Mike Carbray Golf Academy

Mike Carbray is currently the Director of Instruction at Butterfield Country Club, in Oak Brook Illinois. A 27 – hole facility built in 1920, Butterfield is one of the premier country clubs in the Chicago area. Mike conducts golf instruction at Butterfield during the summer months and oversees all golf instruction at the Golf Fitness Human Performance Studio located in Westmont Illinois in the winter months. Mike is a US Kids Golf Top 50 Instructor and the 2012 Illinois PGA Junior Golf Leader.

Born and raised in Hamden, Connecticut, Mike’s love for the game of golf started in the 4th grade when his grandfather leased a public golf course from the town. Hockey in the winter and golf in the summer was how Mike spent his adolescence. In college, Mike was a member of the Elon University golf team.

After college Mike was lucky enough to start his teaching career at the famed Chicago Golf Club. He then spent the next 6 years working under Eden Foster, Golf Magazine, Top 100 teacher at The Maidstone Club in East Hampton, NY and Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples, Fl. It was during these years where Mr. Carbray sought out and learned from many of the top instructors in the country as well as many PGA Tour professionals. Watching these people instruct and by reading their literature, Mike was able to combine thoughts and develop his own philosophy on the golf swing and the best ways to communicate it to his students. Prior to coming to Butterfield, Mike spent two years as the Head Professional at Kinloch Golf Club in Richmond, Virginia.

My Swing Philosophy:

I believe there is no one correct way to swing the club. I think that there are an infinite number of ways to swing the club. I do believe there is one efficient way for all golfers to swing a club and that is based on what they can physically do. I put my students through a hexagonal approach to improving their game. This allows me to asses a total picture of their body, swing and equipment. From this assessment, I can optimize performance and improve all areas of your golf game.

The Golf Hexagon is:

Basic Instruction: Analysis of grip, stance, posture, alignment, swing fundamentals and impact conditions.
Shot Making Skills: Short game, shots inside 100 yards, recovery shots, specialty shots, trajectory control and ball curvature.
Course Management: Thought processes on different shots and holes. Game plan for a round, risk / reward ratios and on course nutrition.
Mental and Physical: Seeing what the player can do physically by using a golf specific physical assessment and prescribing relevant stretches and exercises that allow the player to make a more efficient swing. Dealing with stress on the course and positive self talk through the round.
Equipment: Proper set make up, making sure clubs are properly fit to players’ specs and swing type.