50 Greatest Teachers — Look for lessons in the right place: America's best instructors, as voted by their peers - golf teachers

Golf Digest, August, 2000 by Matthew Rudy

We've already told you about America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Now, for the first time, Golf Digest is presenting its list of America's best golf instructors-the 50 Greatest Teachers.

In addition to our ranking of those top 50, we've put together a much larger list that will help you find a great teacher no matter where you live: Golf Digest's Greatest Teachers in Your State. In the accompanying Pocket Tips booklet, we rank the most accomplished instructors state by state-from Florida's 40 to Alaska's one.

Any of the teachers in our Top 10 would have been a good choice as No. 1. But after all the tabulations had been completed, David Leadbetter edged Butch Harmon and Jim McLean. We look forward to years of spirited battles-and you won't have to wait for them every other year, as with our 100 Greatest Courses. Our 50 Greatest Teachers and Best Teachers in Your State rankings will be a yearly staple.

Many of the names should be familiar to regular Golf Digest readers. At age 92, former PGA champ Paul Runyan is the oldest teacher on the list, and three of the Harmon brothers-Butch, Dick and Craig-made it. The biggest surprise on the list might be former tour player Mac O'Grady, a write-in who earned enough votes to make the top 50.

For the rest of the 50 Greatest Teachers and the methods we used to pick them, turn the page.

1 David Leadbetter
David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Orlando; 407-857-8276

Leadbetter made his name teaching the best players in golf-Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Nick Price, to name just three-but he also revolutionized developmental golf instruction, and his instruction books are golf's best-sellers.

His 16 Leadbetter academies in the United States and throughout the world train aspiring tour professionals and avid amateurs. Standout twins Aree and Naree Wongluekiet both attend Leadbetter's junior academy in Bradenton, Fla. He also works with Oklahoma State junior Charles Howell, who won this year's NCAA individual title by eight shots.

2 Butch Harmon
Butch Harmon Golf School at Rio Secco
Henderson, NV
702-889-2444
www.butchharmon
golfschools.com

3 Jim McLean
Jim McLean
Golf School
Miami
305-592-2000

4 Hank Haney
Hank Haney
Golf Ranch
McKinney, TX
972-542-8800

5 Rick Smith
Rick Smith Golf
Academy at Treetops Sylvan Resort
Gaylord, MI
517-732-6711
www.ricksmith.com

6 Jim Flick
Nicklaus-Flick
Game Improvement
Scottsdale
800-642-5528
www.nicklaus.com

7 Dave Pelz
Dave Pelz Scoring Game School
Austin, TX
800-833-7370
www.pelzgolf.com

8 Chuck Cook
Barton Creek
Fazio Canyons G.C.
Austin, TX
512-301-6569

9 Bob Toski
Toski-Battersby
Golf Learning Center
Coconut Creek, FL
954-975-2045
www.learn-golf.com

10 Jimmy Ballard
Ballard Swing
Connection
Key Largo, FL
800-999-6664

11. Mike McGetrick
McGetrick Golf Academy
Englewood, CO; 303-799-0870
www.golf@mcgetrickgolf.com

12. Mike Hebron
Smithtown Landing C.C., Smithtown,
NY; Palm Beach Polo & C.C.,
Wellington, FL; 631-979-6534
www.mikehebron.com

13. Peter Kostis
Kostis-McCord Learning Center
at Grayhawk, Scottsdale;
480-502-1800
www.kostismccordlearning.com

14. Dr. Gary Wiren
Trump International G.C.
W. Palm Beach, FL; 561-682-0700
www.golfaroundtheworld.com

15. Jack Lumpkin
Sea Island Golf Learning Center
St. Simons Is., GA; 912-638-5119

16. Craig Shankland
Hidden Lakes G.Cse.
New Smyrna, FL; 904-423-0507

17. Dr. Jim Suttie
Cog Hill Golf & C.C.
Lemont, IL; 630-257-5872
www.jimsuttie.com

18. Mike Adams
PGA Golf Academy
Palm Beach Gardens, FL;
561-627-7593
www.pgagolfacademy.com

19. Rick Martino
PGA Learning Center
Port St. Lucie, FL; 561-468-7686

20. Manuel De La Torre
Milwaukee C.C.
River HIlls, WI; 414-352-5876

21. Paul Runyan
Pasadena, CA

22. Dick Harmon
River Oaks C.C.
Houston; 713-529-4321

23. David Glenz
David Glenz Golf Academy
Hamburg, NJ; 973-209-6075
www.davidglenz.com

24. Todd Anderson
The Breakers C.
Palm Beach, FL; 561-659-8407

25. Craig Harmon
Oak Hill C.C.
Rochester, NY; 716-381-1900

26. Mark Wood
Mark Wood Golf Academy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL; 954-916-2900

27. Darrell Kestner
Deepdale G.C.
Manhasset, NY; 516-365-9111

28. Randy Smith
Royal Oaks C.C.
Dallas, TX; 214-691-0339

29. John Elliott
C.C. of Ocala
Ocala, FL; 352-237-6644

30. Dean Reinmuth
Dean Reinmuth Golf School
San Diego; 858-756-2240
www.deanofgolf.com

31. Charlie Sorrell
Golf Meadows
Stockbridge, GA; 770-957-8786
www.sorrellgolf.com

32. Phil Ritson
Phil Ritson Golf Institute
Winter Garden, FL; 407-656-2626
www.ocngolf.com

33. Phil Rodgers
La Jolla, CA; 858-453-1483

34. Mike LaBauve
Kierland G.C.
Scottsdale; 480-922-9283

35. Bill Davis
Jupiter Hills C.
Tequesta, FL; 561-746-5228

36. Gale Peterson
Sea Island Golf Learning Center
St. Simons Is., GA; 912-638-5119

37. Mike Bender
Timacuan G. & C.C.
Lake Mary, FL; 407-321-0444
www.mikebender.com

38. Jane Frost
Holly Ridge G.C.
Sandwich, MA; 508-428-5577

39. Martin Hall
Ibis G. & C.C.
W. Palm Beach, FL; 561-624-8922

40. Mac O'Grady
Palm Springs, CA

41. Peggy Kirk Bell
Pine Needles Lodge & C.C.
South. Pines, NC; 910-692-8611

42. Wayne DeFrancesco
Woodholme C.C.
Pikesville, MD; 410-486-3849

43. Scott Davenport
Quail Hollow C.
Charlotte, NC; 704-552-1726

44. Tim Mahoney
Talking Stick G.C., Scottsdale; Eagle Ridge Inn & Resort,
Galena, IL; 561-468-7686

45. Eric Alpenfels
Pinehurst Resort & C.C.
Pinehurst, NC; 910-295-6811

46. Paul Marchand
Shadow Hawk G.C.
Richmond, TX; 281-340-7208

47. Mike Malaska
Superstition Mtn. (AZ) G & C.C.
480-983-3200

48. Lynn Marriott
The Legacy Golf Resort
Phoenix; 602-305-5500

49. Dana Rader
Dana Rader Golf School
Charlotte, NC; 704-341-4653
www.danaradergolf.com

50. Gary Smith
Isleworth C.C.
Windermere, FL; 407-876-5432