Pocket Tips : Best Teachers in Your State

Golf Digest, August, 2001

And America's 50 Greatest Teachers, as ranked by their peers

America's 50 Greatest Teachers

EDITED BY MATTHEW RUDY

1. Butch Harmon, Butch Harmon Golf School, Henderson, NV; 702-889-2444
2. David Leadbetter, David Leadbetter Golf Academy at ChampionsGate,
   Orlando; 407-787-3330
3. Jim McLean, Jim McLean Golf School, Miami; 305-592-2000
4. Jim Flick, Nicklaus-Flick Game Improvement, Scottsdale; 800-642-5528
5. Rick Smith, Rick Smith Golf Academy, Gaylord, MI; 517-732-6711
6. Hank Haney, Hank Haney Golf Ranch, McKinney, TX; 972-542-8800
7. Chuck Cook, Austin, TX; 512-330-0707
8. Dave Pelz, Dave Pelz Scoring Game School, Austin, TX; 800-824-8899
9. Bob Toski, Toski-Battersby Golf Learning Center,
   Coconut Creek, FL; 954-975-2045
10. Mike McGetrick, McGetrick Golf Academy, Englewood, CO; 303-799-0870
11. Dr. Jim Suttie, Cog Hill Golf & C.C., Lemont, IL; 630-257-5872
12. Dr. Gary Wiren, Trump International G.C., W. Palm Beach, FL; 561-682-0700
13. Jimmy Ballard, Ballard Swing Connection, Key Largo, FL; 800-999-6664
14. Mike Hebron, Smithtown Landing C.C., Smithtown, NY;
    Palm Beach Polo & C.C., Wellington, FL; 631-979-6534
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. Mike Adams, Academy of Golf at PGA National,
    Palm Beach Gardens, FL; 561-627-7593
18. Rick Martino, PGA Learning Center, Port St. Lucie, FL; 561-468-7686
19. Martin Hall, Ibis G. & C.C., W. Palm Beach, FL; 561-624-8922
20. Craig Harmon, Oak Hill C.C., Rochester, NY; 716-381-1900
21. Peter Kostis, Kostis-McCord Learning Center, Scottsdale; 480-502-1800
22. Manuel De La Torre, Milwaukee C.C., River Hills, WI; 414-352-5876
23. Mac O'Grady, Palm Springs, CA
24. Randy Smith, Royal Oaks C.C., Dallas; 214-691-0339
25. Mike Bender, Timacuan G. & C.C., Lake Mary, FL; 407-321-0444
26. John Elliott, C.C. of Ocala (FL); 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, NJ; 973-209-6075
30. Paul Runyan, Pasadena, CA
31. Darrell Kestner, Deepdale G.C., Manhassett, NY; 516-627-7880
32. Dean Reinmuth, Dean Reinmuth Golf School, San Diego; 858-756-2240
33. Todd Anderson, The Breakers C., Palm Beach, FL; 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
36. Ben Doyle, Golf Club at Quail Lodge, Carmel, CA; 831-620-8808
37. Mike LaBauve, Kierland G.C., Scottsdale; 480-922-9283
38. Laird Small, Pebble Beach (CA) Golf Academy; 831-622-8650
39. Lynn Marriott, The Legacy Golf Resort, Phoenix; 602-305-5500
40. Hank Johnson, Greystone G.C., Birmingham, AL; 205-980-5200
41. Phil Rodgers, La Jolla, CA; 858-453-1483
42. Bill Harmon, Big Horn G.C., Palm Desert, CA; 760-773-7126
43. Mark Wood, Mark Wood Golf Academy, Fort Lauderdale, FL; 954-423-0897
44. Mike Malaska, Superstition Mtn. (AZ) G. & C.C.; 480-983-3200
45. Bill Davis, Jupiter Hills C., Tequesta, FL; 561-746-5228
46. Tim Mahoney, Talking Stick G.C., Scottsdale; 480-850-8615
47. Peggy Kirk Bell, Pine Needles Lodge & C.C.,
    Southern Pines, NC; 910-692-8611
48. Tom Ness, Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, Braselton, GA; 770-993-3174
49. Jane Frost, Holly Ridge G.C., South Sandwich, MA; 508-428-1923
50. Gale Peterson, Sea Island Golf Learning Center,
    St. Simons Island, GA; 912-638-5119

Shake hands with target

BY BUTCH HARMON

After impact, your arms should extend toward the target. Think of it as shaking hands with the target using your right hand. Once you're holding a club, you will get it pointing down the target line with the toe pointing up. This is a good way to hit the ball straighter. As your body rotates, shake hands.

Know the pressure points

BY BUTCH HARMON

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being as tight a grip as you can make, I like players to grip the club around 5 to 7--firm but without tension in your forearms. On the left hand, the key pressure points are the last three fingers. They should feel secure. Don't squeeze with the thumb and forefinger.

Break the window pane

BY BUTCH HARMON

Never finish your swing where you can look through your arms at the target like it's a window pane. This will often cause a weak shot to the right. Instead, finish as shown here: hands around the head, belt buckle facing the target, right shoulder closer to the target than the left.

Golf Digest's Rankings of the Best Teachers in Your State

(Names in bold are listed in America's 50 Greatest Teachers)

Asterisk (*) denotes PGA Professionals with teaching specialty certification.