Every two years, GOLF Magazine convenes an independent committee of instructors to evaluate teachers’ bodies of work and decide whether it warrants inclusion on our GOLF Top 100 Teachers list. It’s a highly competitive process and consists of months of our selection committee reviewing applications against a rigorous set of criteria.
First introduced in 2019 and expanded in 2021, our GOLF Magazine “Teachers to Watch” designation aims to highlight rising stars in the golf instruction industry. Keep your eyes peeled on this group — they’re the innovative teachers of tomorrow helping shape the way we all learn, think, and play.
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: See the full list of 2024-2025 Top 100 Teachers
MORE: Meet the Lifetime Achievement teachers
MORE: Meet the Top 100 Hall of Fame inductees
MORE: Meet the Top 100 Alumni teachers
GOLF’S 2024-2025 Top 100 Teachers to Watch
Leighann Albaugh
David Armitage
John Bierkan
Carlos Brown
Devan Bonebrake
Jonathan Buchanan
Mike Bury
Cody Carter
Todd Casabella
Addison Craig
Allison Curdt
Derek Deminsky
Vincent Diroff
Nick Dunn
Meaghan Francella
Chris George
Chad Gibbs
Daniel Gray
Matt Henderson
James Hong
David Impasato
Brian Jacobs
Shawn Koch
Gayle Leslie
Christy Longfield
Corey Lundberg
Parker McLachlin
Michael Neff
Paxton O’Connor
Chris Oehlerking
Jeff Pierce
Rick Sessinghaus
Rick Silva
Chris Smeal
Adam Smith
Doug Spencer
Henry Stetina
Derek Swoboda
Monique Thoresz
Jake Thurm
Jake Toliver
Lucas Wald
Matthew Wilson
TJ Yeaton
Ryan Young
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