swing analysis and a round of golf at La Cantera Golf Club each day. For details, please contact the academy. $299.00 per person per day. Advance reservation required. Available for 1 person but time is limited to 2.0 hours per day to focused attention.

Private Golf Lessons

Private Golf Lessons are available by appointment. Our staff of PGA Certified Teaching Professionals combines video analysis with simple, proven teaching techniques. Junior golfers receive a 25% discount. Prices vary by instructor. Please note, a minimum of two students is required for schools. In the event that only one student is enrolled, instruction time becomes half of the regular number of hours.

Corporate Programs

Groups of 4 to 40:

One hour clinic designed to cover basic full swing principles. This program may be used as a spouse activity or for free time during corporate meetings. Two-hour clinic includes basic full swing principles and a putting/chipping segment.

Groups of 9 to 80:

Three-hour team building clinic provides guest with basic golf instruction for both beginners and experienced golfers. At the conclusion, participants are divided into team to compete in a short game team challenge on a 4-hole course. Each hole offers different challenges that force players to work as a team to solve problems and be creative.

Please email mvardeman@troon.com for more information.

Corporate Ultimate One-Day Experience, 3 – Hour Golf School Covering:

Full swing

Short game

18 holes of golf at La Cantera Golf Club

4-16 people: Please inquire for more information

16 or more: Please inquire for more information

To learn more, contact us at (210) 558-4653 or (800) 446-5387.

Director of Instruction

Meet Mike Vardeman

Mike Vardeman was born in Clovis, New Mexico in July of 1962. He began playing golf at the age of five and had a very successful junior golf career. In high school, Mike was district medalist three times, named to the New Mexico All State Team three times, and tied for medalist honors his senior year. In 1980, He received a golf scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University in Portales where he played four years of college golf while studying business and physical education.

In 1985, Mike moved to Dallas, Texas to work at the TPC Course home of the Byron Nelson PGA Golf Tournament. For six years he organized and led teaching operations of the junior golf programs as well as ladies and men’s clinics. Mike gained a great deal of knowledge and experience from such instructors as Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi, Bob Toski, Mike Dunaway, and Dr. Gary Wiren.

Mike moved to Austin, Texas in 1992 to help start the Harvey Penick Golf Academy as the Head Instructor under Bryan Gathright (recognized as Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Instructor’s). Mike also gained a great deal of invaluable teaching experience under the guidance of Harvey Penick. At Golfsmith, Mike also taught the Advanced Club Fitting Schools as the Head Instructor under the direction of Tom Wishon, world renowned golf club fitting and design expert. Mike specialized in “Teaching the Golf Swing as it Relates to Clubfitting.”

In 1996, Mike moved to San Antonio Texas to begin operations at The Academy at La Cantera, at that time, the home of the Valero Texas Open. As the Head Instructor from 1996 to 2006 at the Academy at La Cantera, Mike was also Head Instructor for Golf Digest Schools for five years. Mike was honored to spend time with the great instructors of the game; Tim Mahoney, Mike LaBauve, and Gale Peterson (all Golf Digest Top 100 Teachers).

In 2007 Mike was named Director of Instruction of The Golf Academy at La Cantera where he now teaches private lessons, golf clinics, team building and corporate clinics, as well as performs club fitting with Callaway and Titleist. In 2008 Mike received the Southern Texas Harvey Penick teacher of the year award. Mike has written articles for Golf Digest, Asian Golf Magazine, Texas Golfer and other magazines. Mike also did golf tips for local TV KENS and cohosted a Radio Golf morning show on the Ticket 760. Mike is a PGA member who loves to stay active and spend time with his family.

In 2007, Mike was named in the Golf Digest instructor rankings for Texas at #17!