Meet the Pro
Austin Barlow
Head Golf Professional
Austin oversees daily golf operations, player development, merchandising, and tournament programming. His leadership style centers on organization, consistency, and professionalism while still keeping the game welcoming and enjoyable for players of all ages and skill levels. Austin has a strong focus on building community through golf, whether that’s growing leagues, helping new golfers feel comfortable, or creating events that players genuinely look forward to attending each season.
Austin teaches golf with the belief that improvement comes from understanding ball flight rather than memorizing positions. Beginners learn simple fundamentals that get the ball airborne quickly and make the game fun right away, while experienced players receive structured practice plans and measurable feedback they can take onto the course. He prioritizes skills that actually lower scores: contact, starting direction, distance control, and decision-making. Every lesson ends with a clear practice plan so players know exactly what to work on and how to track progress between sessions.
Team Griffin Golf
We are excited to announce Team Griffin Golf will be back for the 2026 season!
Sara Griffin, PGA
Teaching Professional
Sara Griffin, PGA is a lifelong educator, coach, and player who believes deeply in the power of mentorship within the PGA community. Born and raised in Federal Way, Washington, she began playing golf at age eight and has spent over 25 years building, leading, and evolving golf programs at every level—from collegiate athletics to grassroots player development.
After competing at Oregon State University, she transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant coach at OSU before becoming Head Women’s Golf Coach at the University of San Francisco. From 1997–2005, she led the program to a West Coast Conference Championship, eight consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, and a Top-25 national ranking—experiences that shaped her leadership style, systems-based thinking, and commitment to athlete-centered development.
In 2005, she returned to the Pacific Northwest to join Tacoma Country & Golf Club and earned her Class A PGA Membership in 2009. Today, she is the Owner and Director of Instruction at Griffin Golf Studio, where she oversees junior development pathways, women’s programming, coach education, and community-centered initiatives. She is proud to have been recognized with the 2025 WWCPGA Professional Development Award, along with multiple Section and National honors for youth player development and coach leadership.
As a player, she continues to challenge herself competitively and recently qualified for and competed in the U.S. Women’s Senior Open at San Diego Country Club. Staying active in competition allows her to bring real-time empathy, perspective, and relevance to her coaching and mentoring—especially when helping Associates balance teaching, playing, family, and career growth.
Chris Griffin, PGA
Teaching Professional
Chris Griffin, PGA is the Co-Owner and Teaching Professional at Griffin Golf Studio in the Pacific Northwest. With more than 25 years of coaching and teaching experience, Chris is known for his calm teaching style, strong fundamentals, and passion for helping golfers of all skill levels enjoy and improve in the game.
A nationally recognized instructor and Golf Digest top teacher in the state, Chris has coached players at every stage of development — from beginners and competitive juniors to collegiate athletes and PGA TOUR professionals, including Andres Gonzales, Michael Putnam, and Kyle Stanley. His coaching has also helped support the development of numerous collegiate players throughout the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Chris has enjoyed a distinguished playing career. He is the 2013 Washington Open Champion, has competed on eight Hudson Cup teams, and later served as Hudson Cup Captain. In 2025, Chris qualified for the Senior National Club Professional Championship, earning the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Senior PGA Championship.
Known for his steady presence, depth of knowledge, and commitment to long-term player development, Chris has helped shape Griffin Golf into a welcoming environment where golfers can learn, grow, and enjoy the game for life.
Camps & Clinics
