Full Bio
Over 20 Years’ Experience
John Bierkan has been around golf his entire life. His father, Dick Bierkan, has been a PGA Professional in Connecticut for more than 50 years. John credits his father’s work ethic, character and integrity as a driving force in his life. John’s early childhood home was on club property and he would spend much of his time with his father. John was always hanging around the club working on his game and learning the business of golf. John knew from an early age that he would one day grow up to be a PGA Professional. His love of competition, fascination with the golf swing and desire to help others play better has been a strong motivation in his career.
John played as a junior and continued to hone his game during his teenage years and was a standout player in high school. He also played collegiate golf at The University of Connecticut where he had several top finishes. During that time, John was rated in the Top-Ten of all Division I golfers in New England. John competed in several Connecticut State Amateur tournaments and several state open championships. John continues to compete in PGA of America events in both the Philadelphia PGA Section and at the National level. John has competed in six straight PGA Professional National Championships.
Upon graduating from UCONN in 2000, John accepted a position as Coordinator of Junior Golf Events for The Golf Channel in Orlando, Florida. John was part of a team that traveled all over the U.S. for two years conducting The Golf Channel’s Drive, Chip & Putt Skills Competition. Once that commitment was fulfilled, John turned his focus to instruction and coaching-which is what he always wanted to do. John spent three years working and studying with Dr. T.J. Tomasi, a longtime Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. John then worked for Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher, Jim McLean, for three years at Trump National Doral. John also credits great teachers such as Christopher Toulson, Bill Davis, Chuck Cook, Dr. Rob Neal, Dana Dahlquist, Andrew Rice, John Graham, David Orr, Justin Sheehan, Jared Isaacs, John Webster, Mariano Bartolome, Kevin Sprecher, Michael Hunt, Shannon Hamel, Tommie Marino and Tom Dyer for influencing his teaching career.
Prior to becoming the Director of Instruction at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia, John served as the Director of Instruction at Caves Valley Golf Club in Baltimore. In the winter, John teaches at Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. Golf Digest rated John one of America’s Best Young Teachers between 2010-2017, was named the 2014 & 2018 Philadelphia PGA Teacher of the Year, voted by Golf Digest in 2021 as the #2 Teacher in the State of Pennsylvania and U.S. Kids Golf named John one of the Top 50 Kids Coaches in 2018.