The post GOLF Magazine’s 2024-2025 Top 100 Teachers in America: The full list appeared first on Golf.

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

Dale Abraham

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif. from www.daleabraham.com Buy from Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif.

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Rob Akins

Top 100: (2001, 2024)

Buy Now$The Madison Club, La Quinta, Calif; Tributary, Driggs, Idaho from www.robakinsneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Eric Alpenfels

Top 100 since: 2001

Buy Now$Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C. from www.pinehurst.com

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Cheryl Anderson

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Mike Bender Golf Academy at Magnolia Plantation GC, Lake Mary, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Todd Anderson

Top 100 since: 2003

Buy Now$PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. from www.tourperformancecenter.com

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Jason Baile

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Jupiter Hills Club, Jupiter, FL from www.instagram.com

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Mike Bender

Top 100 since: 1996

Buy Now$Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, FL from www.instagram.com

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Jason Birnbaum

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Manhattan Woods GC, West Nyack, N.Y. from www.instagram.com

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Mark Blackburn

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Blackburn Golf Academy at Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Ala. from www.instagram.com

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Shawn Callahan

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Monroe GC, Pittsford, N.Y.; Abacoa GC, Jupiter, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Martin Chuck

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$The Raven GC, Phoenix, Ariz. from www.tourstriker.com

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Nick Clearwater

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$GOLFTEC, Englewood, Colo. from www.golftec.com

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Chris Como

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Dallas National, Dallas, Texas from www.instagram.com

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Tim Cooke

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$The Golf Learning Center at The Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C. from www.instagram.com

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Tim Cusick

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$PGA Coaching Center at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas from www.instagram.com

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Dana Dahlquist

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$El Dorado GC, Long Beach, Calif. from www.instagram.com

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Mike Dickson

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Mike Dickson Golf Academy at MCG Little Bennett GC, Clarksburg, Md. from mikedicksonneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Dom DiJulia

Top 100 since: 2007

Buy Now$DiJulia Golf at Jericho National GC, New Hope, Pa. from dijulianeatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Debbie Doniger

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$GlenArbor GC, Bedford Hills, N.Y. from www.instagram.com

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John Dunigan

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Applebrook Golf Club, Malvern, Pa. from www.johnduniganneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Krista Dunton

Top 100 since: 2011

Buy Now$Berkeley Hall, Bluffton, S.C.; Belfair, Bluffton, S.C. from kristadunton.com

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Mark Durland

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Durland Golf School at Naples Grande GC, Naples, Fla. from www.youtube.com

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Sean Foley

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Sean Foley Performance, Orlando, Fla. from www.seanfoleyneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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George Gankas

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$George Gankas Golf, Westlake Driving Range, Westlake, Calif. from www.instagram.com

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Gary Gilchrist

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, Howey in the Hills, Fla. from gilchristneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Lou Guzzi

Top 100 since: 2011

Buy Now$Lou Guzzi Golf Academy at Talamore CC, Ambler, Pa. from www.youtube.com

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Mark Hackett

Top 100 since: 2009

Buy Now$Old Palm GC, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. from www.oldpalmgolfclub.com

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Joe Hallett

Top 100 since: 2011

Buy Now$Vanderbilt Legends Club, Franklin, Tenn.; PGA West, La Quinta, Calif. from www.instagram.com

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Scott Hamilton

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Cartersville CC, Cartersville, Ga. from www.instagram.com

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Claude Harmon III

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Butch Harmon Floridian, Palm City, Fla.; CH3 Golf Performance, Dubai, UAE from www.instagram.com

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Sean Hogan

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Golfzon Leadbetter Academy at Reunion Resort, Reunion, Fla.; Golfzon Leadbetter Academy at Crystal Springs Resort, Franklin, N.J. from www.golfzonleadbetter.com

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Michael Hunt

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Shell Bay Club, Hallandale Beach, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Edward (Ed) Ibarguen

Top 100 since: 2001

Buy Now$Duke University GC, Durham, N.C. from golf.duke.edu

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Michael Jacobs

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Rock Hill GC, Manorville, N.Y. from jacobs3d.com

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Eric Johnson

Top 100 since: 2011

Buy Now$Yellowstone Club, Big Sky, Mont.; The Turn Club, Cranberry, Pa. from www.instagram.com

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Jerry King

Top 100 since: 2009

Buy Now$El Dorado Golf & Beach Club, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, Harrison, Idaho from www.instagram.com

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Kevin Kirk

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$The Woodlands CC, The Woodlands, Texas from www.instagram.com

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Erika Larkin

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$The Club at Creighton Farms, Aldie, Va. from www.instagram.com

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Bryan Lebedevitch

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$PGA West Golf Academy, La Quinta, Calif. from www.instagram.com

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James Leitz

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Tchefuncta CC, Covington, La. from leitzneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Mike Malizia

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$The Club at Admirals Cove, Jupiter, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Brian Manzella

Top 100 since: 2011

Buy Now$Studio in the Sky, New Orleans, La.; English Turn G&CC, New Orleans, La. from www.instagram.com

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Chris Mayson

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Rancho Santa Fe GC, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; National Golf Links, Southampton, N.Y. from www.instagram.com

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Cameron McCormick

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Trinity Forest, Dallas, Texas from www.instagram.com

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Susie Meyers

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club, Tucson, Ariz. from susiemeyersneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Brian Mogg

Top 100 since: 2005

Buy Now$Brian Mogg Golf Academy, Orlando, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Liam Mucklow

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$The Golf Lab, Baton Rouge, La.; The Golf Lab, King City, Ontario from www.instagram.com

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Jamie Mulligan

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Virginia CC, Long Beach, Calif. from scpga.com

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Scott Munroe

Top 100 since: 2009

Buy Now$Nantucket GC, Nantucket, Mass.; The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Jim Murphy

Top 100 since: 2003

Buy Now$Sugar Creek CC, Sugar Land, Texas from www.jimmurphyneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Bernie Najar

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Caves Valley GC, Owings Mills, Md. from www.Instagram.com

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Rob Noel

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Rob Noel Golf Academy, Abita Springs, La. from www.robnoelgolfacademy.com

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Chris O’Connell

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Plane Truth Golf, Dallas and Plano, Texas; Friar’s Head, Riverhead, N.Y. from www.planetruthneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Ed Oldham

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$The Ranch CC, Westminster, Colo. from www.edoldhamneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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David Orr

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Pine Needles Lodge & GC, Southern Pines, N.C. from flatstickacademy.com

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Andrew Park

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Orange County National, Winter Garden, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Justin Parsons

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Sea Island Golf Performance Center, St. Simons Island, Ga. from www.instagram.com

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Mike Perpich

Top 100 since: 2001

Buy Now$RiverPines Golf, Johns Creek, Ga. from www.youtube.com

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Gale Peterson

Top 100 since: 1996

Buy Now$Sea Island Golf Performance Center, St. Simons Island, Ga. from www.instagram.com

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E.J. Pfister

Top 100 since: 2009

Buy Now$Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla.; Oklahoma City G&CC, Nichols Hills, Okla. from www.instagram.com

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Joe Plecker

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, Savannah, Ga.; The Elkridge Club, Baltimore, Md. from www.instagram.com

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Andy Plummer

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$J.W. Marriott Turnberry, Aventura, Fla. from www.stackandtilt.com

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Carol Preisinger

Top 100 since: 2005

Buy Now$The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, Savannah, Ga from www.instagram.com

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John Scott Rattan

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Congressional CC, Bethesda, Md.; Bethesda CC, Bethesda, Md. from www.Instagram.com

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Andrew Rice

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$The Club at Savannah Harbor, Savannah, Ga. from www.instagram.com

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Brady Riggs

Top 100 since: 2007

Buy Now$Hansen Dam GC, Pacoima, Calif.; Four Seasons Hualalai Resort, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii from www.instagram.com

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Trillium Rose

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Woodmont CC, Rockville, Md. from www.instagram.com

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Terry Rowles

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Hudson National GC, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. from www.instagram.com

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Tony Ruggiero

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Dewsweepers Downtown, Mobile, Ala.; Old Palm GC, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. from dewsweepersneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Don Sargent Jr.

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Scioto CC, Columbus, Ohio from www.donsargentneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Adam Schriber

Top 100 since: 2009

Buy Now$LochenHeath GC, Williamsburg, Mich.; High Pointe GC, Traverse City, Mich. from www.instagram.com

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Mike Shannon

Top 100 since: 2011

Buy Now$PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, Fla. from www.tourperformancecenter.com

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James Sieckmann

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Golf Academy at Shadow Ridge CC, Omaha, Neb. from www.shortgamemastery.com

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Jeff Smith

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Spring Creek Ranch, Collierville, Tenn. from www.instagram.com

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Jeff Smith

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Eagle Springs GC, Wolcott, Colo. Bonita Bay Club, Bonita Springs, Fla. from www.jeffsmithgolfinstruction.com

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Todd Sones

Top 100 since: 1996

Buy Now$Arboretum GC, Buffalo Grove, Ill. from www.toddsones.com

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Brech Spradley

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Barton Creek Golf Academy, Austin, Texas from www.Instagram.com

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Kevin Sprecher

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Sleepy Hollow CC, Scarborough, N.Y. from www.Instagram.com

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Drew Steckel

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Southern Highlands GC, Las Vegas, Nev. from www.Instagram.com

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Kellie Stenzel

Top 100 since: 2009

Buy Now$Palm Beach Par 3, Palm Beach, Fla.; The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Fla. from www.kelliestenzelneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Sarah Stone

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase, Md. from www.instagram.com

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Boyd Summerhays

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Silverleaf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz. from www.Instagram.com

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Stephen Sweeney

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Stephen Sweeney Putting Studio, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Jon Tattersall

Top 100 since: 2007

Buy Now$Fusion Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga. from www.tattersallneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Allen Terrell

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Dustin Johnson Golf School, Murrells Inlet, S.C. from www.Instagram.com

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John Tillery

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Cuscowilla GC, Eatonton, Ga. from www.johntilleryneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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E.A. Tischler

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Olympia Fields CC, Olympia Fields, Ill. from www.newhorizonsneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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Tina Tombs

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Tina Tombs Golf at the Arizona Biltmore GC, Phoenix, Ariz.; White Mountain CC, Pinetop, Ariz. from www.tinatombsneatly-delicate-grub.edgecompute.app

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V.J. Trolio

Top 100 since: 2015

Buy Now$Old Waverly GC, West Point, Miss. from www.Instagram.com

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Stan Utley

Top 100 since: 2009, 2024

Buy Now$Grayhawk GC, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Maroon Creek Club, Aspen, Colo. from www.instagram.com

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Jeff Warne

Top 100 since: 1996, 2019

Buy Now$The Bridge, Sag Harbor, N.Y.; Old Barnwell GC, Aiken, S.C. from twitter.com

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Trent Wearner

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Trent Wearner Golf Academy, Denver, Colo. from www.Instagram.com

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Shaun Webb

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$Athletic Motion GC, Winter Garden, Fla. and Cartersville, Ga. from www.athleticmotiongolfclub.com

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Kevin Weeks

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Cog Hill GC, Palos Park, Ill. from www.instagram.com

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Gary Weir

Top 100 since: 2017

Buy Now$Westchester CC, Rye, N.Y. from www.instagram.com

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Suzy Whaley

Top 100 since: 2021

Buy Now$CC at Mirasol, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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David Woods

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$The Vintage Club, Indian Wells, Calif. from www.instagram.com

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Joey Wuertemberger

Top 100 since: 2024

Buy Now$Texas Rangers GC at The Crown Golf, Arlington, Texas from www.instagram.com

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Jonathan Yarwood

Top 100 since: 2019

Buy Now$Alpine CC, Demarest, N.J.; IJGA, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. from www.instagram.com

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Josh Zander

Top 100 since: 2013

Buy Now$Stanford University GC, Palo Alto, Calif.; Spartan Golf Complex, San Jose, Calif. from www.instagram.com

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Meet GOLF’s Top 100 Lifetime 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.

The post GOLF Magazine’s 2024-2025 Top 100 Teachers in America: The full list appeared first on Golf.

The post InsideGOLF Exclusive: Martin Chuck shares tips to turn a training aid concept into sales and success appeared first on Golf.

The post InsideGOLF Exclusive: Martin Chuck shares tips to turn a training aid concept into sales and success appeared first on Golf.

The post InsideGOLF Exclusive: Martin Chuck shares tips to turn a training aid concept into sales and success appeared first on Golf.

The post The easiest way to understand turning in your swing, according to Tiger Woods’ former coach appeared first on Golf.

The post The easiest way to understand turning in your swing, according to Tiger Woods’ former coach appeared first on Golf.

Sign up for InsideGOLF now for the chance to win a virtual lesson with Sean Foley.

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The post Top 100 Teacher: If you struggle around the greens, try my ‘Chip-Putt’ shot appeared first on Golf.

The post Top 100 Teacher: If you struggle around the greens, try my ‘Chip-Putt’ shot appeared first on Golf.

We’ve all had that situation where we just hit our ball over the green and face a fast, delicate downhill chip.

Such a touchy shot this can become a real knee knocker. It’s not always the case but most greens are built where the back of the green is higher than the front of the green. This design is ideal for accepting a properly hit golf shot. On greens like this, it’s often better to miss short, rather than go long and have a downhill chip coming back.

Now, that’s great planning but we all know that plans change, and those fast downhill chips are going to be there for us to deal with.

As for how to deal with chips like this?

I could use my chipping technique, but it’s real fast and I don’t want to put any unneeded power into the shot. Instead, I’m going to what is called a “Chip Putt” with my 60 degree wedge.

With this technique, I’m going to use my putting stroke. I’m going to take out my wedge and get set up exactly the way I would set up for a putt. Because the wedge is longer, I am going to grip down on it, stand the club up more, getting it to feel like my putter, make a couple of practice strokes and then go ahead and hit this shot.  It will come out nice and soft and this shot is going to feel like about a 20-foot putt.  

This technique can be used all around the greens and with many different clubs — just experiment with it when you have some time to go to the short-game area.

Watch the PGA and LPGA Tour players and you will notice that they use this technique many times on the course. With a little bit of practice, you can master this shot, too.

The post Top 100 Teacher: If you struggle around the greens, try my ‘Chip-Putt’ shot appeared first on Golf.

The post Why this common piece of swing advice is actually a huge myth appeared first on Golf.

The post Why this common piece of swing advice is actually a huge myth appeared first on Golf.

If you’ve been around golf for any meaningful amount of time, you’ve likely heard the advice to “keep your head down” or “keep your head still.” When someone starts struggling to make consistent contact, there’s always someone nearby to suggest they keep they focus on the movement of their head.

The advice is well-intentioned, and to the uninformed, it makes perfect sense! Too much movement with your head means that you’re (theoretically) taking your eyes off the ball. And it’s tough to hit something you aren’t actively looking at.

However well-intentioned this advice may be, though, it’s actually not all that helpful. In fact, according to GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jonathan Yarwood, the advice is a huge myth.

“As soon as you keep your head still, your body stops turning,” Yarwood says. “You get kind of too close to the ball and your extremities have to start fishing for the ball. You’ve actually got more chance of topping the ball and hitting a bad shot while keeping your head still than you have when actually letting it do what it’s supposed to do.”

With an iron, your head should slightly move off the ball (to the right) when you take it to the top of the backswing. Then, on the way down, your head will move down as you push into the ground and then forward from where it was at the top of the swing. After impact, it will continue moving forward and then up as you follow the ball on its flight.

“Your head is moving quite a lot with an iron shot,” Yarwood says. “It’s not staying still. That allows me to move my body and keep my body flowing, which pulls the club and allows me to hit a decent shot.”

The same is true with a driver, although the head movement is slightly different. Once again, your head will sway off the ball on the way back and then slightly down to begin the downswing. But as you near impact, your head will actually shift a little backward in order to create an upward angle of attack.

“It definitely does not stay still,” Yarwood says. “Let your head move around as it’s supposed to … Do not keep it still. That is yet another myth.”

The post Why this common piece of swing advice is actually a huge myth appeared first on Golf.

The post Securing Victory: Preparing for The Open’s demanding conditions appeared first on Golf.

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The post Kordas’ coach: These 4 ‘simple’ rules will improve any golf swing appeared first on Golf.

The post Kordas’ coach: These 4 ‘simple’ rules will improve any golf swing appeared first on Golf.

In some ways it must be a daunting task for a coach.

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan truly has one of the best track records in the game. He’s shepherded both Luke List and Patrick Cantlay‘s rises from junior golf all the way to the PGA Tour, with Cantlay winning a FedEx Cup title in 2021.

And then, in late 2021, Mulligan got a call from Jessica and Nelly Korda, two of the best swings — and players — on the LPGA Tour. How do you begin improving such an impressive slate of players? That’s the question we put to Mulligan in the latest episode of Swing Whisperers, which you can watch above.

You can learn from Mulligan’s system, too. Here are 4 ways his teaching philosophy can take strokes off your game:

1. Simpler is better

If there is one word that best describes coach Mulligan’s approach, it’s “simple.” To turn a good swing into a great one — or a bad one into a good one — he says the trick is learning to eliminate excess movement.

“If anything, their golf swings get simpler over time,” he says of the Kordas. “They make the right movements at the right time, and they do the same things over and over again.”

Being part of the Nelly Korda cover issue was so rewarding, especially because it means I now have about a thousand videos of Nelly’s golf swing on my phone.

Instruction piece of the cover story is dropping tomorrow. In the meantime, here she is silking a 9 iron 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LAmHYuqdhT

— LKD (@LukeKerrDineen) May 10, 2022

2. Start your swing right

Another key component of a good swing, Mulligan says, is starting your swing on the right foot. These means making sure the fundamentals of your ball position, grip, and stance are all in a place that puts your swing in a position to succeed. Most important: your posture, which will allow your body to power the rest of your swing, moving the club on the takeaway and then into the downswing.

“Her posture is beautiful,” Mulligan says of Jess Korda’s swing. “It’s what allows her body to move the club on the takeaway, and create what I call a ‘loaded takeaway.’”

3. Body guides the hands

Many teachers try to take the hands out of the swing, but Mulligan prefers to see the hands as an asset that can help you square the clubface.

“I always liked the phrase your hands are angels not devils,” he said. “But they should follow the movement of your body.”

In Mulligan’s mind, that means nailing the sequence of your transition: Shifting to your front foot, then rotating through. To help with this, he often uses a drill with his students where he puts the grip end of the club on his players’ lead hip and pushes them toward their front foot as they begin their downswing.

4. “Shots to spots”

When Mulligan talks about one of his longtime students, Patrick Cantlay, he praises above all else something that has nothing to do with his swing.

“His mentality, even as a junior golfer, was always so impressive,” he said. “He was always wise beyond his years.”

How can you adopt a similar mindset? Mulligan says to approach golf like a game of chess: When you hit your ball out of position, focus on getting safely back into position, and then continuing. It’s about limiting mistakes, and again, keeping things simple.

“It’s shots to spots,” Mulligan says. “That’s what golf is.”

The post Kordas’ coach: These 4 ‘simple’ rules will improve any golf swing appeared first on Golf.

The post How I picked up 26 yards of extra distance in a 1-hour lesson appeared first on Golf.

The post How I picked up 26 yards of extra distance in a 1-hour lesson appeared first on Golf.

I’ve become a pretty solid golfer in my time working at GOLF.com. When I started here a little over two years ago, my handicap index hovered around 7. Now, I’m at a 4.2.

But in recent months, I’ve felt as if my game has plateaued. Improvement can be difficult to come by in this maddening game, and its been in short supply for me of late. I haven’t played particularly poorly, but I also haven’t done anything too exciting.

Getting down to scratch is a huge goal of mine. It’s proven more difficult than I expected, though. The main culprit for my plateau? Lack of power.

Gear

I gained 22 yards with my first-ever clubfitting — here's what I learned

By: Claire Rogers

My clubhead speed with my driver hovers in the mid-90s. I typically fly it around 220, and it finishes out there around 240. Short and straight is my game, and it’s been an effective one. But to take my game to the next level, I know I need more pop.

So I enlisted the help of an expert; specifically, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jonathan Yarwood.

Yarwood and I have been friends for a couple years now. We “met” on social media, and I’ve since gotten to know him on the road at LPGA events and other golf-related functions. I love the way he teaches, and the results he produces are impressive. He’s coached a couple pros to major wins, including 2005 U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell.

Lucky for me, Yarwood has taken up residence in the northeast this summer, teaching at northern New Jersey’s Alpine Country Club. So, I decided to pay him a visit.

Upon arrival, Yarwood had me hit 20 balls to establish baseline numbers — 10 7-irons and 10 drivers. The results were as I expected, with a reliable pull-cut dominating my shot chart.

When I finished, Yarwood gave me a frank assessment.

“Man, you don’t hit it anywhere, do you?”

Harsh, but true.

Then, he gave me some heartening news.

“This is going to be the easiest lesson of your life.”

The culprit for the lack of power started with my posture. As Yarwood put it, I looked like a “90-year-old man” when I addressed the ball. My feet were too close together, and my hips were too flat. Simply put, I wasn’t in an athletic position to attack the ball.

Because of my setup position, I had a steep angle of attack that caused me to cut across the ball. With a narrow stance, I’d spin my hips incredibly fast from the top, throwing the club head outside the path and sapping me of almost all of my power.

The data backed up his hypothesis. My swing speed with the driver was in the mid-90s, and my path was 5 degrees to the left. Not good.

“The path is miles left, dead slow, and with a downward angle of attack,” Yarwood said. “The whole thing is just cutting across is.”

He explained that my tailbone was too far underneath me and my swing too narrow on the way back. All wee needed to do was adjust the setup position to get a more athletic posture and my speed would increase.

“I think if you stood wider, got a little lower and stood further away, things will get better,” he said. “Your trail hip is going to spin phase too quickly.”

With a more athletic setup established, all I needed to do with my swing was “surf” toward the target more on my downswing.

“Keep your trail side more down as you come into it,” Yarwood said.

With the problems diagnosed, I hopped back up on the Trackman and started hitting a few more shots. Athletic setup. Surf toward the target. Keep the trail side down. The improvement was immediate.

I saw myself effortlessly shallowing the shaft on video, and my path went from 5 degree left, to exiting 1-2 degrees right. And my cluhead speed improved, too. I went from the mid-90s to up over 101 mph with a driver. That 240-yard fade I had when I walked in the door was a now-respectable 272-yard draw.

I might need to start seeing a Top 100 Teacher more often.

The post How I picked up 26 yards of extra distance in a 1-hour lesson appeared first on Golf.

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The post Top 100 teacher roundtable: How do women coach, learn and play golf differently than men? appeared first on Golf.

The post Top 100 teacher roundtable: How do women coach, learn and play golf differently than men? appeared first on Golf.

The post How to ‘cut’ your pitch shots, like players were required to do at fire-breathing Bay Hill appeared first on Golf.

The post How to ‘cut’ your pitch shots, like players were required to do at fire-breathing Bay Hill appeared first on Golf.

If you watched the Arnold Palmer Invitational over the weekend, you saw a tournament played under U.S. Open-like conditions. The winds were swirling, the rough was gnarly and the greens were firm and fast. It made for a prime viewing experience and misery for those who had to play through it.

Bay Hill was a battlefield in a war of attrition. Pars came with a sigh of relief and big numbers lurked with every mis-hit shot. Gary Woodland summed it up best when he came off the course following a bruising final-round 73.

Instruction

The 2 most important psychological elements of golf

By: Zephyr Melton

“I’m glad I’m off that golf course,” he said. “I’m glad I’m done.”

It was that type of week in Orlando. And with the conditions so difficult, players were forced to use every shot in their bags — especially around the greens. Standard driving-range chips and pitches were largely ineffective.

Sometimes, reaching those tough-to-reach hole locations required shaping the ball — even on pitches inside 75 yards. It’s a high-level play, but one that is required when playing a brute of a course like Bay Hill. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jonathan Yarwood shared a video over the weekend explaining the technique behind these shots so you can add it to your arsenal as well.

“Imagine the flag is 12 o’clock on the clock face,” Yarwood says. “Aim your body at 11 o’clock.”

With a slightly open setup, you now want to set up the clubface behind the ball. But instead of having the face square to the target, open it up just slightly.

Stand closer to the ball than you would on a normal pitch, and pull the handle of the club down and toward your lead knee.

“From this setup, I’ve got no choice but to lift the club up and away from me,” he says. “But then the key move from here is feeling like the left pocket keeps moving, the ribs keep moving, the belt buckle keeps moving — so the handle gets pulled sharply left. It almost feels like I’m pulling the handle into my pocket.”

By releasing the club to the left, you’re effectively cutting across the ball through impact. And as long as you keep the clubface open and don’t roll it shut, you should create cut spin that will work the ball from left to right.

“It increases spin as well if you really rip your body open,” he says. “It’s a great shot to have in your bag.”

Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.

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