Langston Instructors

Phil Cooper is a resident of Washington DC and an instructor of golf that is patient, observing, understanding and has a friendly demeanor. He keeps instructions simple and easy to understand so that an enjoyable atmosphere can be created.

His lessons are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. His training aids include videos, monitoring devices, and some innovative techniques that allow students to see the principles that need to be understood.

The use of the reference techniques with each individual student not only helps them achieve their golfing goals but allows them to not forget it is a game and to have fun.

First, he was a military family student that traveled the world quite a bit but always returned to the DC area. After high school and college, he enrolled in the ROTC program, when graduated was commissioned in the US Army and became an Airborne Ranger.

Prior to, during, and after the military, he was still being an athlete with basketball, softball, tennis, and racquetball. But, as they say, the ball gets smaller as you get older and once the beginning of attending golf outings . . . the passion for the game of golf began!

• Juniors
  • Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons
• Adults
  • Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons
  • Leagues

Mel is a Native Washingtonian who is a graduate of DC Public Schools. Mel graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School in 1984 then matriculated to “The Real HU” in Hampton, VA at the illustrious “Home by the Sea”. He was a 4-year Varsity Letterman on the first ever golf team at Hampton University and also a Sports Radio Commentator for basketball & football games called on Hampton University’s radio station WHOV-FM/88.1 FM.  Mel graduated with a Bachelor of Science/Marketing degree in 1988. 

He has a deep Community based involvement in the DC/DMV area and has helped over 30 student athletes secure athletic scholarships at NCAA & NAIA colleges and universities.

 As a certified USGTF golf instructor he maintains a focus on delivering FUN/VALUABLE experiences to his clientele which propels each of them to want to learn and experience more GOLF.  

His instruction is designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced students and Mel identifies avenues to include motivational concepts, videos and other innovative avenues to stoke the desire for each client to want to learn more.  

Finding opportunities within the golfing industry for athletes (youth & adults) is also a passion for Mel and he has placed multiple golfers into elite positions to include collegiate internships and executive positions in the athletic industry as well.  

Three children Ahmad, Jahmai, Kennedy

A member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

A Prince Hall Free & Accepted Master Mason/Ionic Lodge #17

President of “The Athletic Group” headquartered in Washington, DC

Former President, “The Basketball Group”

20 year “Beer Sommelier”

Founder of “The Capital City Hoop Classic”

Mel enjoys all types of Comedy

• Juniors
  • Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons
• Adults
  • Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons
  • Leagues

Eddie is USGTF Certified and has over 20 years of experience. Eddie brings a wealth of knowledge from many years of experience in the game of golf.

He has had the opportunity to play in Pro-Ams himself, as well as furthering the game of golf for the next generation. Eddie taught winning high school and junior golf teams in DC, as well as running the youth golf summer camp at Rock Creek for three summers for the Capital City Golf Course.

Eddie also has experience in the management side of golf, as he was the head pro at Marlborough Golf Course and Lake Arbor Golf Course. He has worked with the Paul Berry Group as an instructor and as an independent golf instructor at Paint Branch. 

Eddie enjoys riding horses when he is not golfing. He loves to teach and play golf, being a firm believer that playing golf reduces stress and supports good mental health. One day, he would like to write a book on golf, “Volunteering and Mentoring Youth”.

• Juniors
  • Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons
  • Summer Camps
• Adults
  • Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons

Joy joined the playDCgolfAcademy in late summer 2022 as the first women and African American Woman Certified Golf Instructor at Langston Golf Course. She was introduced to the game over 40 years ago. Her love and dedication to the sport, keen athletic ability, and desire to expose other minorities and youth to golfing, led her in 2008, to form the organizations Sisters Who Swing Golf Association (SWS) and SWS Jr. Golfers. Through these organizations she has worked tirelessly to introduce women and youth to the art of golfing. One of her greatest accomplishments has been assisting African American youth secure college scholarships just by being in a golf program and still today providing scholarships.

As an Operation 36 Certified Golf instructor she heads up the OP36 training program for both juniors and adults. As a golf instructor she teaches loves teaching golf camps, clinics, and advocating for new golfers. For 12 years before covid 19, she had developed and founded, “A WINTER Indoor Golf Program” for new and season golfers at the facility “Unity of Washington DC”, for both adults and juniors that prepared them for the courses in the early spring. Her work has been in advocating to introduce more women to become golfers, as well as offering the season golfer the training tools and clinics to improve their golf skills.

She is great with juniors and uses golf as a “vehicle for higher education”. Whether the junior wants to go to college as a golfer, or become a golf pro or not, Coach Joy emphasizes “Learn the 4 fundamentals of golf” whereas “Golf is game for a lifetime”. Her approach for the new golfers and season golfers is to have fun interactive lessons and outings that will get you from tee to green quickly, keeping it in the short grass, scoring low and having fun.

Joy is excited to continue to serve the community in her new role as a Teaching Instructor at Langston Golf Course.

Langston golf course was the first course she shot under 90, and in the off season she loves to work with woodwork. Check out some of her golf projects on Etsy.

• Juniors
  • Private Lessons
  • Group Lessons
  • Summer Camps
  • Leagues
• Adults
  • Beginner and Intermediate Private Lessons
  • Beginner and Intermediate Group Lessons