Rising stars: Meet GOLF Magazine’s 2024-2025 Top 100 Teachers to Watch

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

Magnolia Green Golf Club

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David Armitage

Shell Bay Club

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John Bierkan

Aronimink Golf Club

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Carlos Brown

Carlos Brown Golf at Keeton Park Golf Course

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Devan Bonebrake

Southern California Golf Academy – Hermosa Beach

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Jonathan Buchanan

City Golf Club

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Mike Bury

Eight Under By Mike Bury Golf

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Cody Carter

Druid Hills Golf Club

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Todd Casabella

Barrington Golf Club

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Addison Craig

The Bridge

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Allison Curdt

Wood Ranch Golf Club

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Derek Deminsky

Forty Niner Country Club

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Vincent Diroff

The Landings Golf and Athletic Club

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Nick Dunn

Altus Performance – Golf Clubs at The Tribute

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Meaghan Francella

Philadelphia Cricket Club

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Chris George

Kingsmill Resort

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Chad Gibbs

Duke University Golf Club

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Daniel Gray

Head of Coaching at Lake Nona CC

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Matt Henderson

TPC Las Vegas

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James Hong

Harbor Links Golf Course

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David Impasato

David Impastato Golf Academy

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Brian Jacobs

Mill Creek Golf Club

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Shawn Koch

Atlanta Athletic Club

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Gayle Leslie

Rick Smith Golf Performance Center

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Christy Longfield

Spanish Oaks Golf Club

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Corey Lundberg

Altus Performance at Trinity Forest Golf Club

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Parker McLachlin

McCormick Ranch Golf Course

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Michael Neff

Gears Sports

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Paxton O’Connor

Desert Mountain Club

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Chris Oehlerking

The Golf Practice

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Jeff Pierce

Linville Ridge Country Club

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Rick Sessinghaus

Scholl Canyon Golf Course

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Rick Silva

Movement 3 Golf

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Chris Smeal

Stadium Golf Center

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Adam Smith

The Country Club of Virginia

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Doug Spencer

Spencer Golf Academy

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Henry Stetina

New Mexico State Univeristy PGA Golf Management

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Derek Swoboda

John’s Island Club

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Monique Thoresz

Quaker Ridge Golf Club

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Jake Thurm

Ruffled Feathers Golf Club

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Jake Toliver

The Los Angeles Country Club

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Lucas Wald

Lucas Wald Golf Studio

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Matthew Wilson

Baltusrol Golf Club

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TJ Yeaton

Belle Meade Country Club

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Ryan Young

Chambers Bay

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