Learn and Engage

David Brinker

David is the President of Mid-America Golfing Events and 10-time RE/MAX World Long Drive Finalist. David won the 2012 RE/MAX World Long Drive title (Legends Division) and has won multiple additional U.S. and international long-drive championships. His long drive journey began in 2004 at the Long Drivers of America tour Qualifying School in Dallas. He captured the interest of seasoned long drivers by earning his LDA tour card on his first attempt. He recorded the third-longest drive of that competition with a distance of 399 yards. In addition, David is a regular at the United States Senior Long Drive Championships. David has a flair for bringing excitement and entertainment to both corporate and charitable events. Through his efforts, he has helped raise in excess of $2,000,000 for charitable events during his long-drive tenure.

Ed LeBeau

Pete Buchanan

Pete Buchanan, Director of Plane Simple Golf, has quickly established his program as one of the top instruction programs around the world. He has developed his Training Space program with you in mind. Pete has done the work to take out all of the junk, noise, confusion and unnecessary items that have kept your golf game from becoming the best it should be. You will find all of the content necessary to get your golf game flourishing with very little practice time, including swing drills, exercises, articles and more to explode your game to great heights … and have a lot of fun doing it! Pete has developed the Plane Simple program through more than 30 years of professional experience, including the John Jacobs Golf Schools. His focus is on simplifying his golf swing in an effort to make it simple for players to play the game. This swing program challenges the current status quo of teaching golf, giving you the tools and knowledge to identify your faults and correct them yourself. Come by the St. Louis Golf Expo and let Pete make success easy for you in 2019!

Dr. Jamil Neme

Dr. Jamil Neme is a primary care physician with expertise in sports injuries and overuse injuries in people of all ages. In addition to preventive care and sports physicals for students, Dr. Neme specializes in non-surgical treatment of injuries to the muscles, joints and tendons. He treats osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, sports-related concussion, and chronic illnesses in athletes. Dr. Neme advises patients on nutrition, supplements, performance issues, safe strength training and conditioning, and sports psychology. In his practice, Dr. Neme offers the latest sports medicine treatments, including ultrasound-guided joint injections for knees, shoulders, ankles, wrists, hands, feet, and the SI joint. Dr. Neme is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Katie Smith, MEd, ATC, LAT

Katie Smith is the outreach manager for SSM Health Sports Medicine. She is a certified and licensed athletic trainer. Prior to her role with SSM Health she worked in various levels of athletics, including high school, college, and professional sports. She is responsible for the outreach team and assisting patients in getting exceptional care at SSM Health. She enjoys the opportunity to educate patients and help them navigate the health care system.

Brad Henderson, ATC, LAT

A 1985 graduate of the University of Missouri, Brad spent 24 years working as an athletic trainer in Major League Baseball, with both the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Prior to joining the SSM Health Physical Therapy Team in the fall of 2018, Brad spent six years as a physician extender for George Paletta, Jr, MD, MBA at The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis. A Titleist Performance Institute certification in 2016 added additional screening, evaluation techniques and corrective exercises to Brad’s previous experience. Both sports are very specialized and demand a unique balance of mobility and stability to play at a consistently high level. Let Brad fix what’s ailing your most important piece of equipment — yourself!

Bill Peroutka, MPT, ATC, CKTP

Bill Peroutka is a physical therapist and athletic trainer who is from St. Louis, and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of St. Louis University, where he received his master’s degree in physical therapy. Bill has been in practice as a physical therapist and athletic trainer in St. Charles County for 18 years. Over that time, Bill has treated athletes from all sports (including many golfers of all skill levels). Bill has achieved his Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Level 1 certification and is knowledgeable in the use of K-Vest technology. This allows him to utilize 3D motion analysis and Physical Screenings to help Golfers become the best Athletes possible. Bill is married to his wife Susan, and has two young boys. Bill coaches three different sports and loves to play golf in his free time. Let Bill free up your swing and get your season started off on the right foot this spring!

Alex Graf

Alex is an enthusiastic golf coach who came to Topgolf from Bogey Hills Country Club, where he was the first assistant professional. He has spent considerable time learning from some of the best golf instructors in Missouri. Alex also shadowed the No.1 Golf teacher in the World, Butch Harmon, for one week as Butch taught his classes and lessons. Alex has a special ability connecting with youth and beginners. This was developed from spending many years coaching youth-level ice hockey programs right here in Chesterfield, and working for former NHL player Craig Woodcroft in his skills development organization, Northern Edge. He communicates effectively with everybody, no matter the skill or level of interest. Alex’s main goal is for you to leave his lesson with a bigger love and interest to play golf! Alex also currently pursuing his certification as a Class A Golf Professional with the PGA of America.

Kyle Witherbee

Kyle Witherbee is a St. Louis native and the owner of Ball Striker Fitness. Kyle earned his master’s degree in Human Performance from Lindenwood University and is a certified golf fitness specialist. He is also licensed by the American College of Sports Medicine as an exercise physiologist, which specializes in fitness assessments and exercise prescriptions for individuals with chronic conditions. With a background in exercise and nutrition testing and in athletic performance training, Kyle has worked within a corporate fitness setting for the last two years prior to establishing Ball Striker Fitness. His passion for golf is heightened by his desire to help people reach their fitness goals. Ball Striker Fitness was created as an online fitness training program for golfers, and primarily seeks to improve a golfer’s health and wellness. This is done through individualized fitness programs for all ages and skill levels. These programs are designed for members to incorporate corrective exercise techniques, proper nutritional coaching, and behavior change plans – all with research-supported practices. With these steps in place, Ball Striker Fitness will make better bodies into better golfers.