Justin Poynter

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
PGA Section Teacher of the Year, GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Golf Digest Best in State

Other awards won:
U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Instructor – Honorable Mention and Recipient of the Acushnet PGA Apprentice Scholarship, 2007

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 300
Female: 100
Junior: 1100

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
4

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
The Crown Golf program attracts top players, instructors, PGA professionals, high school and collegiate coaches, national programs, and even our competitors. Leveraging our extensive experience and expertise, we collaborate with players, instructors, physical therapists, athletic development teams, and mental performance coaches from numerous countries. In 2020, I was honored with the NTPGA Teacher/Coach of the Year award for my contributions. This recognition reflects the leadership, success, and commitment of our team to continuous learning and player development. Our junior development programs are highly respected worldwide, and we have been approached by multiple countries and locations within the USA interested in hosting a Crown Golf facility. We are also proudly sponsored by major corporations, including Methodist Mansfield Medical Center and Titleist. Our achievements include developing five USGA champions, two USGA runners-up, a Latin American Amateur Champion, two amateurs who competed in the Masters, six Korn Ferry Tour winners, three PGA Tour winners, and one LPGA Tour winner. Additionally, our players have earned positions on prestigious teams, including the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Palmer Cup, and Junior Solheim Cup. We have also had multiple players represent the Mexican and Canadian national teams.
By setting a high standard and leading by example, golf instructors can inspire and elevate the game, fostering a deep appreciation for its values and challenges. I have dedicated my career to excelling in three critical areas: developing players, mentoring fellow instructors, and driving business growth. My coaching has spanned all skill levels, guiding beginners to PGA TOUR professionals such as Carlos Ortiz, JJ Henry, Willie Wood, Hunter Haas, Alvaro Ortiz, Kristen Gillman, Maddie Szeryk, Ellie Szeryk, Calynne Rosholt, Makenzie Niblett, and Lakareber Abe. These players have secured victories across the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, collegiate, amateur, and junior levels. More than technical proficiency, I have cultivated a lasting passion for golf, transforming my students into lifelong ambassadors of the sport.
Equally important, I have contributed to the professional growth of numerous golf instructors, some of whom have been recognized by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as top teachers in the nation or their state. Instructors are vital to shaping a golf course’s culture, igniting enjoyment, passion, and progress among players. I have mentored educators who have risen to become Directors of Instruction at esteemed venues, including Oakmont Country Club, Fishers Island Club, The Concession Golf Club, Lakeside Country Club, Country Club of Jackson, Dallas Country Club, and Fresh Meadow Country Club, among others.
Furthermore, as the managing partner of Crown Golf, I have driven significant business development. Our academy employs four full-time instructors and operates a residential junior program for twelve players. With a global reach, we train athletes from across the United States and countries such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Thailand, and Canada.
In essence, exceptional golf instructors must nurture players, guide fellow instructors, and build thriving businesses. Through my achievements in these areas, I have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the golfing community.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
As the founder of the Crown Golf Academy, I lead a team guided by the motto "devoted to developing champions". I am committed to the comprehensive development of junior golfers. In 2008, while serving as an instructor under Jim McLean, I established the first residential junior golf academy in Texas, designed to accommodate both residential and commuter participants. The junior program has been sustained and expanded under Crown Golf, achieving significant competitive success. Six players have reached United States Golf Association (USGA) finals: Avery Zweig (2023 US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Champion), Alexa Saldana and Savannah Barber (2021 US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Champions), Brad Dalke (2016 US Amateur Runner-Up), Kristen Gillman (2014 and 2018 US Women’s Amateur Champion), and Lakareber Abe (2013 US Girls’ Junior Runner-Up). Additionally, two players, Alvaro Ortiz (2019) and Brad Dalke (2017), competed in the Masters Tournament, with Ortiz notably making the cut and finishing under par—a rare achievement for an amateur. Alexa Saldana won the 2024 Mexican Women’s Amateur, and Maddie Szeryk secured victories in the 2017 Women’s Western Amateur and the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Championship. Additionally, Alvaro Ortiz won the 2019 Latin America Amateur Championship, and our players have secured numerous titles across American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), Texas Legends Tour, Texas Junior Golf Tour (TJGT), and Northern Texas PGA (NTPGA) events. The program has facilitated over 200 college scholarships and produced collegiate All-Americans, Texas state champions, and Oklahoma state champions. Professional tour victories include Carlos Ortiz’s 2020 Vivint Houston Open (PGA Tour) and Cheyenne Knight’s 2019 Volunteers of America Classic (LPGA Tour). Notable alumni include Carlos Ortiz, Alvaro Ortiz, Brad Dalke, Cheyenne Knight, Alexa Saldana, Savannah Barber, Kristen Gillman, Maddie Szeryk, Lakareber Abe, Haley Mills, Kenzie Wright, Calynne Rosholt, Chandler Rosholt, Sean Walsh, Mason Greenberg, Juan Delgado, Julio Rios, Elie Szeryk, Connor Henry, Jase Summy, and others. The academy attracts talent from diverse regions, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, and beyond. The Crown Golf Junior Academy remains dedicated to cultivating exceptional golfers and well-rounded individuals through elite training, mentorship, and competitive opportunities.