50 Greatest Teachers : America's best instructors, as voted by their peers

Golf Digest, August, 2001 by Matthew Rudy

Butch Harmon has played a significant role in the development of the game's best player, so it comes as no surprise that Harmon's fellow teachers have this year voted him the game's best, in Golf Digest's second-annual 50 Greatest Teachers survey. Harmon came out ahead in a tight race against David Leadbetter and Jim McLean (last year's No. 1 and No. 3, respectively)--a fitting honor for someone entrusted with the world's most famous swing.

Harmon's work with Tiger Woods (the two are shown together on the range at right) has been well documented in our pages--Harmon is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional and Woods is a Golf Digest Playing Editor. Among other things, Harmon helped Woods tighten his swing and improve his distance control. After an adjustment period in 1998, Woods has enjoyed a period of dominance unlike any other in the game's history.

Joining Harmon among America's 50 Greatest Teachers are many of the familiar names from last year's list, along with seven new honorees--Jim Hardy, Fred Griffin, Ben Doyle, Laird Small, Hank Johnson, Bill Harmon and Tom Ness.

The nation's most populous state, California, also had the most new teachers join the top 50: Doyle, Small and Harmon. Bill Harmon (No. 42) completes the set of teaching Harmon brothers on the 50 Greatest list--Butch is No. 1, Craig is No. 20, and Dick is No. 27.

Colorado's Mike McGetrick (No. 10) was the only new member of the top 10, while Jim Hardy of Houston made the highest debut, at No. 28. Last year, Paul Runyan was the oldest instructor on the list at age 92. Now, at 93, he's the oldest on the 2001 list as well--and still teaching a full schedule from his home base in Pasadena, Calif.

Accompanying America's 50 Greatest Teachers is our list of the Best Teachers in Your State, found in the attached Pocket Tips booklet. We think it's the most useful resource available for finding a great instructor, no matter where you live. In the booklet, you'll find state-by-state rankings of the most accomplished instructors, along with a recap of America's 50 Greatest Teachers.

In the coming months, GOLF DIGEST will feature exclusive instruction articles written by members of America's 50 Greatest Teachers. Turn the page for the latest from Butch Harmon, our new No. 1, on the basics he and Tiger practice every week.

1 Butch Harmon
Butch Harmon Golf School at Rio Secco
Henderson, Nev.
702-889-2444
www.butchharmongolf
schools.com

2 David Leadbetter
David Leadbetter
Golf Academy
at ChampionsGate
Orlando
407-787-3330

3 Jim McLean
Jim McLean Golf School
Miami
305-592-2000
www.jimmclean.com

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

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

6 Hank Haney
Hank Haney Golf Ranch
McKinney, Tex.
972-542-8800
www.hankhaney.com

7 Chuck Cook
Austin, Tex.
512-330-0707

8 Dave Pelz
Dave Pelz Scoring Game School
Austin, Tex.
800-824-8899
www.pelzgolf.com

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

10 Mike McGetrick
McGetrick Golf
Academy
Englewood, Colo.
303-799-0870
www.mcgetrickgolf.com

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

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

13. Jimmy Ballard, Ballard Swing Connection,
Key Largo, Fla.; 800-999-6664

14. Mike Hebron, Smithtown Landing C.C., Smithtown, N.Y.;
Palm Beach Polo & C.C., Wellington, Fla.; 631-979-6534
www.mikehebron.com

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

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

17. Mike Adams, Academy of Golf at PGA National,
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; 561-627-7593

18. Rick Martino, PGA Learning Center,
Port St. Lucie, Fla.; 561-468-7686

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

20. Craig Harmon, Oak Hill C.C.,
Rochester, N.Y.; 716-381-1900

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

22. Manuel De La Torre, Milwaukee C.C.,
River Hills, Wis.; 414-352-5876

23. Mac O'Grady, Palm Springs, Calif.

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

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

26. John Elliott Jr.,
C.C. of Ocala (Fla.); 352-237-6644

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

28. Jim Hardy, Jacobson Hardy Group,
Houston; 281-807-4176

29. David Glenz, David Glenz Golf Academy,
Franklin, N.J.; 973-209-6075
www.davidglenz.com

30. Paul Runyan, Pasadena, Calif.

31. Darrell Kestner, Deepdale G.C.,
Manhassett, N.Y.; 516-627-7880

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

33. Todd Anderson, The Breakers C.,
Palm Beach, Fla.; 561-659-8407

34. Fred Griffin, Grand Cypress Academy of
Golf, Orlando; 407-239-1975

35. Charlie Sorrell, Golf Meadows,
Stockbridge, Ga.; 770-957-8786
www.sorrellgolf.com

36. Ben Doyle, Golf Club at Quail Lodge,
Carmel, Calif.; 831-620-8808

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

38. Laird Small, Pebble Beach (Calif.)
Golf Academy; 831-622-8650

39. Lynn Marriott, The Legacy Golf Resort,
Phoenix; 602-305-5500
www.legacygolfresort.com

40. Hank Johnson, Greystone G.C.,
Birmingham, Ala.; 205-980-5200

41. Phil Rodgers, La Jolla, Calif.; 858-453-1483

42. Bill Harmon, Big Horn G.C.,
Palm Desert, Calif.; 760-773-7126

43. Mark Wood, Mark Wood Golf Academy,
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 954-423-0897
www.markwoodgolf.com

44. Mike Malaska, Superstition Mtn. (Ariz.)
G. & C.C.; 480-983-3200

45. Bill Davis, Jupiter Hills C.,
Tequesta, Fla.; 561-746-5228

46. Tim Mahoney, Talking Stick G.C.,
Scottsdale; 480-850-8615
www.timmahoneygolf.com

47. Peggy Kirk Bell, Pine Needles Lodge & C.C.,
Southern Pines, N.C.; 910-692-8611

48. Tom Ness, Chateau Elan Winery & Resort,
Braselton, Ga.; 770-993-3174

49. Jane Frost, Holly Ridge G.C.,
Sandwich, Mass.; 508-428-5577

50. Gale Peterson, Sea Island Golf Learning Center,
St. Simons Island, Ga.; 912-638-5119