Our exclusive 2013-14 ranking of the best instructors as ranked by their peers
Instruction
America's 50 Best Teachers
JD Cuban/Golf Digest
Butch Harmon (1)
(2011-12 Ranking In Parentheses)VOTES: 1,240 | LESSON RATE:$1,000/hourFACILITY: Butch Harmon School of Golf (Rio Secco G.C.),Henderson, Nev.TEACHES: Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Natalie Gulbis, Jimmy WalkerFeatured lesson from Butch Harmon >Read more lessons from this teacher >
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Sean Foley (35)
__VOTES:__729 | LESSON RATE:$250/hourFACILITY: Core Golf Junior Academy (Orange County National)Winter Garden, Fla.__TEACHES:__Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan, Lee Westwood, Sean O'Hair, Edoardo MolinariFeatured lesson from Sean Foley >Read more lessons from this teacher >
Jim McLean (3)
VOTES: 628 | LESSON RATE:$2,500/half dayFACILITY: Jim McLean Golf School at Trump National Doral, MiamiRead lessons from this teacher >
Mike Bender (4)
VOTES: 622 | LESSON RATE:$300/hourFACILITY: Mike Bender Golf Academy (Magnolia Plantation G.C.)Lake Mary, Fla.Read lessons from this teacher >
David Leadbetter (2)
VOTES: 511 | LESSON RATE: $3,500/3 hoursFACILITY: David Leadbetter Golf Academy at ChampionsGate, OrlandoRead lessons from this teacher >
Chuck Cook (6)
VOTES: 476 | LESSON RATE: $300/hourFACILITY: University of Texas G.C.AustinRead lessons from this teacher >
Jim Hardy (8)
VOTES: 467 | LESSON RATE: $500/hourFACILITY: Jim Hardy Golf, HoustonRead lessons from this teacher >
Todd Anderson (11)
VOTES: 458 | LESSON RATE: $375/hourFACILITY: Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.TEACHES: Brandt Snedeker, Billy Horschel, Nick WatneyFeatured lesson from Todd Anderson >Read lessons from this teacher >
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Mike Adams (27)
VOTES: 43 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: Hamilton Farm G.C., Gladstone, N.J.TEACHES: Scott Langley, Briny Baird, Belen MozoFeatured lesson from Mike Adams >Read more lessons from this teacher >
Photo By: Dom Furore/Golf Digest
Martin Hall (7)
VOTES: 417 | LESSON RATE:$200/hourFACILITY: Ibis G. & C.C., West Palm BeachRead lessons from this teacher >
Hank Haney (5)
VOTES: 383 | LESSON RATE: $15,000/dayFACILITY: Hank Haney Golf Lewisville, TexasRead lessons from this teacher >
Bob Toski (12)
VOTES: 381 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: Toski-Batters by Golf Learning Center,Coconut Creek, Fla.Read lessons from this teacher >
Michael Breed (23)
__VOTES: __364 | LESSON RATE: $500/hourFACILITY: Michael Breed Golf Academy at Manhattan Woods G.C.,West Nyack, N.Y.Host of "The Golf Fix" on the Golf ChannelFeatured lesson from Michael Breed >Read lessons from this teacher >
Stan Utley (9)
VOTES: 360 | LESSON RATE: $1,500/3 hoursFACILITY: Grayhawk G.C., ScottsdaleRead lessons from this teacher >
JD Cuban/Golf Digest
Mike Malaska (29)
VOTES: 339 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: Malaska Golf, Mesa, Ariz.Read lessons from this teacher >
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Dave Stockton (13)
VOTES: 327 | LESSON RATE: $600/hourFACILITY: Stockton Golf, Redlands, Calif.Read lessons from this teacher >
Pia Nilsson (19)
VOTES: 307 | LESSON RATE: $350/hourFACILITY: Vision 54 (Talking Stick G.C.), ScottsdaleRead lessons from this teacher >
Jim Suttie (T-17)__VOTES:__290 | LESSON RATE:$230/hour__FACILITY:__Mistwood G.C., Romeoville, Ill.Read lessons from this teacher >
US PGA TOUR
Mac O'Grady (T-25)
VOTES: 288 | LESSON RATE: N/AFACILITY: Mac O'Grady Golf School, Palm Springs, Calif.Read lessons from this teacher >
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Stephen Szurlej
Rick Smith (24)
VOTES: 276 | LESSON RATE: $800/2 hoursFACILITY: Rick Smith Golf Academy at Oakland University, Rochester, Mich.Read lessons from this teacher >
Photo By: Stephen Szurlej
Manuel de la Torre (T-17)
VOTES: 268 | LESSON RATE: $80/hourFACILITY: Milwaukee C.C., MilwaukeeRead lessons from this teacher >
Craig Shankland (20)
VOTES: 263 | LESSON RATE: $200/hourFACILITY: LPGA International, Daytona BeachRead lessons from this teacher >
Craig Harmon (22)
VOTES: 252 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: Oak Hill C.C., Rochester, N.Y.Read lessons from this teacher >
Dave Pelz (14)
Dave Pelz (14)__VOTES:__251 | LESSON RATE:$20,000/day__FACILITY:__Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools, AustinRead lessons from this teacher >
Lynn Marriott (32)
VOTES: 229 | LESSON RATE:$ 350/hourFACILITY: Vision 54 (Talking Stick G.C.), ScottsdaleFeatured lesson from Lynn Marriott >Read lessons from this teacher >
Gary Wiren (16)
Gary Wiren (16)VOTES: 227 | LESSON RATE: $400/hourFACILITY: Trump International G.C., West Palm BeachRead lessons from this teacher >
Randy Smith (15)
VOTES: 226 | LESSON RATE: 150/hourFACILITY: Royal Oaks C.C., DallasRead lessons from this teacher >
TIED-28: Jimmy Ballard (21)
VOTES: 220 | LESSON RATE: $1,250/4 hoursFACILITY: Ballard Swing Connection (Ocean Reef C.), Key Largo, Fla.Read lessons from this teacher >
TIED-28: Michael Hebron (T-30)
VOTES: 220 | LESSON RATE: $150/hourFACILITY: Smithtown Landing C.C., Smithtown Landing, N.Y.Read lessons from this teacher >
Jack Lumpkin (T-25)
VOTES: 208 | LESSON RATE: $335/hourFACILITY: Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.Read lessons from this teacher >
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Peter Kostis (28)
__VOTES:__198 | LESSON RATE: $500/hourFACILITY: Grayhawk Learning Center (Grayhawk G.C.), ScottsdaleRead lessons from this teacher >
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Gary Gilchrist (T-49)__VOTES:__196 | LESSON RATE: $500/hourFACILITY: Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.Featured lesson from Gary Gilchrist >Read more lessons from this teacher >
Dave Phillips (34)
VOTES: 183 | LESSON RATE: $375/3 hours (group)__FACILITY:__Titleist Performance Institute Oceanside, Calif.Read lessons from this teacher >
Claude Harmon III
__VOTES:__182 | LESSON RATE:$375/hour__FACILITY:__Butch Harmon Floridian Palm City, Fla.Son of Butch Harmon, works with Ernie Els, Gary Woodland, Trevor Immelman, Brooks KoepkaRead lessons from this teacher >
Mike LaBauve (39)
__VOTES:__178 | LESSON RATE: $275/hour__FACILITY:__Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, ScottsdaleRead lessons from this teacher >
Brian Mogg (33)
__VOTES:__174 | LESSON RATE: $200/hourFACILITY: Brian Mogg Golf Academy (Waldorf Learning Center), OrlandoRead lessons from this teacher >
Mike Shannon (40)
__VOTES:__170 | LESSON RATE: $265/hourFACILITY: Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.Read lessons from this teacher >
Mike McGetrick (T-36)
__VOTES:__169 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: McGetrick Golf, CharlotteRead lessons from this teacher >
Andy Plummer (39)
VOTES: 161 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: Stack & Tilt Academy, Mount Holly, N.J.Co-developer of Stack & Tilt, teaches Charlie Wi, J.J. Henry, Brad Faxon, Tommy ArmourRead lessons from this teacher >
→ 40.Brian Manzella__VOTES:__156 | LESSON RATE:$150/hour__FACILITY:__Brian Manzella Golf Academy at English Turn G. & C.C., New OrleansTrackMan-savvy instructor, works with David Toms and LSU standout Lindsay GahmRead lessons from this teacher >
Tied 41: Mike Bennett
__VOTES:__149 | LESSON RATE: $300/hourFACILITY: Stack & Tilt Academy, Palm City, Fla.Co-developer of Stack & Tilt, teaches Charlie Wi, J.J. Henry, Brad Faxon, Tommy Armour IIIRead lessons from this teacher >
Tied 41. Ben Doyle (38)
__VOTES:__149 | LESSON RATE: $100/hourFACILITY: Quail Lodge & G.C., Carmel, Calif.Read lessons from this teacher >
Darrell Kestner (T-44)
__VOTES:__146 | LESSON RATE:$500/90 minutes__FACILITY:__Deepdale G.C., Manhasset, N.Y.Read lessons from this teacher >
Todd Sones (41)
VOTES: 139 | LESSON RATE: $200/45 minutesFACILITY: Todd Sones Impact Golf (White Deer Run G.C.),Vernon Hills, Ill.Read lessons from this teacher >
Kevin Weeks (T-44)
__VOTES:__138 | LESSON RATE: $150/hourFACILITY: Cog Hill G. & C.C., Lemont, Ill.Read lessons from this teacher >
Tied 46: Charlie King
__VOTES:__135 | LESSON RATE: $200/hourFACILITY: Reynolds Golf Academy, Greensboro, Ga.A teacher of teachers, wrote the groundbreaking book, The New Rules of Golf InstructionRead lessons from this teacher >
Tied 46: Laird Small (T-49)
__VOTES:__135 | LESSON RATE: $200/hourFACILITY: Pebble Beach Golf Academy, Pebble BeachRead lessons from this teacher >
PGA
Suzy Whaley (T-44)
__VOTES:__134 | LESSON RATE: $150/hourFACILITY: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.Read lessons from this teacher >
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Phil Rodgers (T-36)
__VOTES:__122 | LESSON RATE: $300/hourFACILITY: The Grand Del Mar, San DiegoRead lessons from this teacher >
Tied 50. Dana Rader (47)
__VOTES:__118 | LESSON RATE: $175/hourFACILITY: Dana Rader Golf School CharlotteRead lessons from this teacher >
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Tied 50. Grant Waite
__VOTES:__118 | LESSON RATE: $250/hourFACILITY: Waite Mayo Golf, OrlandoPGA Tour winner (1993 Kemper Open), works with Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Brian GayRead lessons from this teacher >
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