Jean-Luc Burnier grew up in La Tour-de-Peilz on the shores of Lac Léman, played college golf in California, competed on three international tours and today coaches juniors and beginners at Golf de Pra Roman. He lives in Chardonne — and still has his sights firmly set on competitive golf.

Hooked from the First Swing

Jean-Luc’s golf story began at twelve, when his father, his brother and a family friend headed to the course in Verbier. His dad bought a half set of Tom Watson clubs — a black and red bag that he believes is still somewhere in his basement. “The minute I tried, I was hooked,” he says. He joined the junior program at Golf Club Montreux and by seventeen was playing off scratch, dreaming of a professional career.

At eighteen, his head pro offered him an assistant position at the club. His father intervened: more studies first. So Jean-Luc crossed the Atlantic to play for the University of California, Santa Barbara — a detour that would shape his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined.

Bars, Mini Tours and the Long Road Back

After graduation, Jean-Luc turned professional and threw himself into the Californian mini tour circuit, funding his playing career by working in restaurants, bars and caddying at a private club between tournaments. It was a raw, unfiltered introduction to professional golf — far from glamorous, but rich in experience.

He returned to Switzerland in 2005 and joined the Swiss PGA, spending five seasons on the Alps Tour. He then completed his teaching apprenticeship at Golf Parc du Signal de Bougy before the competitive itch returned. Thanks to two patrons, what followed was a remarkable chapter: a season on the MENA Tour, then two seasons on the China Tour — making him the first and only Swiss player to compete there. Among many local wins on the Swiss PGA Tour, he has 3 National Titles : The Omnium in 2015, The Matchplay Championship in 2016 and an emotional Swiss PGA Championship win in 2021 the day after his father past.

Simple Words and Patience

Today, Jean-Luc’s teaching philosophy is shaped by all those years on the road. His approach can be summed up in his own words: simple words and patience. He cites a principle he once heard from Bernhard Langer: if a swing change doesn’t show improvement within ten shots, it’s the wrong change. It’s a pragmatic, results-first mindset that resonates with students at every level.

Jean-Luc works primarily with beginners and juniors at Golf de Pra Roman, a public driving range where students keep him very busy. Wednesdays are dedicated to junior coaching — twenty-eight young players — and Saturdays to group lessons. On top of that, there are corporate initiations and a lot of schools that come and discover golf at Golf de Pra Roman through the ASGI. Technology takes a back seat; experience and observation lead the way.

Shaped by the Best

Continuous learning has been a constant in Jean-Luc’s career. He speaks with genuine enthusiasm about the Swiss PGA further education days — sessions with coaches and thinkers like Mikael Hebron, Mike Adams, Pete Cohen, Karl Morris and the Vision54 duo Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. The S2M Summit in Vienna left a particular impression. “Lots of eye-opening ideas on coaching,” he says. It’s clear that even after decades in the game, curiosity hasn’t faded.

His competitive idol? No surprises there. “It was the Tiger era. We all wanted to be like him.”

A Black Belt with a Senior Tour Dream

Off the course, Jean-Luc keeps fit with fitness, cycling and skiing in the winter. Hobbies are summer festivals, but he values the little rest he can find, especially with a view and in good company. What most people don’t know: he holds a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu — though he hasn’t trained in years.

But the most striking thing about Jean-Luc is what lies ahead. He keeps himself in the best shape he can, physically and in his golf game, with a clear three-year goal: qualifying for the Staysure Legends Senior Tour. It’s the kind of ambition that defines a career spent refusing to stand still.

Respect of the Game

When asked what he’d pass on to the next generation, Jean-Luc’s message is unmistakable: respect the traditions of the sport. Golf is growing and attracting new fans, he says, and that’s a wonderful thing — but the values and etiquette that have shaped the game for generations must be preserved. “It is our duty as golf teachers to pass the right message and train new golfers so that they respect the game.”