Black Desert Championship

Black Desert Resort



    Golf Digest Logo top teachers

    Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America (2025-2026)

    We searched from one end of the country to the other to identify the rising stars of golf instruction.
    October 01, 2024
    vm
    Golf pro teaching beginner golfer on driving range at sunset.

    Our latest list of the Best Young Teachers in America stands at an all-time high of 191, including 59 newcomers. This impressive group of instructors under 40 represents the unprecedented growth of golf in recent years. Here we reveal their names and even share some of their tips to help you hit every club in the bag better.

    *Teachers who are new to the list

    NORTHEAST

    AARON ASEDO / 39 Florham Park (N.J.) G.C., $225/HR.

    JASON BARRY / 36 Springdale G.C., Princeton, N.J. $200/HR.

    NICK BIONDI / 28* Radley Run C.C., West Chester, Pa. $200/HR.

    NICK BOVA / 39 Hamilton Farm G.C., Gladstone, N.J. $240/HR.

    DAVID BOVE / 38 Tashua Knolls G. Cse., Trumbull, Conn. $300/HR.

    JAMES BROD / 29* Oakmont (Pa.) C.C., $180/HR.

    SCOTT CHISHOLM / 38 Rolling Green G.C., Springfield, Pa. $225/HR.

    STEPHEN CLARK / 38 Old Westbury (N.Y.) G. & C.C., $250/HR.

    JOANNA COE / 34 Merion G.C., Ardmore, Pa. $150/HR.

    ERIC COGORNO / 35 Bethlehem (Pa.) G.C., $350/HR.

    EARL COOPER / 35 Earl Cooper Golf, New York City $275/HR.

    ADDISON CRAIG / 33 The Bridge G.C., Bridgehampton, N.Y. $300/HR.

    BRYAN DOUGHERTY / 38 Hollywood G.C., Deal, N.J. $267/HR.

    MIKE DOYLE / 38 Five Iron Golf, New York City $300/HR.

    GREG DUCHARME / 33 Michael Breed Golf Academy, Greenwich, Conn. $300/HR.

    JUSTIN FOSTER / 39 Ridgewood C.C., Danbury, Conn. $130/HR.

    RYAN HAGER / 30 Plainfield C.C., Edison, N.J. $225/HR.

    MORGAN HALE / 35 The Creek, Locust Valley, N.Y. $175/HR.

    NICK IACONO / 35 Merion G.C., Ardmore, Pa. $175/HR.

    JOSEPH INGOGLIA / 39* Ingoglia Golf, Dix Hills, N.Y. $225/HR.

    MICHAEL LABELLA / 35 Nemacolin Resort, Farmington, Pa. $225/HR.

    KELAN MCDONAGH / 34* Metedeconk National G.C., Jackson Township, N.J. $250/HR.

    BILL MCLEOD / 39* Shinnecock HIlls G.C., Southampton, N.Y. $225/HR.

    DAN MERRELL / 36* Penn State Golf Teaching and Research Center, State College, Pa. $200/HR.

    BRENDEN MITCHELL / 30* Philadelphia C.C., Gladwyne, Pa. $140/HR.

    CJ NAFUS / 33 Roxiticus G.C., Mendham, N.J. $180/HR.

    NICK NOVAK / 39 The Apawamis C., Rye, N.Y. $180/HR.

    JAKE PLECZKOWSKI / 37 Sankaty Head G.C., Siasconset, Mass. $200/HR.

    RICO RICIPUTI / 36 Coach Club, North Hampton, N.H. $175/HR.

    STEPHEN SIERACKI / 37 The Legacy C., Cherry Hill, N.J. $200/HR.

    RENEE SKIDMORE / 38* Atlantic G.C., Water Mill, N.Y. $225/HR.

    MICHAEL SWEENEY / 38 The Bridge Golf Learning Center, New York City $315/HR.

    DAVID TARASCHI / 36 Burlington C.C., Mount Holly, N.J. $300/HR.

    JT THOMAS / 32 Wins’ Society G.C., Brooklyn, N.Y. $250/HR.

    MATT WILSON / 39 Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J. $250/HR.

    MID-ATLANTIC

    ANDREW BREWER / 31 Princess Anne C.C., Virginia Beach, Va. $125/HR.

    GAYLON CUDE / 36 Golf House Tennessee, Franklin, Tenn. $160/HR.

    NATE EATON / 38* Carolina C.C., Raleigh, N.C. $175/HR.

    KELLIE EDELBLUT / 31* Longleaf G. and Family C., Southern Pines, N.C. $125/HR.

    ROB FAILES / 29 Birdwood G. Cse., Charlottesville, Va. $125/HR.

    EDWARD GILL / 33* The Dominion C., Glen Allen, Va. $135/HR.

    ANDREW KIGER / 37* The C. at 12 Oaks, Holly Springs, N.C. $200/HR.

    MATT KILLEN / 39 Troubadour G. & Field Club, College Grove, Tenn. $2,000/3 HRS.

    CATHY KIM / 38 Baltimore C.C., Lutherville, Md. $190/HR.

    MARTIN LUCAS / 34* Hedingham G.C., Raleigh, N.C. $175/HR.

    STUART MCKECHNIE / 35* Phenom Golf Lab, Charlotte $200/HR.

    PATRICK MILKOVICH / 30* Old Barnwell, Aiken, S.C. $150/HR.

    MITCHELL MOORE / 37 Mitchell Moore Golf Academy, Hopkinsville, Ky. $100/HR.

    DANIEL NEBEN / 35 TPC Potomac (Md.) at Avenel Farm $200/HR.

    RUSHI OZA / 38 Highland Creek G.C., Charlotte $110/HR.

    GAVIN PARKER / 31 Salisbury C.C., Midlothian, Va. $185/HR.

    BRIAN ROGISH / 39 The G.C. at Lansdowne, Leesburg, Va. $200/HR.

    BILL SCHMEDES III / 38 Mastery Golf Performance, Hilton Head Island $250/HR.

    JOE STEADMAN / 38* The C.C. of North Carolina, Pinehurst, N.C. $130/HR.

    ERICA STONER / 27 Raleigh (N.C.) C.C. $200/HR.

    MATT WALTER / 35* Indian Hills G. Cse., Murfreesboro, Tenn. $150/HR.

    COLBY WOLLITZ / 38 Hurstbourne C.C., Louisville $250/HR.

    TJ YEATON / 36 Belle Meade C.C., Nashville $200/HR.

    SOUTHEAST

    DAVID ANGELOTTI / 35 Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga. $255/HR.

    CHRISTOPHER ARDOLINA / 39 Cove Cay G.C., Clearwater, Fla. $120/HR.

    CHRIS BIGGINS / 32 The C.C. of Birmingham (Ala.) $90/HR.

    BEAU BRYAN / 28* Steven DeBoer Golf Academy, Hanceville, Ala. $120/HR.

    DAN CARRAHER / 39 The Golf C. at South Hampton, St. Augustine, Fla. $200/HR.

    CODY CARTER / 35 Druid Hills G.C., Atlanta $175/HR.

    ANGELLO COLLINS / 35* Casa Linda Oaks G.C., Jacksonville $135/HR.

    PRESTON COMBS / 35 Preston’s Putting, Kissimmee, Fla. $275/HR.

    JOE COMPITELLO / 39 Indian Creek (Fla.) C.C. $200/HR.

    RYAN CRAWLEY / 31 Ryan Crawley Golf, Lowell, Ark. $200/HR.

    BRIAN CREGHAN / 36 Pine Tree G.C., Boynton Beach, Fla. $350/HR.

    KATIE DAHL / 35 West Bay C., Estero, Fla. $160/HR.

    STEVEN DEBOER / 34 Steven DeBoer Golf Academy, Hanceville, Ala. $150/HR.

    MATT DEJOHN / 34 Matt DeJohn Golf Academy, Port St. Lucie, Fla. $300/HR.

    SARA DICKSON / 37 Wilderness C.C., Naples, Fla. $130/HR.

    ALEX FERNANDEZ / 32 Jim McLean Golf School at the Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla. $195/HR.

    BILL HASSELL / 39* Marietta C.C., Kennesaw, Ga. $200/HR.

    MEGAN JOHNSTON / 31* Orange County National, Winter Garden, Fla. $125/HR.

    JACKSON KOERT / 34 Atlantic Beach (Fla.) C.C. $150/HR.

    MICHAEL KOLAR / 31* The C. at Ibis, West Palm Beach, Fla. $130/HR.

    JASON KUIPER / 39 Grand Slam Golf Academy, Atlanta $240/HR.

    DAVID LUTTERUS / 39* Medalist G.C., Hobe Sound, Fla. $200/HR.

    JUSTIN MARTIN / 38* The Park West Palm, West Palm Beach, Fla. $160/HR.

    JON MCLEAN / 38 Jim McLean Golf School at the Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla. $300/HR.

    JOHN MONTGOMERY / 34 Celebration (Fla.) Golf Academy $200/HR.

    JOE OSTROWSKI / 39 The Concession G.C., Bradenton, Fla. $200/HR.

    CARLA OVERHISER / 37 John Webster Golf Academy at The Breakers, Palm Beach $275/HR.

    PATRICK PATTERSON / 33* Kirkwood National G.C., Holly Springs, Miss. $120/HR.

    LUKE REILLY / 29* Chenal C.C., Little Rock $150/HR.

    JASON SEDAN / 39 Old Marsh G.C., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. $300/HR.

    STEFANIE SHAW / 37 Ocean Reef C., Key Largo, Fla. $220/HR.

    JUSTIN SHEEHAN / 38 Pelican G.C., Belleair, Fla. $250/HR.

    NATHALIE SHEEHAN / 30 Pelican G.C., Belleair, Fla. $200/HR.

    TYLER SLOCUM / 32 Shell Bay C., Hallandale Beach, Fla. $250/HR.

    RYAN SMITH / 39 Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga. $255/HR.

    CHRIS SPALLA / 37* Shingle Creek Golf Academy, Orlando $160/HR.

    ALANA SWAIN / 36 PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach $250/HR.

    STEPHEN SWEENEY / 39* Stephen Sweeney Putting, Jupiter, Fla. $1,000/HR.

    DEREK SWOBODA / 35 John’s Island C., Vero Beach, Fla. $200/HR.

    JACOB TILTON / 33* Ansley G.C., Atlanta $125/HR.

    JAKE TOLIVER / 34 Atlantic Fields, Hobe Sound, Fla. $250/HR.

    THOMAS WATKINS, JR. / 34* Whisper Lake C.C., Madison, Miss. $80/HR.

    GRAYSON ZACKER / 38 Jim McLean Golf School at the Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla. $300/HR.

    MIDWEST

    JACOB BABCOCK / 37* GolfTec Mequon (Wisc.) $165/HR.

    GREG BARESEL / 39 Cantigny G., Wheaton, Ill. $140/HR.

    TIM BOEGH / 39 GolfTec Madison (Wisc.) $150/HR.

    MOLLY BRAID / 37 Westmoor C.C., Brookfield, Wisc. $150/HR.

    STEVEN DININO / 36* Steven Dinino Golf Academy, Mundelein, Ill. $140/HR.

    LUKE DONAH / 31 Cedar Rapids (Iowa) C.C. $150/HR.

    MICHAEL DUTRO / 39* Measured Golf, Ann Arbor, Mich. $250/HR.

    ADAM FARABAUGH / 38 C.C. of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. $160/HR.

    MAUREEN FARRELL / 37 Oakwood C.C., Kansas City, Mo. $175/HR.

    MITCH FARRER / 33 The Golf Room, Dublin, Ohio $200/HR.

    CHRIS GREEN / 37 Glen View C., Golf, Ill. $225/HR.

    PATRICK KANE / 31* Inverness C., Toledo, Ohio $150/HR.

    JUSTIN KRAFT / 28* Spring Hill G.C., Wayzata, Minn. $180/HR.

    TAYLOR LAMBERTSEN / 29* Briarwood C.C., Deerfield, Ill. $125/HR.

    KRIS MCGOVERN / 31* Ravinia Green C.C., Highland Heights, Ohio $120/HR.

    CHAD MIDDAUGH / 39 Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio $125/HR.

    KYLE MORRIS / 39 The Golf Room, Dublin, Ohio $400/HR.

    CLAYTON PENDERGRAFT / 29 Cog Hill G. & C.C., Lemont, Ill. $125/HR.

    BOBBY PETERSON / 37* Milwaukee (Wisc.) C.C. $120/HR.

    EVA ROGERS / 35 Medinah (Ill.) C.C. $165/HR.

    DANIEL SCIARRINO / 31* Lake Shore C.C., Glencoe, Ill. $180/HR.

    JOE SHEREN / 37 SMART Golf & Fitness Instruction, Chicago $200/HR.

    CHELSEA SODA / 34* Echo Valley C.C., Norwalk, Iowa $110/HR.

    TJ SULLIVAN / 39 GolfTec Oak Brook (Ill.) $195/HR.

    SAM VOSLER / 36 Sanford Sports Golf Academy, Sioux Falls, S.D. $135/HR.

    CHASE WILSON / 33* Columbus (Ohio) C.C. $130/HR.

    SOUTHWEST

    KEITH BENNETT / 33 McCormick Ranch G.C., Scottsdale $275/HR.

    JONATHAN BUCHANAN / 39 Dallas C.C. $250/HR.

    MEGAN BUZZA / 39 Buzza Golf Coaching, Frisco, Texas $180/HR.

    STEVE BUZZA / 37 Brook Hollow G.C., Dallas $200/HR.

    JACK DANESHMAND / 35* Como Coaching Academy, Irving, Texas $250/HR.

    DEREK DEMINSKY / 38* Forty Niner C.C., Tucson $170/HR.

    NICK DUNN / 35 Altus Performance at Old American G.C., The Colony, Texas $250/HR.

    WILLIAM ELDRENKAMP / 33* Legacy Golf Performance Center, Phoenix $150/HR.

    ADRIAN KELLEY / 37 SLICGOLF at Mansfield (Texas) National G.C. $175/HR.

    JUSTIN KLEMBALLA / 37 Forest Highlands G.C., Flagstaff, Ariz. $150/HR.

    JOHN KOSTIS / 36 Grayhawk G.C., Scottsdale $250/HR.

    MIKE KRAHE / 38 Tour Striker Golf Academy at Raven G.C., Phoenix $200/HR.

    JEFF KULHANEK / 36* Camelback G.C., Scottsdale $150/HR.

    LINDY LABAUVE / 35 The Westin Kierland G.C., Scottsdale $175/HR.

    ANDREW LEWIS / 39 Sherrill Park G. Cse., Richardson, Texas $300/HR.

    MATT LOHMEYER / 34* SLICGOLF at Mansfield (Texas) National G.C. $140/HR.

    KENNETH MESIMER / 38 Lakeside C.C., Houston $160/HR.

    CLIFF MISHLER / 35 The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch, McKinney, Texas $195/HR.

    ASHLEY MALASKA MOSS / 34 Malaska Golf, Queen Creek, Ariz. $250/HR.

    PAXTON O’CONNOR / 33 Desert Mountain C., Scottsdale $250/HR.

    JARUT PADUNG / 35 McCormick Ranch G.C., Scottsdale $175/HR.

    ANDY PATNOU / 36 Starfire G.C., Scottsdale $225/HR.

    RYAN RODY / 39 Southern Hills C.C., Tulsa $250/HR.

    KAYLIN SKOVRON / 37 Jeff Isler Golf, Southlake, Texas $185/HR.

    HENRY STETINA / 38 New Mexico State PGA Golf Management Program, Las Cruces, N.M. $100/HR.

    WEST

    ZACH ABELS / 38 Canyon Springs G. Cse., Twin Falls, Idaho $100/HR.

    CHRISTOPHER ARMANINI / 36* Kaanapali G. Cse., Lahaina, Hawaii $175/HR.

    JOHN BATTAGLIA / 39 PGA West Golf Academy, La Quinta, Calif. $225/HR.

    GRANGER BEATON / 37* MountainGate C.C., Los Angeles $100/HR.

    MARIO BEVILACQUA / 35 TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas $350/HR.

    GARY BISSELL / 35 The Hangar C., Denver $200/HR.

    BRANDON BITTNER / 38 Rick Smith Golf Academy, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. $195/HR.

    DEVAN BONEBRAKE / 39 Studio Golf, Hermosa Beach, Calif. $350/HR.

    JARED BUTTS / 38 Will Robins Golf, Folsom, Calif. $200/HR.

    CONNIE CHEN / 31* GolfTec Englewood (Colo.) $400/HR.

    BRYAN COLLINS / 35 GolfTec Englewood (Colo.) $400/HR.

    STEFANIE FERGUSON / 37 ExperienceGolf at CommonGround G. Cse., Aurora, Colo. $140/HR.

    JORDAN GIBBS / 36* Denver C.C. $165/HR.

    MAGGIE HARTMAN / 29* Trent Wearner Golf Academy at Walnut Creek G. Preserve, Westminster, Colo. $150/HR.

    MATT HENDERSON / 39 TPC Las Vegas $175/HR.

    AYUMI HORI / 39 Balboa G. Cse., Encino, Calif. $250/HR.

    JON HORNER / 39 Menlo C.C., Woodside, Calif. $200/HR.

    JIMMY HUTCHINGS / 34* La Rinconada C.C., Los Gatos, Calif. $225/HR.

    JAKE HUTT / 36 Dryvebox, San Francisco $250/HR.

    BLAKE JIRGES / 33 Coto de Caza (Calif.) G. & Racquet C. $200/HR.

    CONNER JOHNSON / 30* Southern California Golf Academy, Carlsbad $150/HR.

    JACK KELLY / 31* Glendale C.C., Bellevue, Wash. $200/HR.

    KYLE KUNIOKA / 38 Mid-Pacific C.C., Kailua, Hawaii $175/HR.

    MICHELLE LYNN / 33 MSL Golf, Hermosa Beach, Calif. $250/HR.

    SEBASTIAN MARTINEZ / 34* SKOUTgolf, Beaverton, Ore. $150/HR.

    BRETT MEYER / 39 U. of Denver G.C., Highlands Ranch, Colo. $200/HR.

    TARA MORRIS / 38* The Links G. Cse., Highlands Ranch, Colo. $120/HR.

    ANDREW NAVARRO / 38 The C. at 3 Creek, Jackson, Wyo. $300/HR.

    TRAVIS OLSON / 37 Rock Creek Cattle Company, Deer Lodge, Mont. $140/HR.

    JOSHUA PARK / 31* Super Range Golf, Orange, Calif. $200/HR.

    OLIVER POLLAND / 32 Los Angeles C.C. $200/HR.

    JAMIE PUTERBAUGH / 39 Aviara Golf Academy, Carlsbad, Calif. $220/HR.

    JON SCHOEPF / 32 Rolling Hills (Calif.) C.C. $250/HR.

    MAGGIE SIMMONS / 39* The Oregon G.C., West Linn, Ore. $110/HR.

    DREW STECKEL / 38 Southern Highlands G.C., Las Vegas $350/HR.

    RORY SWEENEY / 33 Los Angeles C.C. $200/HR.

    ASHLEY TAIT / 37* Turkey Creek Golf Academy, Morrison, Colo. $175/HR.

    BLAKE THOMAS / 37 Monterey Peninsula C.C., Pebble Beach $175/HR.

    JOSH TROYER / 35* GolfTec Englewood (Colo.) $400/HR.