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
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.
Dale Abraham
Bighorn GC, Palm Desert, CA
Top 100 since: 2017
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Eric Alpenfels
Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, NC
Top 100 since: 2001
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Cheryl Anderson
Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, FL
Top 100 since: 2013
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Todd Anderson
Todd Anderson
Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Top 100 since: 2003
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Jason Baile
Jupiter Hills Club, Jupiter, FL
Top 100 since: 2019
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Michael Bender
Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, FL
Top 100 since: 1996
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Mark Blackburn
Greystone G&CC, Hoover, AL
Top 100 since: 2013
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Steve Bosdosh
Academy, P.B. Dye GC, Ijamsville, MD
Top 100 since: 2001
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Michael Breed
CBS Sports and Golf Digest
Top 100 since: 2003
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Jason Carbone
Woodland CC, Carmel, IN
Top 100 since: 2007
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Martin Chuck
Raven GC, Phoenix, AZ
Top 100 since: 2017
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Nick Clearwater
GOLFTEC HQ
Top 100 since: 2021
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Chris Como
Dallas National GC
Top 100 since: 2013
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Tim Cooke
The Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC
Top 100 since: 2017
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Tim Cusick
PGA of America Faculty Member, PGA Frisco
Top 100 since: 2019
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Dana Dahlquist
El Dorado Park GC, Long Beach, CA
Top 100 since: 2019
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Dom DiJulia
DiJulia Golf, Jericho National GC, New Hope, PA
Top 100 since: 2007
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Debbie Doniger
Glenarbor GC, Bedford Hills, NY
Top 100 since: 2017
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John Dunigan
Applebrook GC, Malvern, PA
Top 100 since: 2017
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Krista Dunton
Berkeley Hall Club, Bluffton, SC
Top 100 since: 2011
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Mark Durland
Durland Golf School, Naples Grande GC, Naples, FL
Top 100 since: 2017
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Chuck Evans
Apache Creek GC, Apache Creek, AZ
Top 100 since: 2009
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Wayne Flint
Highland Park GC, Birmingham, AL
Top 100 since: 2021
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Sean Foley
Sean Foley Performance, Timacuan GC, Lake Mary, FL
Top 100 since: 2013
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George Gankas
Westlake Village GC, Westlake Village, CA
Top 100 since: 2019
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Gary Gilchrist
Mission Inn Resort and Club, Howey-in-the- Hills, FL; Bishops Gate GC, Howey-in-the- Hills, FL
Top 100 since: 2013
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Lou Guzzi
Talamore CC, Ambler, PA
Top 100 since: 2011
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Mark Hackett
Old Palm GC, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Top 100 since: 2009
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Joseph Hallett
Vanderbilt Legends Club, Franklin, TN
Top 100 since: 2011
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Scott Hamilton
Cartersville CC, Cartersville, GA
Top 100 since: 2015
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Bill Harmon
Performance Academy, Toscana CC, Indian Wells, CA
Top 100 since: 1996
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Claude Harmon III
Butch Harmon Floridian, Palm City, FL
Top 100 since: 2015
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Sean Hogan
Leadbetter Golf Academy World HQ, Omni Orlando Resort, ChampionsGate, FL
Top 100 since: 2015
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Michael Hunt
Bayonne GC, Bayonne, NJ (summer); Miami Beach GC, Miami Beach, FL (winter)
Top 100 since: 2017
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Edward (Ed) Ibarguen
Duke University GC, Durham, NC
Top 100 since: 2001
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Michael Jacobs
Jacobs 3D Golf at Rock Hill CC, Manorville, NY
Top 100 since: 2017
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Eric Johnson
The Yellowstone Club, Big Sky, MT
Top 100 since: 2011
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Matt Killen
Troubadour Golf & Field Club, College Grove, TN
Top 100 since: 2019
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Jerry King
Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, Harrison, ID (summer); Chileno Bay Club, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (winter)
Top 100 since: 2009
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Kevin Kirk
The Woodlands CC, The Woodlands, TX
Top 100 since: 2013
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Jeff Leishman
The Dye Preserve, Jupiter, FL
Top 100 since: 2017
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Bryan Lebedevitch
PGA West Golf Academy, La Quinta, CA
Top 100 since: 2021
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James Leitz
Tchefuncta CC, Covington, LA
Top 100 since: 2013
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Brian Manzella
English Turn G&CC, New Orleans, LA
Top 100 since: 2011
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Lynn Marriott
Talking Stick GC, Scottsdale, AZ
Top 100 since: 1996
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Chris Mayson
Maderas GC, Poway, CA
Top 100 since: 2021
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Cameron McCormick
Trinity Forest GC, Dallas, TX
Top 100 since: 2021
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Mike McGetrick
Robert Trent Jones GC, Gainesville, VA
Top 100 since: 1996
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Susie Meyers
Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, Tucson, AZ
Top 100 since: 2017
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Brian Mogg
Waldorf Astoria GC, Orlando, FL
Top 100 since: 2005
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Jamie Mulligan
Virginia CC, Long Beach, CA
Top 100 since: 2015
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Scott Munroe
Nantucket GC, Nantucket, MA (summer); Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, FL (winter)
Top 100 since: 2009
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Jim Murphy
Sugar Creek CC, Sugar Land, TX
Top 100 since: 2003
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Bernie Najar
Caves Valley GC, Owings Mills, MD
Top 100 since: 2015
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Pia Nilsson
Talking Stick GC, Scottsdale, AZ
Top 100 since: 2001
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Rob Noel
Money Hill G&CC, Abita Springs, LA
Top 100 since: 2015
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Chris O’Connell
Friar’s Head, Riverhead, NY (summer); The Courses at Watters Creek, Plano, TX (winter)
Top 100 since: 2013
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David Orr
Pine Needles Lodge & GC, Southern Pines, NC
Top 100 since: 2019
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Andrew Park
Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge, Winter Park, FL
Top 100 since: 2019
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Justin Parsons
Sea Island GC, St. Simons Island, GA
Top 100 since: 2021
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Mike Perpich
RiverPines Golf, Johns Creek, GA
Top 100 since: 2001
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Gale Peterson
Sea Island GC, St. Simons Island, GA
Top 100 since: 1996
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E.J. Pfister
Oak Tree National, Edmond, OK; Oklahoma City G&CC, Nichols Hills, OK
Top 100 since: 2009
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Dave Phillips
Titleist Performance Institute, Oceanside, CA
Top 100 since: 2001
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Joe Plecker
The Landings Club, Savannah, GA
Top 100 since: 2017
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Andy Plummer
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, Aventura, FL
Top 100 since: 2013
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Carol Preisinger
Kiawah Island Club, Johns Island, SC
Top 100 since: 2005
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Andrew Rice
The Club at Savannah Harbor, Savannah, GA
Top 100 since: 2019
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Brady Riggs
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kailua-Kona, HI
Top 100 since: 2007
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Trillium Rose
Woodmont CC, Rockville, MD
Top 100 since: 2021
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Terry Rowles
Mountain Ridge CC, West Caldwell, NJ
Top 100 since: 2019
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Tony Ruggiero
Dewsweepers Downtown, Mobile, Ala.; Montgomery Country Club, Montgomery Ala.
Top 100 since: 2017
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Don Sargent Jr.
Scioto CC, Columbus, OH
Top 100 since: 2013
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Adam Schriber
LochenHeath GC, Williamsburg, MI
Top 100 since: 2009
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Michael Shannon
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Top 100 since: 2011
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Ted Sheftic
Bridges GC, Abbottstown, PA (summer); Indian River Club, Vero Beach, FL (winter)
Top 100 since: 2003
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James Sieckmann
Shadow Ridge CC, Omaha, NE
Top 100 since: 2013
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Jeff Smith
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV
Top 100 since: 2019
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Jeff Smith
Sagamore Club, Noblesville, IN; Timbergate GC, Edinburgh, IN
Top 100 since: 2021
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Todd Sones
White Deer Run GC, Vernon Hills, IL
Top 100 since: 1996
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Mitchell Spearman
Mitchell Spearman Golf Academy (various locations)
Top 100 since: 1996
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Brech Spradley
Omni Barton Creek Resort and Club, Austin, TX
Top 100 since: 2021
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Kevin Sprecher
Sleepy Hollow CC, Briarcliff Manor, NY
Top 100 since: 2017
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Drew Steckel
Southern Highlands GC, Las Vegas, NV
Top 100 since: 2021
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Kellie Stenzel
Palm Beach CC, Palm Beach, FL; Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, FL
Top 100 since: 2009
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Boyd Summerhays
McDowell Mountain GC, Scottsdale, AZ
Top 100 since: 2019
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Jon Tattersall
Tattersall Golf, Atlanta, GA
Top 100 since: 2007
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Kate Tempesta
Birdie Basics, New Caanan, CT
Top 100 since: 2021
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Allen Terrell
Dustin Johnson Golf School, Murrells Inlet, SC
Top 100 since: 2021
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John Tillery
Golf Club at Cuscowilla, Eatonton, GA
Top 100 since: 2019
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E.A. Tischler
Olympia Fields CC, Olympia Fields, IL
Top 100 since: 2015
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Tina Tombs
The Arizona Biltmore GC, Phoenix, AZ
Top 100 since: 2019
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VJ Trolio
Old Waverly GC, West Point, MS
Top 100 since: 2015
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Jeff Warne
The Bridge GC, Bridgehampton, NY
Top 100 since: 2019
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Shaun Webb
Athletic Motion Golf, Cartersville, GA
Top 100 since: 2021
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Kevin Weeks
Cog Hill G&CC, Lemont, IL
Top 100 since: 2013
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Gary Weir
Westchester CC, Rye, NY
Top 100 since: 2017
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Suzy Whaley
Country Club at Mirasol, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Top 100 since: 2019
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Jonathan Yarwood
IJGA, Hilton Head Island, SC
Top 100 since: 2019
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Josh Zander
Stanford University GC, Stanford, CA
Top 100 since: 2013
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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.
