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
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Dale Abraham
Bighorn GC, Palm Desert, Calif.; Cape Arundel GC, Kennebunkport, Maine
Top 100 since: 2017
Rob Akins
The Madison Club, La Quinta, Calif; Tributary, Driggs, Idaho
Top 100: (2001, 2024)
Cheryl Anderson
Mike Bender Golf Academy at Magnolia Plantation GC, Lake Mary, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2013
Todd Anderson
PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2003
Mark Blackburn
Blackburn Golf Academy at Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Ala.
Top 100 since: 2013
Tim Cooke
The Golf Learning Center at The Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Top 100 since: 2017
Mike Dickson
Mike Dickson Golf Academy at MCG Little Bennett GC, Clarksburg, Md.; Congressional CC, Bethesda, Md.
Top 100 since: 2024
George Gankas
George Gankas Golf, Westlake Driving Range, Westlake, Calif.
Top 100 since: 2019
Joe Hallett
Vanderbilt Legends Club, Franklin, Tenn.; PGA West, La Quinta, Calif.
Top 100 since: 2011
Claude Harmon III
Butch Harmon Floridian, Palm City, Fla.; CH3 Golf Performance, Dubai, UAE
Top 100 since: 2015
Sean Hogan
Golfzon Leadbetter Academy at Reunion Resort, Reunion, Fla.; Golfzon Leadbetter Academy at Crystal Springs Resort, Franklin, N.J.
Top 100 since: 2015
Michael Hunt
Bayonne GC, Bayonne, N.J.; Jim McLean Golf Academy, Miami Beach, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2017
Eric Johnson
Yellowstone Club, Big Sky, Mont.; The Turn Club, Cranberry, Pa.
Top 100 since: 2011
Jerry King
El Dorado Golf & Beach Club, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, Harrison, Idaho
Top 100 since: 2009
Brian Manzella
Studio in the Sky, New Orleans, La.; English Turn G&CC, New Orleans, La.
Top 100 since: 2011
Chris Mayson
Rancho Santa Fe GC, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; National Golf Links, Southampton, N.Y.
Top 100 since: 2021
Brian Mogg
Waldorf Astoria GC, Orlando, Fla.; Chambers Bay GC, University Place, Wash.
Top 100 since: 2005
Liam Mucklow
The Golf Lab, Baton Rouge, La.; The Golf Lab, King City, Ontario
Top 100 since: 2024
Scott Munroe
Nantucket GC, Nantucket, Mass.; The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2009
Chris O’Connell
Plane Truth Golf, Dallas and Plano, Texas; Friar’s Head, Riverhead, N.Y.
Top 100 since: 2013
Justin Parsons
Sea Island Golf Performance Center, St. Simons Island, Ga.
Top 100 since: 2021
Gale Peterson
Sea Island Golf Performance Center, St. Simons Island, Ga.
Top 100 since: 1996
E.J. Pfister
Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla.; Oklahoma City G&CC, Nichols Hills, Okla.
Top 100 since: 2009
Joe Plecker
The Landings Golf & Athletic Club, Savannah, Ga.; The Elkridge Club, Baltimore, Md.
Top 100 since: 2017
John Scott Rattan
Congressional CC, Bethesda, Md.; Bethesda CC, Bethesda, Md.
Top 100 since: 2024
Brady Riggs
Hansen Dam GC, Pacoima, Calif.; Four Seasons Hualalai Resort, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Top 100 since: 2007
Tony Ruggiero
Dewsweepers Downtown, Mobile, Ala.; Old Palm GC, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2017
Adam Schriber
LochenHeath GC, Williamsburg, Mich.; High Pointe GC, Traverse City, Mich.
Top 100 since: 2009
Mike Shannon
PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2011
Jeff Smith
Eagle Springs GC, Wolcott, Colo. Bonita Bay Club, Bonita Springs, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2021
Kellie Stenzel
Palm Beach Par 3, Palm Beach, Fla.; The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2009
Stephen Sweeney
Stephen Sweeney Putting Studio, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Reunion Resort, Kissimmee, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2024
Tina Tombs
Tina Tombs Golf at the Arizona Biltmore GC, Phoenix, Ariz.; White Mountain CC, Pinetop, Ariz.
Top 100 since: 2019
Stan Utley
Grayhawk GC, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Maroon Creek Club, Aspen, Colo.
Top 100 since: 2009, 2024
Jeff Warne
The Bridge, Sag Harbor, N.Y.; Old Barnwell GC, Aiken, S.C.
Top 100 since: 1996, 2019
Shaun Webb
Athletic Motion GC, Winter Garden, Fla. and Cartersville, Ga.
Top 100 since: 2021
David Woods
The Vintage Club, Indian Wells, Calif.; Indian Ridge CC, Palm Desert, Calif.
Top 100 since: 2024
Joey Wuertemberger
Texas Rangers GC at The Crown Golf, Arlington, Texas
Top 100 since: 2024
Jonathan Yarwood
Alpine CC, Demarest, N.J.; IJGA, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Top 100 since: 2019
Josh Zander
Stanford University GC, Palo Alto, Calif.; Spartan Golf Complex, San Jose, Calif.
Top 100 since: 2013
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.
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