Phil was introduced to golf at the age of 4 and has been pursuing his passion ever since. Growing up in West Michigan Phil developed his skills at Muskegon Country Club, a Donald Ross designed course founded in 1908.

Phil's teaching career started with leading the junior golf program at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Practice Center in Irvine, California in 1994. In 1998 Phil accepted the opportunity of Director of Junior Golf Instruction at Heartwell Junior Golf Academy located in Long Beach, California. Phil is one of the lead instructors of the Long Beach Junior Golf Association Program.

Phil also teaches golf at Marty Tregnan Junior Golf Academy located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. Phil has been an instructor there since it's opening day in the year 2000.

Phil received the award of Outstanding Instructor of the Year in 2007 from the Urban Youth Golf Foundation. Phil is also an inductee into the 2014 Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame.