Golf Philosophy
Teaching Approach
I approach every student in the same manner. I learn what their weaknesses are by watching them play the game. Then educate them on how they can improve. I found this is the quickest way to lower someone’s scores and play better golf which is the ultimate goal.
Golf Accomplishments
President – Left Handed Golf Guru and Unlimited Outings
Former Head Teaching Professional – Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
Former Director of Instruction – JW Marriott Wildfire Golf Club Resort & Spa
2011 Callaway Elite Staff Member
Member of Taylor Made Presidential Advisory Staff
2007 Southwest Section PGA Match Play Champion
2007 Member Bob Goldwater Cup Team Matches SWSPGA
Winner 1997 Provo Open Champion
Winner 1997 Colorado Springs Pro/Am
Played in 1999 Phoenix Open PGA Tour Event
Finals of United States Open Qualifying 2003, 2004
3rd Navajo Trails Open 2004
Instructed Carin Koch LPGA Tour Player & Champion in 2005
Class “A” PGA Professional
Graduated 1989 Durango High School
Attended Western Nebraska Community College
2015 Club Car Pro-Pro – Champion
2013 Finals Professional National Championship (PNC)
2009 Navajo Trails Open – 2nd Place
2008 Antigua PGA Team Championship – Champion
2006 Southwest Section PGA Match Play – Champion
2004 PGA Players Series Championship – 2nd Place
2004 Navajo Trails Open – 3rd Place
2004 Finals US Open
2003 Finals US Open
1999 Phoenix Open Player
1997 Provo Open – Champion
1997 Colorado Springs Open – Champion
1997 Southern Arizona Open – 2nd Place
1997 Navajo Trails Open – 4th Place
1995 Bellatrix Open – Champion
Holds six course records including 60 on Renegade Desert Mountain
More About Ken Carpenter
Ken was mostly recently the Head PGA Teaching Professional at Westin Kierland in Scottsdale Arizona where he worked at previously for over ten years. Before that Ken was the Director of Instruction for seven years at the J.W. Marriott’s Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Ken Carpenter began his professional golf career in 1990 at Golf Digest Schools and Tamarron/Innisbrook Golf Institute. In 1994, he joined Rio Verde Country Club in Rio Verde, Arizona as the head teaching professional, and conducted the Ken Carpenter Rio Verde Golf Schools. Ken recently conducted golf schools for Golf Digest Schools at Talking Stick Resort Golf Club and other courses in the Phoenix area.
He has also instructed such tour professionals as Doug LaBelle, a champion on the Nationwide Tour, Joel Kribel, Tom Kalinowski, Bobby Kalinowski, Boyd Summerhays, and on the LPGA Tour, Carin Koch, Jody Nieman-Dansie, and Jimen Kang.
Ken was Carin Koch’s coach for four years while she was ranked one of the top LPGA Tour players in the world. She most recently was the Women’s Solheim Cup Team Captain.
In addition to teaching, Ken has also competed at the highest professional level. Just recently in June 2015 he won the Club Car Pro-Pro with teammate Rob Smyser shooting a combined score of 61. In September 2012 he qualified for the PGA Professional National Championship which is like the Super Bowl for the 27,000 PGA Professionals and then went on to complete in the event in 2013 in Bend, Oregon. He was crowned the 2006 PGA Match Play Champion for the Southwest Section PGA. Also was a member of the 2006 and 2013 Bob Goldwater Cup Teams. He also played in the 2002 U.S. Open Qualifying Finals and took third place in the 2005 Navajo Trail Open. During the 1999 season, he was a member of the Canadian PGA Tour and later participated in the 1999 Phoenix Open. In 1997, he won the Provo Open and the Colorado Springs Open, and was runner-up in the Southern Arizona Open.