Meet Our Instructors

Derek Highley

PGA Member

  • “Class A” Member of PGA of America
  • Degree in Human Kinetics – Honours Movement Science
  • TPI Certified (Titleist Performance Institute)
  • Over 1,200 Lessons Annually
  • Extensive Experience with Video
  • Worked as a Club Professional in Boston, Raleigh and Tampa
Canadian Fade Golf Academy - Derek Highley

Derek is a Class A Member of the PGA of America.   Following graduation from the University of Windsor where he earned an honours degree from the faculty of Human Kinetics with a focus on Movement Science, Derek moved to Florida to attend school at the Golf Academy of the South in Orlando.

Derek has worked and taught as an Assistant Professional at Blue Hill Country Club in Boston MA, Governors Club in Chapel Hill NC and Brier Creek in Raleigh NC before returning to Florida as the Head Professional at Hernando Oaks Golf & CC north of Tampa.  Building on his passion for teaching and helping players all all ability levels improve their golf games, Derek left the country club side of the golf business and joined the team at GolfTec Tampa in order to teach full time.

With over 20 years of teaching, Derek has extensive experience with Launch Monitor technology and Video Analysis and uses his expertise to simplify concepts and help students focus on building skill and not get bogged down and confused with technique.

Lee French

  • Professional Golf Management at Humber College in Toronto, ON
  • NCAA Division I at Detroit Mercy University in Detroit, MI
  • Professional Player on Great Lakes and Moonlight Tours
  • Former CPGA pro
Lee French - Canadian Fade Golf Academy

Lee’s golf career began in London, ON at an early age and he is well known for his competitive grit and commitment to winning at Amateur, College, and Professional levels.  Highlights include professional wins on the Great Lakes and Moonlight Tours, as well as at the college level.  Lee won the RCGA Canadian University Championship at Kingswood Golf Club in Fredericton, NB where he took home the individual championship and Captained his team to the Team Championship.  Lee also won three national championships individually at the CCAA’s, and is a member of the Humber College Athletes Hall of Fame.  From there, he went onto compete in the World University Games on the prestigious Water Mill Golf and Gardens in Nakhonnayok, Thailand.  Shortly after, Lee also appeared in Sports Illustrated as a ‘Player to Watch’ on the International stage.  Beyond his Professional and College success, Lee has won many coveted Men’s Amateur events with highlights including the National Golf Club of Canada Men’s Amateur.  He also competed in 5 Canadian Amateur Championships with a Quarter Final (match play) finish as his deepest run.

As a teaching professional, Lee’s known for working with all ranges of abilities. Groups, Juniors, Amateur Men and Women, Seniors, and Professionals.  In particular, he’s known for keeping things simple, understanding the nuances of reading greens, course management, and the mental side of decision making.