Meet the Team
Director of Instruction
Apple TV+ 'STICK'
Golf Consultant
'01-'03 Assistant Coach
UBC Men's Golf Team
Nathan Leonhardt
Coach Nathan is the Founder and Director of Instruction of the Tour Development Academy. He was a former Tour player, and the 2022 British Columbia Teacher of the Year. Nathan is from Richmond BC, Canada, only minutes from downtown Vancouver. He graduated with a 3.8 GPA in Business Management from Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, Florida.
Nathan only started playing golf when he was 16 years old and by the time he was 25 he was competing full-time on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour (from beginner to Tour Professional in only 9 years). During his professional playing career, Nathan played 3 full seasons on the PGA Tour Canada and then played in China on the PGA Tour China.
During his playing career, Nathan amassed over 10 professional victories and holds 2 course records, which includes a 62 at Mayfair Lakes Golf Course. One of his course records came in the final round to win his first professional event.
After a back injury put his playing career on hold after the 2015 season, Nathan was immediately sought after to start coaching some elite players. This unexpected journey became exactly what Nathan was looking for. He was able to take everything he had learned over the years in his playing career, both good and bad, and use those to help players trying to follow in his footsteps. After coaching elite players for a few years and seeing some incredible results, Nathan established the Tour Development Academy.
Today, Nathan works with golfers of ALL levels. From kids to adults, beginners to professional golfers. His teachings and results had him awarded as the best golf teacher in BC in 2022.
Most recently, Nathan was hired to be the official Golf Consultant on Apple TV's 'Stick', staring Owen Wilson.
Visit Nathan's website to find out more about his past playing career:
2023 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Sang Lee
Coach Sang was a Professional Tour Player from 2015-2022 playing on various tours all over the world, including the Asian Tour and PGA Tour Canada. He received a full scholarship to Washington State University, a Division 1, Pac-12 University and can help guide juniors to achieve similar goals. Sang represented Alberta in Junior Provincial Teams, Junior America's Cup Team, Canada Summer Games Team, and Pacific Coast Amateur Team
Sang coached and caddied on the LPGA Tour for former World #1, Sung Hyun Park.
Today, Sang uses his growing knowledge of the game to help golfers of ALL ages and abilities. Sang’s coaching philosophy is not based on any single method, his philosophy is to create personalized instructional programs drawing from a variety of resources, tailored to address each individual’s golf and wellness goals.
Contact Sang:
403-612-2283
Lucas Kim
Coach Lucas started golf at the age of 10 and began competing and winning tournaments at 12 years old. Lucas was a member of the U19 Team Ontario and the winner of the Ontario Junior Championship in 2011, shooting -11. He later received a Full NCAA Division 1 Golf scholarship.
Lucas turned professional in 2014 and quickly became a multi-winner on Tours around the world. In 2015, Lucas earned his Korn Ferry Tour Card which had him competing against some of the best golfers in the world.
Now a full-time instructor, Lucas uses his knowledge and experience that he has developed through his Junior, Amateur and Professional career to help mentor, guide and teach students of all ages and skill levels to maximize their potential and reach their goals.
Contact Lucas:
647-401-3442
Donald Qiu
TDA's newest addition, and Apprentice Professional, is Coach Donald. He started playing golf at the age of 7 in Guangzhou, China. He was part of the Guangzhou Junior Golf Association, training with LPGA player’s Shanshan Feng and Xiyu Lin. Donald was the Vancouver Junior Champion in 2011 and in the same year placed 2nd in the Canadian U17 Juvenile Championship. He represented Team BC to compete in Western Canada Summer Games, Eddie Hogan Cup, and the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship.
Donald attended Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, California where he played in top junior tournaments in the USA competing with top players in the world, such as, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, and Sahith Theegala. He later received a scholarship to the University of British Columbia. Graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, his academic background would closely intertwine with his golf instruction.
Now, transitioning into a full time coach, Donald is privileged to be working with golfers of all ages and skill levels, currently specializing in working with beginners. He uses his experience and knowledge learned through his Amateur and Professional career to mentor his students reach their goals and enjoy the game.
Coach Donald speaks fluently in both English and Mandarin.
Donald教练教学语言: 普通话和英文均可。
Contact Donald:
604-868-7811
Apprentice Professional
Class "A" Professional
Jacob Vanderpas
Coach Jacob, a PGA of Canada Class “A” professional from Vancouver, has spent 15 years in the golf industry, excelling as both a player and coach.
Growing up as a multi-sport athlete, he specialized in golf after success in junior and amateur events, including being a 2014 BC Willingdon Cup team member, a 5-time Vancouver Golf Tour winner, and the 2020 Zone 4 City Amateur champion.
Graduating from Langara College in 2020 with a Business Management degree, Jacob shot his career-best 61 (-11), including a perfect 27 (-9) on the front nine, securing his first collegiate win.
From 2022-2024, he worked as an Assistant Professional at a private club, discovering his passion for coaching golfers of all skill levels, and the ability to specialize with competitive players.
Coach Jacob has been mentored and exposed to the teaching philosophies of top instructors including Mike Adams, Terry Rowles, and Vision54’s Pia Nilsson & Lynn Marriott.
Jacob's coaching philosophy emphasizes natural movement, ball flight diagnosis, and on-course problem-solving.
Utilizing cutting-edge technology such as Sportsbox AI 3D motion capture, Smart2Move force plates, and Trackman, Coach Jacob helps golfers optimize their performance and reach their goals.
Contact Jacob:
778-988-4150
Certifications
Dr. Kwon Level 2 Golf Biomechanics Certification
Boditrak - Golf Ground Mechanics Certified
BioSwing Dynamics & Ground Reaction Forces Level 1 Certified
TrackMan Level 2 Certified
Smart2Move Dual Force Plates Certification
US Kids Golf Certified Coach
Swing Catalyst Level 2
Certified Instructor
Penn State’s Biomechanics of Golf
TrackMan Level 2 Certified
Capto Putting Certified Level 2 Instructor
Golf Psychology Coaching Certified