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About Tom
Tommy O'Brien Jr. is the PGA Director of Instruction at BlackHawk Country Club in Richmond, Texas, and the seasonal Director of Instruction at Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course in Montauk, New York.
Tommy has been teaching professionally since 1999 and a member of the Professional Golfer’s Association since 2003. He was also a walk-on member of the Sam Houston State Men’s golf team from 1997 to 1999. In 2018 he was the Southern Texas PGA Eastern Chapter Teacher of the Year.
Tommy’s passion for teaching came about while watching top end instructors Hank Haney, Jim Murphy, and Jim Hardy at his home club (Sweetwater Country Club) as an adolescent in the 1980’s and 1990’s. His time as a walk on member of Sam Houston State’s men’s golf team also sparked his passion for teaching as his higher ranked teammates would ask him for help with their own games and it consequentially led to multiple Division I golf wins by those teammates he helped.
To further himself as an instructor and in an effort to “never stop seeking the truth” Tommy initially began his golf knowledge under the guidance of GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 instructor Jim Murphy as a PGA apprentice. From that relationship Tommy then had access to World Golf Hall of Fame instructor Jim Hardy which gave him access to Jim’s wealth of knowledge and Jim's stable of PGA Tour students which was truly a divine blessing for his golf knowledge as a whole. “Jim Hardy truly taught me how to properly diagnose and analyze any golf swing on the planet” says O’Brien. Tommy also received access to another World Golf Hall of Fame Instructor, Chuck Cook. Chuck’s lifelong teaching experiences (particularly with Ben Hogan) have been invaluable in furthering O’Brien’s teaching prowess.
To make himself well rounded in the entire game of golf O’Brien sought out Golf Digest Top 50 instructor Stan Utley in 2005 to better understand short game techniques that gave Utley the ability to play on the PGA Tour for years and to achieve a record on the PGA tour (Six putts for Nine holes of golf at the Air Canadian Open in 2002). OBrien has regularly done short game schools with Utley at Black Hawk Country Club and Shady Oaks Country Club since 2020.
To further his knowledge of putting instruction OBrien has been a Level IV certified instructor with AimPoint Golf since 2009 regularly doing clinics with Mark Sweeney who invented the highly sought after green reading method. O’Brien with this knowledge helped junior golfer Asher Vargas improve his ranking in the AJGA Rolex rankings from the 120’s to the top 10 in a year and a half’s time. Vargas also two won two AJGA events and finished 2nd at the 2024 Junior PGA championship at Congressional C.C. in this time frame.
O’Brien sought out top golf course management instructor Scott Fawcett and his Decade Golf system that helps players with a quantitative way of picking high percentage targets on the golf course to help lower scores. In addition to Decade Golf OBrien has conducted multiple college golf camps in Houston with 2021 Division I college golf coach of the year (and former teammate at Sam Houston State) Brandt Kieschnick which gave him an even better understanding of golf course management strategies used by high end Division I golf programs.
Clientele
Tom gives lessons to all levels of golfers over all aspects of the game. His experience with some of golf's finest instructors and players his given him the ability to help anyone from a touring professional to an outright beginner.
Certifications
AimPoint Golf Level IV
Sport Box AI Level I
TrackMan Level II
Swing Catalyst Level II
Orange Whip Golf Fitness X Certified
Plane Truth Golf Level II
References
Jim Hardy - World Golf Hall of Fame Instructor
"I have known and worked with Tommy for nearly 16 years. He is a warm, friendly and generous man who happens to also be a gifted and talented instructor. Any one lucky enough to have a lesson with him will benefit from it and be an improved golfer as a result."
Olin Browne - Champions Tour
"Since I began working with Jim Hardy 17 years ago I have come to know Tom. He's a fine gentlemen with a keen eye for golf. His knowledge of the swing and his ability to interact with his students makes him an ideal instructor. Tom has an easy manner and teacher's spirit. Like any seeker of "the truth, " he has spent the better part of his adult life learning about this, the greatest game, and he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge along the way. His understanding of the swing and exposure to playing professionals gives him particular insight into the mechanics of, not only the golf swing, but, how to play the game. That kind of knowledge is unique. Great teachers have that intimate understanding of our game, but they also must be able to communicate to their students. There is Tom in a nushell."
Stan Utley - Champions Tour
Tommy has a knack for helping his students rapidly improve their skill set, thanks to his ability to quickly understand and coach their needs. His genuine, warm style immediately puts students at ease and in the right mindset to receive his instruction. Tommy constantly seeks to improve as a coach and instructor by gathering information from other teachers to broaden his knowledge base. This is a rare quality that greatly benefits his own students - Stan
Mark Sweeney - AimPoint Golf
Tommy was one of my first certified instructors and has continually shown his enthusiasm and understanding of teaching green reading and has helped grow the game for golfers of ALL levels. He has continually throughout my relationship with him exhibited the finest qualities of a PGA professional and I have received nothing but positive and exemplary testimonials from his students.
Hank Haney - World Golf Hall of Fame Instructor
I have known Tom O’Brien Jr. since he was a youngster and I was the Director of Golf at Sweetwater Country Club back in the mid 80’s. One of the most rewarding parts of being a PGA golf professional for me is feeling like you have had a positive influence on other golf professionals and Tom is one of those professionals that I am very proud of. Over the years I have seen many talented and passionate PGA golf professionals whose true passion is teaching the game of golf. Tom is without a doubt one of those professionals. His passion and love for teaching golf is undeniable and he is extremely good at it. Tom has built a great teaching resume and is an outstanding ambassador for the South Texas Section of the PGA and the PGA of America.