Santiago Mari

Santiago Mari-Garcia was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1980. He turned pro at the age of 19 and became a Class A Member of the PGA of America in 2004. He has spent the last 18 years acquiring unmatched experience in all aspects of the golf game learning from the best in each field, from golf equipment design and development to the golf swing and golf instruction. 

During his time as a pupil, he made his Bachelors studies in the University of Puerto Rico(R.U.M.) and in the University of Central Florida where he completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Materials of Engineering. Following he completed his Masters Studies in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Lübeck Germany, specializing Biomechanics. 

Santiago had the opportunity to be exposed to the worlds best players while working as an Assistant Golf Professional at Lake Nona Golf and CC, where he started working with Top Professional Golfers from all major golf tours worldwide on their golf equipment. His experience and expertise kept growing through the years and then he joined the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in 2003 as Director of Club fitting and Golf Equipment, in Championsgate, FL. Here Santiago expanded his knowledge of Professional and Amateur Golf as well as the testing and requirements needed to make top quality and high performance golf equipment. His reputation kept growing and he became the ‘Go To’ person when it came to anything golf equipment related for the best golfers in the world. During this time working with David and the DLGA Team, Santiago learned from the best instructors in golf as well as the best players in the world, working with both top Men and Women golfers, including the winners of many PGA Tour events and major tournaments on all professional circuits. 

During the last few years, Santiago has been fortunate to work in development projects and golf academies in different countries, working with top players and creating new technologies used in different golf club heads for different brands holding a some pattents in the industry.

Now in 2018, Santiago, our Golf Club Engineer and Golf Instructor, is Located at The Leadbetter Golf Academy in Naples, Florida. The Naples Academy has been a staple in South Florida golf instruction for over 20 years all the while successfully working with students of all ages and abilities.