Experience could be the best word to describe Don Thames with regard to understanding how to play and teach the game. As a player with a strong playing career, Don knows how to put process for performance ahead of outcome. In this way, he has a solid grasp of what players need to learn to play their best. “The player that puts winning on the top of their mind often succumbs to over-trying. Over-trying in golf leads to poor performance”. Golf is best played with a quiet mind-a mind that stays focused on a simple process.
With this process-based approach, Don encourages his students to play for the fun and challenge of the game vs. grinding over major swing changes. Every player has a unique swing that he or she owns. Don works within the framework of the student’s swing and teaches skills that can be applied to all phases of the game.
Fun. Smart. Fit. Golf… Learn what you will need to enjoy the game more. Learn a strong mental game to enhance performance. Learn skills that Don has used as a player that has played in 6 Major National and International Golf Championships. Get fit for golf through TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) training principles that improve stability, mobility, power, speed and balance. You will improve your game and have fun doing so.
Don enjoys dancing and working with his wife Carole as a Licensed Real Estate Agent. Carole Thames is active with Don in all of Don’s Professional pursuits including her role as a Caddie, Business Manager and as an extraordinary chef and friend. Daughters, Makayla (former Sac State Women’s Golf Team Member) and Katie are the lights of Don and Carole’s lives.
I’ve been teaching here at Emerald lakes for 4 years. I started as a volunteer with the 1st Tee and PGA Jr. League. I was hired as an instructor in 2020 and have been teaching the Op36 group classes at Emerald Lakes ever since. I am a 1st Tee Level III coach as well as an Operation 36 top 50 coach. While I am now an avid golfer, I grew up thinking golf was a boring sport. I played baseball and football from childhood, as a university student, and well into adulthood. Sports injuries suffered in my 40s forced me to find a new sport. A trip to the driving range to hit a few tiny balls that didn’t even move should have been pretty easy for me. Wrong! Golf was hard, and having a competitive spirit meant I would not let this sport get the best of me. I appreciate the challenge of learning the game of golf as an adult. I’ve spent the last 14 years studying and learning the rules of the game, the nuances of the swing, the tricks to tackle a challenging course and how to try to conquer the mental side of the sport. I look forward to helping others on their own journey with the game of golf.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Coached Consumnes High School Girls Golf Team for 4 seasons
Coached Bay Area Girls Softball Travel Team for 6 seasons
Coached Boys Baseball at Laguna Creek & Florin High
AFFILIATIONS
Active with Saturday Golf Nuts
Alumni- President – Dry Creek Golf Course Men’s Golf Club
Natalie started playing golf on her thirteenth birthday which happened to be her first day of golf class through The First Tee of Greater Sacramento at Diamond Oaks. She completed all levels as a participant as well as playing all four years on Roseville High School’s golf team. Natalie was an assistant coach for the Saint Rose Catholic Church team and had the pleasure of attending the Stanford University golf camp twice.
After graduating, Natalie continued her love for the game at The Golf Academy of America in Carlsbad, California where she received her Associate of Applied Business Degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management. While going to school she had the opportunity to continue teaching through the SCPGA Golf in Schools Program.
Natalie moved back to the Sacramento area and has been at Emerald Lakes GC since January of 2016 and proud to say she continues to grow the game day by day. She is The First Tee Level III Coach, The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site Coordinator, and a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach. Natalie looks forward to meeting all of you and to inspire your child to love golf one swing at a time!
I’ve been around golf my whole life, but it wasn’t until after graduating from Elk Grove High School that I truly fell in love with the game. Emerald Lakes quickly became home for me, and I played every chance I got. I was hooked, golf became more than just a hobby, it became a passion. After spending the past few years dedicated to improving my own game, I successfully passed my Player Ability Test in August of 2023. And I am now nearing the end of Level 1 in the PGA PGM program. Each step in this journey has strengthened my desire to share what I’ve learned and help others enjoy the game as much as I do.
When it comes to teaching, I believe that strong fundamentals are the foundation of every great golf swing. From grip and posture to tempo and balance, getting the basics right builds consistency and confidence. But golf is also a mental game, so I focus on helping players develop pre-shot routines, practice positive self-talk, and use visualization to improve focus, consistency, and emotional control on the course.
Whether someone’s picking up a club for the first time or trying to shave a few strokes off their handicap, my goal is to make learning enjoyable, approachable, and rewarding because when you build good habits and a good mindset, great golf follows.
Daniel began playing golf his freshman year of high school and quickly developed a deep passion for the game. He went on to compete at both the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels while playing collegiate golf at Jessup University, where he continues to pursue excellence as a competitive player.
With over five years of coaching experience, Daniel has worked extensively with The First Tee and Operation 36 programs at Emerald Lakes, helping golfers of all ages and skill levels build strong fundamentals, confidence, and a love for the game. His coaching philosophy blends technical development with long-term athletic growth, emphasizing both performance and enjoyment.
Now transitioning from competitive college golf toward a long-term coaching career, Daniel remains an active player, continuing to compete at a high level while expanding his knowledge of the game. He is deeply committed to constant learning and growth as both a coach and player and plans to enter the PGA Professional Program upon graduating from Jessup University this May.
William “Billy” Stegall is a lifelong golfer and performance-driven instructor with over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience, dedicated to helping players reach their full potential through structured development and measurable improvement. Born and raised in the Sacramento area, Billy developed a deep appreciation for the game and the discipline it requires from an early age.
A 2016 graduate of Golf Academy of America – Chandler, where he graduated at the top of his class, Billy built a strong technical foundation in swing mechanics, player development, and instructional methodology. As an aspiring member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, he successfully passed his Player Ability Test in 2018, demonstrating both competitive proficiency and a strong commitment to professional advancement.
Billy works with juniors, amateurs, and competitive golfers to refine swing efficiency, increase consistency, and lower scoring averages. His coaching philosophy blends strong fundamentals with modern analysis and purposeful practice design. He emphasizes short-game mastery, course management, and mental discipline to help players perform confidently under pressure.
In 2026, Billy will join Emerald Lakes Golf Course, where he looks forward to continuing to grow the game and helping players of all levels elevate their performance.
By creating individualized training plans and clear performance benchmarks, Billy develops confident, self-reliant golfers who understand their game and know how to continually improve it.
