Since its inception in 1991, GOLF’s Top 100 Teachers in America franchise has established itself as the industry standard for recognizing excellence in coaching. We hold ourselves to a rigorous process in a quest to highlight the most innovative, committed and accomplished teachers in the country.
We truly believe each new member of the Top 100 will uphold GOLF’s mission to deliver the best instruction to golfers of all abilities. See you on the lesson tee.
How We Pick Our Top 100s
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.
Candidates are screened against a set of criteria evaluating 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.
In addition to a 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.
RELATED: Meet the 2021 class of GOLF Top 100 teachers
RELATED: Meet the 2021 class of GOLF’s up-and-coming “Teachers to Watch”
MEET GOLF’S TOP 100 TEACHERS
Dale Abraham
Top 100 since: 2017
Eric Alpenfels
Top 100 since: 2001
Cheryl Anderson
Top 100 since: 2013
Todd Anderson
Todd Anderson
Top 100 since: 2003
Jason Baile
Top 100 since: 2019
Michael Bender
Top 100 since: 1996
Mark Blackburn
Top 100 since: 2013
Steve Bosdosh
Top 100 since: 2001
Michael Breed
Top 100 since: 2003
Jason Carbone
Top 100 since: 2007
Martin Chuck
Top 100 since: 2017
Nick Clearwater
Top 100 since: 2021
Chris Como
Top 100 since: 2013
Tim Cooke
Top 100 since: 2017
Tim Cusick
Top 100 since: 2019
Dana Dahlquist
Top 100 since: 2019
Dom DiJulia
Top 100 since: 2007
Debbie Doniger
Top 100 since: 2017
John Dunigan
Top 100 since: 2017
Krista Dunton
Top 100 since: 2011
Mark Durland
Top 100 since: 2017
Chuck Evans
Top 100 since: 2009
Wayne Flint
Top 100 since: 2021
Sean Foley
Top 100 since: 2013
George Gankas
Top 100 since: 2019
Gary Gilchrist
Top 100 since: 2013
Lou Guzzi
Top 100 since: 2011
Mark Hackett
Top 100 since: 2009
Joseph Hallett
Top 100 since: 2011
Scott Hamilton
Top 100 since: 2015
Bill Harmon
Top 100 since: 1996
Claude Harmon III
Top 100 since: 2015
Sean Hogan
Top 100 since: 2015
Michael Hunt
Top 100 since: 2017
Edward (Ed) Ibarguen
Top 100 since: 2001
Michael Jacobs
Top 100 since: 2017
Eric Johnson
Top 100 since: 2011
Matt Killen
Top 100 since: 2019
Jerry King
Top 100 since: 2009
Kevin Kirk
Top 100 since: 2013
Jeff Leishman
Top 100 since: 2017
Bryan Lebedevitch
Top 100 since: 2021
James Leitz
Top 100 since: 2013
Brian Manzella
Top 100 since: 2011
Lynn Marriott
Top 100 since: 1996
Chris Mayson
Top 100 since: 2021
Cameron McCormick
Top 100 since: 2021
Mike McGetrick
Top 100 since: 1996
Susie Meyers
Top 100 since: 2017
Brian Mogg
Top 100 since: 2005
Jamie Mulligan
Top 100 since: 2015
Scott Munroe
Top 100 since: 2009
Jim Murphy
Top 100 since: 2003
Bernie Najar
Top 100 since: 2015
Pia Nilsson
Top 100 since: 2001
Rob Noel
Top 100 since: 2015
Chris O’Connell
Top 100 since: 2013
David Orr
Top 100 since: 2019
Andrew Park
Top 100 since: 2019
Justin Parsons
Top 100 since: 2021
Mike Perpich
Top 100 since: 2001
Gale Peterson
Top 100 since: 1996
E.J. Pfister
Top 100 since: 2009
Dave Phillips
Top 100 since: 2001
Joe Plecker
Top 100 since: 2017
Andy Plummer
Top 100 since: 2013
Carol Preisinger
Top 100 since: 2005
Andrew Rice
Top 100 since: 2019
Brady Riggs
Top 100 since: 2007
Trillium Rose
Top 100 since: 2021
Terry Rowles
Top 100 since: 2019
Tony Ruggiero
Top 100 since: 2017
Don Sargent Jr.
Top 100 since: 2013
Adam Schriber
Top 100 since: 2009
Michael Shannon
Top 100 since: 2011
Ted Sheftic
Top 100 since: 2003
James Sieckmann
Top 100 since: 2013
Jeff Smith
Top 100 since: 2019
Jeff Smith
Top 100 since: 2021
Todd Sones
Top 100 since: 1996
Mitchell Spearman
Top 100 since: 1996
Brech Spradley
Top 100 since: 2021
Kevin Sprecher
Top 100 since: 2017
Drew Steckel
Top 100 since: 2021
Kellie Stenzel
Top 100 since: 2009
Boyd Summerhays
Top 100 since: 2019
Jon Tattersall
Top 100 since: 2007
Kate Tempesta
Top 100 since: 2021
Allen Terrell
Top 100 since: 2021
John Tillery
Top 100 since: 2019
E.A. Tischler
Top 100 since: 2015
Tina Tombs
Top 100 since: 2019
VJ Trolio
Top 100 since: 2015
Jeff Warne
Top 100 since: 2019
Shaun Webb
Top 100 since: 2021
Kevin Weeks
Top 100 since: 2013
Gary Weir
Top 100 since: 2017
Suzy Whaley
Top 100 since: 2019
Jonathan Yarwood
Top 100 since: 2019
Josh Zander
Top 100 since: 2013
MEET GOLF’S TOP 100 LIFETIME MEMBERS
New to 2021, GOLF Magazine is creating a new designation to honor GOLF Top 100 Teachers who have remained on the Top 100 list for 20 consecutive years or more.
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.
Rick McCord
Kissimmee, Fla.
Bill Moretti
Austin, Texas
Dana Rader
Charlotte, N.C.
Craig Shankland
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Laird Small
Pebble Beach, Calif.
Randy Smith
Dallas, Texas
Rick Smith
Miami, Fla.
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.
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.
Luke Kerr-Dineen
Golf.com Contributor
Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. In his role he oversees the brand’s game improvement content spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
An alumni of the International Junior Golf Academy and the University of South Carolina–Beaufort golf team, where he helped them to No. 1 in the national NAIA rankings, Luke moved to New York in 2012 to pursue his Masters degree in Journalism from Columbia University. His work has also appeared in USA Today, Golf Digest, Newsweek and The Daily Beast.