Here at Golf Gear Advisor, we are a team of experts in golf swings and equipment. We are golf professionals, golf coaches, golf mentors, certified fitness experts and golf gear experts.
Our goal is to help our readers become better golfers by utilizing the right equipment, the right swings, proper fitness and nutrition, and a solid mental game.
Below you can find out more about the experts behind Golf Gear Advisor and why we are qualified to help you hit the ball longer, straighter and lower your scores with the right gear.
Meet The Team
Below you will find our team of passionate golf experts that are bringing you the high quality content that you have come to rely on from Golf Gear Advisor.
John VanDerLaan Sr.
John is the managing editor and founder at Golf Gear Advisor. He is a golf coach and mentor to his 2 sons that are current playing professionals.
His son John is currently playing on the Korn Ferry Tour and his son Michael is currently playing on mini tours and preparing for Q School.
John Sr. has been their coach and mentor since they were 2 years old. He helped them to succeed in junior golf with the right equipment, instruction and mindset.
He then helped them to navigate the college recruiting process and they both received scholarships to play college golf at Florida Southern, where they helped lead the team to victory at the NCAA DII National Championship in 2017.
John Jr. then went on to win the NCAA DII Individual National Championship in 2018 and his brother Michael would match him in 2019 by winning the NCAA DII Individual National Championship himself.
We believe that the VanDerLaan family is the only family to have 4 NCAA Golf National Championship rings under one roof.
John knows a thing or two about playing good golf and he has a passion for sharing his knowledge with others.
You can reach John at john@golfgearadvisor.com.
Michael VanDerLaan
Michael is an editor here at Golf Gear Advisor. He is a playing professional with a passion for finding the best equipment through product testing and evaluation.
He has an intimate knowledge of the golf swing and a very effective way of communicating his knowledge to those that are interested in learning more.
He spent a couple of years as an Assistant Golf Professional, teaching others about the golf swing and how to improve one's game before committing to playing golf for a living.
Michael's resume as a player is impressive, beginning with wins in junior golf at the Long Island Junior Classic and the AJGA New Era Junior Championship.
He helped the Florida Southern Mocs win the NCAA DII National Championship in 2017 and went on to win the individual NCAA DII National Championship in 2019 and was named 1st team All American.
His best tournament score is a 65 at the famed Ocean Course on Kiawah Island.
As an editor and a frequent contributor to Golf Gear Advisor, Michael shares his knowledge about the golf swing, fitness and finding the right equipment for your game.
You can reach Michael at Michael@golfgearadvisor.com.
John VanDerLaan
John is a frequent contributor, consultant and Tour Liaison at Golf Gear Advisor.
He currently plays on the Korn Ferry Tour as he works towards his PGA tour card.
John has an incredible playing resume, but I think his most amazing stat is his winning percentage during his senior year at Florida Southern in 2018.
That year John and the Mocs played in 13 NCAA tournaments. John won 8 of them, including the NCAA South Southeast Super Regional and the NCAA Individual National Championship.
He went on to win the Jack Nicklaus Award and competed in the Barbasol Shootout at Scioto Country Club, where Mr. Nicklaus grew up playing.
John would go on to win the Barbasol Shootout and gain a sponsor's exemption into the 2018 PGA Tour Barbasol Championship.
Fresh out of college, he would shoot 14 under par at the Barbasol and finish tied for 31st, while playing alongside some of the greatest players in the game.
That gave him the confidence to know that he could play with the best and he set his sights on Korn Ferry Tour Q School.
He continued his awesome play over 12 grueling rounds in Q school, where he shot a combined 58 under par and finished tied for 7th in the finals to get his tour card.
His best round on tour is a 63, which he has done twice. Once at the 2020 Memorial Health Championship and at the 2020 Country Club De Bogota Championship.
You can learn more about John at johnvanderlaan.com.
You can contact him at jv@golfgearadvisor.com.
Hannah VanDerLaan
Hannah is our Women's Fashion Editor here at Golf Gear Advisor.
Hannah grew up in Naples Florida, where her dad is a highly acclaimed golf course superintendent, so she has spent a lot of time around the golf course and country clubs.
Hannah is the Wife of John VanDerLaan and travels full time with him on tour.
She is a spokesperson for the Korn Ferry Tour Wives and a member of the PGA Tour Wives association.
She has extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of tour life as well as women's fashion and proper attire on the golf course.
She can be found on the golf course at most tour stops and is frequently seen on the course with their beloved dog, Bunker.
You can contact her at Hannah@golfgearadvisor.com.