LINKS-STYLE
Castle Bay
GOLF COURSE
Golfing instruction offers invaluable benefits for every kind of player, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro. For newcomers, it provides foundational skills and techniques, fostering confidence and enjoyment of the game. Intermediate players gain advanced strategies and personalized tips to refine their swing and course management. Even experienced golfers can benefit from expert insights to correct subtle flaws and enhance their performance. Overall, professional instruction helps all players improve their skills, lower their scores, and maximize their enjoyment on the course.
PGA Certified Lessons
Reach your highest potential physically and in your favorite sport. The professionals at Castle Bay Golf Course will customize a program just for you. Our certified staff bring a wide range of expertise to their training and fitness commitments, helping make ours a world class Golf Course. Get started with one of our experts today!
Lessons Available
Private Instruction º Group Lessons
Group Clinics º Player Development
Junior Golf Development
Golf Pro / General Manager
Mike Watson, PGA
Mike fell in love with golf at an early age and has been playing now for over 50 years.
A Texas native, he spent his formative years in Indian Trail, N.C., a southeast suburb of Charlotte. While attending Appalachian State University, Mike graduated in 1984 majoring in Information Systems and Management. His first employment opportunity took him back to the Dallas, Texas area. A successful entrepreneur, Mike exited the telecommunication
industry and decided to pursue his passion of golf. His first opportunity came in the municipal golf industry, spent the next 14 years, eventually becoming Head PGA professional and General Manager. In January of 2017, Mike moved back to N.C., specifically the coastal region and Hampstead. In February of that year, he was hired as the PGA Head Professional and General Manager at Castle Bay Country Club. Experienced in areas of golf operations, teaching is the true passion throughout his 20 plus years in golf. His has considerable experience teaching both Men and Women, raw beginners to low handicap players. Please reach out today through his contact information listed below and schedule your appointment today!
$80/hr - $50/30min
Assistant Pro / Manager
Jamie Waugh
$50/hr - $30/30min
Carolina Coastal Golf Instruction is committed to providing instruction that is catered to you. 30 minute sessions are great for a quick tune up. 60 and 90-minute lessons allow for more in-depth work on the swing. Each lesson includes golf balls for practice as well as personalized video instruction emailed to the student within 24 hours that includes the student's golf swing, a detailed recap of the lesson, and recommendations for continued improvement. We also offer playing lessons for on-course practice and strategy.
Training Center Golf Pro
Carolina Coastal Golf Instruction
Kirk Baker, PGA
In today's fast-paced world, golf professionals wear many hats, including teacher, manager, accountant, marketer, and even therapist. After over a decade as a club professional, Kirk chose to focus on teaching golf.
A native of North Carolina, Kirk attended Methodist University (2002-2006), earning a Business Administration degree with a concentration in Professional Golf Management. Post-graduation, he worked at Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida, before becoming Head Golf Professional at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando. During his seven years in Orlando, Kirk's passion for teaching grew as he learned from top golf instruction programs like PGA Tour Academy and Golf Digest Schools. A pivotal moment came when Larry Rinker, a short game expert and former PGA Tour player, joined as Director of Instruction. Rinker’s mentorship inspired Kirk to pursue full-time golf instruction.
In May 2015, Kirk and his wife returned to North Carolina to be closer to family and for Kirk to teach golf full-time. By September 2015, he achieved Rotary Swing Tour certification, becoming one of only 20 certified instructors worldwide. The Rotary Swing Tour method is a highly effective, research-based teaching approach. To learn more about The Rotary Swing Tour, click the link below.
Josh Rackley, PGA
Training Center Golf Pro
Carolina Coastal Golf Instruction
Josh grew up in Wilmington, NC, and began playing golf at 15. He quickly fell in love with the game and pursued a career in it, earning a degree in Professional Golf Management from NC State.
After graduation, he moved to the Philadelphia Section and worked as an assistant golf professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club for 3 years, where he honed his skills and won Player of the Year in 2015 with 4 section victories.
In 2016, Josh relocated to the MET Section in New York to become a teaching professional at Tam O'Shanter Golf Club, earning Player of the Year in 2017 and Assistant Player of the Year in 2018. He then attended PGA Tour Qualifying School for the PGA Tour Latino America, where he earned a spot and competed for 3 years. After his time on tour, Josh returned to the PGA of America to teach golf.
With over 7 years of teaching experience, including learning from the MET Section Teacher of the Year in 2022 and extensive tournament experience, we are excited to have Josh join our team at Carolina Coastal Golf Instruction.