Our exclusive 2015-16 ranking of the best instructors as ranked by their peersIf our teacher survey were the Ryder Cup, they'd be adding all of Europe to the Great Britain & Ireland team (like they did in 1979) to try to make it competitive. That's how tough it is to unseat Butch Harmon.Related: The best teachers in your stateHarmon dominated the voting for the eighth time in nine surveys since 2000. This year he finished with almost twice the votes (a combination of raw votes and top-10 ratings) of No. 2-ranked Chuck Cook. Harmon didn't coast after his record winning margin on the 2013-'14 survey. His students won more than a dozen events worldwide in the past two years, including Phil Mickelson at the 2013 British Open and Rickie Fowler at the Players Championship earlier this year.Acclaimed teachers Jim McLean, David Leadbetter, Mike Bender, Mike Adams, Jim Hardy, Martin Hall, Todd Anderson and Hank Haney fill out the top 10. Jordan Spieth's rise didn't go unnoticed by the voting panel of more than 1,100 teachers nationwide. Cameron McCormick, Spieth's coach, made the highest debut at No. 17. He's joined by newcomers James Sieckmann, Chris Como, James Leitz and Joe Hallett. This list is the first since 2001 without Ben Doyle, the famous California teacher who passed away last December.2014 Ranking in parentheses★ New to the ranking
Instruction
The 50 Best Teachers In America
![BUTCH HARMON (1)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb01fbcba5ef123e4de016_50-best-teachers-butch-harmon-1.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523324530.jpeg)
BUTCH HARMON (1)
![CHUCK COOK (6)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb02ccb96e14727824b68a_50-best-teachers-chuck-cook-2.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523328986.jpeg)
CHUCK COOK (6)
![JIM MCLEAN (3)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a28cba5ef123e4de041_50-best-teachers-jim-mclean-3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523343156.jpeg)
JIM MCLEAN (3)
![DAVID LEADBETTER (5)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a31cba5ef123e4de046_50-best-teachers-david-leadbetter-4.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523340806.jpeg)
DAVID LEADBETTER (5)
![MIKE BENDER (4)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a3bcba5ef123e4de04b_50-best-teachers-mike-bender-5.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523345306.jpeg)
MIKE BENDER (4)
![MIKE ADAMS (9)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a47b96e14727824b6aa_50-best-teachers-mike-adams-6.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523337333.jpeg)
MIKE ADAMS (9)
![JIM HARDY (7)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a4fcba5ef123e4de050_50-best-teachers-jim-hardy-7.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523349895.jpeg)
Robert Snow 2012
JIM HARDY (7)
Photo By: Robert Snow 2012
![MARTIN HALL (10)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a55b96e14727824b6af_50-best-teachers-martin-hall-8.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523348840.jpeg)
MARTIN HALL (10)
![TODD ANDERSON (8)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a5cb96e14727824b6b3_50-best-teachers-todd-anderson-9.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523318914.jpeg)
TODD ANDERSON (8)
![HANK HANEY (11)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a62b96e14727824b6b7_50-best-teachers-hank-haney-10.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523314263.jpeg)
HANK HANEY (11)
![SEAN FOLEY (2)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb0a68cba5ef123e4de057_50-best-teachers-sean-foley-11.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523338499.jpeg)
SEAN FOLEY (2)
![BOB TOSKI (12)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2c5ab96e14727824b8a1_50-best-teachers-bob-toski-12.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523355968.jpeg)
Stephen Szurlej/Golf Digest
BOB TOSKI (12)
Photo By: Stephen Szurlej/Golf Digest
![MICHAEL BREED (13)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2c60b96e14727824b8a5_50-best-teachers-michael-breed-13.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523358272.jpeg)
MICHAEL BREED (13)
![STAN UTLEY (14)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e7ccba5ef123e4de291_50-best-teachers-stan-utley-14.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523360412.jpeg)
STAN UTLEY (14)
![DAVE STOCKTON (16)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e8ab96e14727824b8e4_50-best-teachers-dave-stockton-15.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523362591.jpeg)
DAVE STOCKTON (16)
![PIA NILSSON (17)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e8acba5ef123e4de29e_50-best-teachers-pia-nilsson-16.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523363692.jpeg)
PIA NILSSON (17)
![CAMERON MCCORMICK ★](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e8acba5ef123e4de29a_50-best-teachers-cameron-mccormick-17.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523364724.jpeg)
CAMERON MCCORMICK ★
![MIKE MALASKA (15)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e8ab96e14727824b8e0_50-best-teachers-mike-malaska-18.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523361474.jpeg)
MIKE MALASKA (15)
![JIM SUTTIE (18)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e89cba5ef123e4de296_50-best-teachers-jim-suttie-19.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523323452.jpeg)
JIM SUTTIE (18)
![DAVE PELZ (24)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/17/55fb2e89b96e14727824b8dc_50-best-teachers-dave-pelz-20.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523359355.jpeg)
DAVE PELZ (24)
![MANUEL DE LA TORRE (21)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2ba4b96e14727824bb6e_50-best-teachers-manuel-de-la-torre-21.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523414416.jpeg)
MANUEL DE LA TORRE (21)
![CLAUDE HARMON III (34)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2ba4b96e14727824bb72_50-best-teachers-claude-harmon-III-22.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523416626.jpeg)
CLAUDE HARMON III (34)
![CRAIG HARMON (23)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2ba4b96e14727824bb6a_50-best-teachers-craig-harmon-23.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523420946.jpeg)
06.03.2013
CRAIG HARMON (23)
Photo By: 06.03.2013
![CRAIG SHANKLAND (22)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2ba3b96e14727824bb66_50-best-teachers-craig-shankland-24.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523413316.jpeg)
CRAIG SHANKLAND (22)
![T-25) MICHAEL HEBRON (T-28)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2d63cba5ef123e4de4ac_50-best-teachers-michael-hebron-T25.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523423158.jpeg)
T-25) MICHAEL HEBRON (T-28)
![T-25) LYNN MARRIOTT (25)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2ba3b96e14727824bb62_50-best-teachers-lynn-marriott-T25.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523408948.jpeg)
2015 J.D. Cuban
T-25) LYNN MARRIOTT (25)
Photo By: 2015 J.D. Cuban
![MAC O'GRADY (19)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2f70cba5ef123e4de4dd_50-best-teachers-mac-o-grady-27.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523381395.jpeg)
2008 US PGA TOUR
MAC O'GRADY (19)
Photo By: 2008 US PGA TOUR
![RANDY SMITH (27)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc337cb96e14727824bbf0_50-best-teachers-randy-smith-28.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523417697.jpeg)
RANDY SMITH (27)
![JAMES SIECKMANN ★](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc35bab96e14727824bc0f_50-best-teachers-james-sieckmann-29.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523383540.jpeg)
JAMES SIECKMANN ★
![T-30) JIMMY BALLARD (T-28)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc36aab96e14727824bc13_50-best-teachers-jimmy-ballard-T30.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523404691.jpeg)
T-30) JIMMY BALLARD (T-28)
![T-30) RICK SMITH (20)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc2ba4cba5ef123e4de49c_50-best-teachers-rick-smith-T30.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523422047.jpeg)
T-30) RICK SMITH (20)
![GARY WIREN (26)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc4415b96e14727824bc67_50-best-teachers-gary-wiren-32.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523411142.jpeg)
GARY WIREN (26)
![PETER KOSTIS (31)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc447eb96e14727824bc6b_50-best-teachers-peter-kostis-33.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523419870.jpeg)
PETER KOSTIS (31)
![JACK LUMPKIN (30)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc44a0cba5ef123e4de584_50-best-teachers-jack-lumpkin-34.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523384640.jpeg)
JACK LUMPKIN (30)
![CHRIS COMO ★](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc4776cba5ef123e4de588_50-best-teachers-chris-como-35.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523405728.jpeg)
CHRIS COMO ★
![DAVE PHILLIPS (33)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc5634b96e14727824bc9f_50-best-teachers-dave-phillips-36.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523427514.jpeg)
DAVE PHILLIPS (33)
![BRIAN MANZELLA (40)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc5693cba5ef123e4de5a9_50-best-teachers-brian-manzella-37.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523390152.jpeg)
BRIAN MANZELLA (40)
![MIKE MCGETRICK (38)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc56becba5ef123e4de5ad_50-best-teachers-mike-mcgetrick-38.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523394491.jpeg)
MIKE MCGETRICK (38)
![DARRELL KESTNER (43)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc56f6cba5ef123e4de5b1_50-best-teachers-darrell-kestner-39.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523392269.jpeg)
DARRELL KESTNER (43)
![JAMES LEITZ ★](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc57e5cba5ef123e4de5b5_50-best-teachers-james-leitz-40.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523429713.jpeg)
JAMES LEITZ ★
![MIKE LABAUVE (35)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc580fb96e14727824bcd0_50-best-teachers-mike-labauve-41.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523406832.jpeg)
MIKE LABAUVE (35)
![BRIAN MOGG (36)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc5959cba5ef123e4de5b9_50-best-teachers-brian-mogg-42.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523379276.jpeg)
BRIAN MOGG (36)
![ANDY PLUMMER (39)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc5a3bb96e14727824bcdd_50-best-teachers-andy-plummer-43.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523426411.jpeg)
ANDY PLUMMER (39)
![JOE HALLETT ★](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc5b41b96e14727824bcf4_50-best-teachers-joe-hallett-44.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523378167.jpeg)
JOE HALLETT ★
![MIKE SHANNON (37)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc5c0cb96e14727824bd01_50-best-teachers-mike-shannon-45.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523402471.jpeg)
MIKE SHANNON (37)
![PHIL RODGERS (49)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc6048b96e14727824bd0e_50-best-teachers-phil-rodgers-46.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523435349.jpeg)
PHIL RODGERS (49)
![GARY GILCHRIST (32)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc606ccba5ef123e4de60b_50-best-teachers-gary-gilchrist-47.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523398167.jpeg)
GARY GILCHRIST (32)
![KEVIN WEEKS (45)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc6424cba5ef123e4de622_50-best-teachers-kevin-weeks-48.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523400262.jpeg)
KEVIN WEEKS (45)
![SUZY WHALEY (48)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc644cb96e14727824bd28_50-best-teachers-suzy-whaley-49.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523424250.jpeg)
2015 Getty Images
SUZY WHALEY (48)
Photo By: 2015 Getty Images
![T-50) MIKE BENNETT (T-41)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc66c1cba5ef123e4de62f_50-best-teachers-mike-bennett-T50.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523437563.jpeg)
T-50) MIKE BENNETT (T-41)
![T-50) TODD SONES (44)](http://golfdigest.sports.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2015/09/18/55fc66edb96e14727824bd2c_50-best-teachers-todd-sones-T50.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.861.861.suffix/1573523433061.jpeg)