GOLF's Top 100 Teachers in America
Instruction

GOLF Magazine’s 2024-2025 Top 100 Teachers in America: The full list

By: Nick Dimengo

Introducing GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America for 2024 and 2025, highlighting the best instructors in golf from across the country.

GOLF

Launching in 1991, GOLF’s Top 100 Teachers in America franchise has established itself as the preeminent list for recognizing excellence in golf instruction.

Not only do we hold ourselves to a high standard with our selections, but the rigorous process allows us to identify the most innovative, committed, accomplished, and passionate golf teachers in the United States. Each shares our vision, and carry themselves with the utmost professionalism.

As GOLF continues its mission to expand the game and provide the best instruction content for players of all skill-levels, we collaborate with our Top 100 Teachers to help lead the charge. Together, we provide the leadership, wisdom, and fresh ideas to help every golfer improve. We’re sure to see you on the lesson tee soon!

How we pick our Top 100 Teachers

The biennial process is powered by the Top 100 Teachers Credentials Committee, and is the only national golf instructor search that combines outside academic and PGA peer review.

As mentioned above, the process is both rigorous and competitive, with candidates being screened against a set of criteria that evaluates a number of different guidelines. These include their teaching experience and accomplishments, student portfolio and peer ratings, along with their overall commitment to the growth of the game, both through volunteerism and their ability to use digital platforms.

Along with the public application, candidates are nominated by the PGA, LPGA and United States Golf Teachers Federation, among others. The committee reviews 250 applications, on average, before selecting the new members.

MORE:Meet the Lifetime Achievement teachers
MORE:Meet the Top 100 Hall of Fame inductees
MORE:Meet the Top 100 Alumni teachers
MORE:Meet GOLF’s Teachers to Watch

Meet GOLF’s Top 100 Teachers

Golf drill improve ball striking
mark blackburn smiles

Nick Clearwater

Top 100 since: 2021
Debbie Doniger
Golf instructor performing drill
Easy Draw Drill
Sean Foley currently teaches top pros like Justin Rose and Cameron Champ.
George Gankas
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claude harmon III
The neutral setup is worth copying.

Edward (Ed) Ibarguen

Top 100 since: 2001
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JerryKing.jpg
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Spieth McCormick.jpg

Cameron McCormick

Top 100 since: 2021
BrianMogg.jpg

Jamie Mulligan

Top 100 since: 2015
scott-munroe-green-reading-tips.jpg
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bernie najar hits bunker shot
Top 100 Teacher Joe Plecker demonstrates how to hit a stinger
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Turn your rib cage as you open your hips. The towel won’t fall, and the ball will rocket off the clubface.
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kevin sprecher demonstrates
Make more birdies by learning how to smash your fairway woods.
boyd summerhays demonstrates
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Perfect posture is the first step to creating safe, efficient and functional movement within your golf swing.
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Quick warm-up tip
The arms and chest move together in a sound swing.
pure putting drills gary weir
Whaley at the 2018 U.S. Senior Women's Open at Chicago Golf Club.
jonathan yarwood demonstrates drill

Meet GOLF’s Top 100Lifetime Members

To honor GOLF Top 100 Teachers who have remained on the Top 100 list for 20 consecutive years or more.

Steve Bosdosh
Ijamsville, Md.

Michael Breed
CBS Sports and Golf Digest

John Elliott, Jr.
Ocala, Fla.

Bryan Gathright
Boerne, Texas

David Glenz
Long Valley, N.J.

Rick Grayson
Springfield, Mo.

Fred Griffin
Orlando, Fla.

Ron Gring
Prescott, Ariz.

Martin Hall
West Palm Beach, Fla.

Craig Harmon
Delray Beach, Fla.

Peter Kostis
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mike Labauve
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Keith Lyford
Rocklin, Calif.

Mike Malaska
Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

Tim Mahoney
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Lynn Marriott
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Rick McCord
Kissimmee, Fla.

Bill Moretti
Austin, Texas

Pia Nilsson
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dave Phillips
Oceanside, Ca.

Dana Rader
Charlotte, N.C.

Craig Shankland
Daytona Beach, Fla.

Ted Sheftic
New Oxford, Pa.

Laird Small
Pebble Beach, Calif.

Randy Smith
Dallas, Texas

Rick Smith
Miami, Fla.

Mitchell Spearman
Rye Brook, N.Y.

T.J. Tomasi
Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Meet GOLF’s Hall of Fame Teachers

Mike Adams
Bedminster Township, N.J.

Chuck Cook
Austin, Texas

Hank Haney
McKinney, Texas

Jim Hardy
Houston, Texas

Butch Harmon
Henderson, Nev.

Michael Hebron
Smithtown, N.Y.

David Leadbetter
Orlando, Fla.

Jack Lumpkin
St. Simons Island, Ga.

Mike McGetrick
Gainesville, Va.

Jim McLean
Miami, Fla.

Eddie Merrins
Los Angeles, Calif.

Dave Pelz
Austin, Texas

Dr. Jim Suttie
Naples, Fla.

Bob Toski
Coconut Creek, Fla.

Gary Wiren
West Palm Beach, Fla.

Meet GOLF’S Top 100 Alumni Members (2024-2025)

Jason Carbone
Cleveland, Ohio

Chuck Evans
Apache Junction, Ariz.

Wayne Flint
Birmingham, Ala.

Matt Killen
College Grove, Tenn.

Jeff Leishman
Jupiter, Fla.

Kate Tempesta
New Canaan, Conn.

David F. Wright, Ph.D.
Redmond, Wash.

Latest In Instruction

Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor

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