More than 3,000 voters have spoken in the most comprehensive peer review of teachers in the game. This new edition of Golf Digest's biennial 50 Best Teachers ranking is the first without a veritable Mt. Rushmore of instructors—Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Jim McLean and 17 other fixtures who have been named to our new Legends of Golf Instruction list. But the 2024-25 ranking isn't short on talent and notable student achievements. New No. 1 Mark Blackburn and close runner-up Chris Como work with four players in the top 25 of the World Golf Ranking between them, and the rest of the top 10—Sean Foley, Cameron McCormick. Claude Harmon III, James Sieckmann, Martin Chuck, Michael Jacobs, Dana Dahlquist and Michael Breed—are fixtures on tour driving ranges, instruction innovators and leading voices in the profession. Learn more about the new Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers for 2024-25 here.
2022-23 Ranking in parentheses
NR: New since last ranking
1. MARK BLACKBURN (7)
VOTES: 4426 LESSON RATE: $1,000/HOUR
FACILITY: Blackburn Golf Academy at Greystone G. & C.C. BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
2. CHRIS COMO (2)
VOTES: 4386 LESSON RATE: $1,000/HOUR
FACILITY: Dallas National G.C. DALLAS
3. SEAN FOLEY (5)
VOTES: 3132 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Foley Performance at FREDERICA
4. CAMERON MCCORMICK (10)
VOTES: 2654 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Altus Performance DALLAS
5. CLAUDE HARMON III (12)
VOTES: 2375 LESSON RATE: $1,000/90 MIN
FACILITY: Butch Harmon Floridian PALM CITY, FLA.
6. JAMES SIECKMANN (13)
VOTES: 1965 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: James Sieckmann Golf Academy at Shadow Ridge C.C. OMAHA
7. MARTIN CHUCK (26)
VOTES: 1768 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: Tour Striker Golf Academy at The Raven PHOENIX
8. MICHAEL JACOBS (30)
VOTES: 1681 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Jacobs 3D Golf at Rock Hill G.C. MANORVILLE, N.Y.
9. DANA DAHLQUIST (24)
VOTES: 1666 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Dana Dahlquist Golf LONG BEACH, CALIF.
10. MICHAEL BREED (16)
VOTES: 1643 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Michael Breed Golf Academy GREENWICH, CONN.
11. STAN UTLEY (20)
VOTES: 1624 LESSON RATE: $600/HOUR
FACILITY: Grayhawk G.C. SCOTTSDALE
12. DAVE PHILLIPS (38)
VOTES: 1551 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Titleist Performance Institute OCEANSIDE, CALIF.
13. BRIAN MANZELLA (25)
VOTES: 1502 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Brian Manzella Golf Academy NEW ORLEANS
14. ANDY PLUMMER (23)
VOTES: 1501 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Stack & Tilt Miami AVENTURA, FLA.
15. BOYD SUMMERHAYS (29)
VOTES: 1371 LESSON RATE: $750/HOUR
FACILITY: Silverleaf C. SCOTTSDALE
16. DAVID ORR (21)
VOTES: 1350 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: Pine Needles Lodge & G.C. SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
17. NICK CLEARWATER (22)
VOTES: 1327 LESSON RATE: $1,000/HOUR
FACILITY: GolfTEC Headquarters ENGLEWOOD, COLO.
18. GEORGE GANKAS (11)
VOTES: 1314 LESSON RATE: $600/HOUR
FACILITY: George Gankas Golf WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF.
19. SCOTT HAMILTON (27)
VOTES: 1228 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Scott Hamilton Golf Academy at Cartersville C.C. CARTERSVILLE, GA.
20. JAMES LEITZ (NR)
VOTES: 1123 LESSON RATE: $175/HOUR
FACILITY: Tchefuncta C.C. COVINGTON, LA.
21. JOSEPH MAYO (NR)
VOTES: 1111 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Summit C., LAS VEGAS
22. BILL HARMON (33)
VOTES: 1106 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: Bill Harmon Performance Center at Toscana C.C. INDIAN WELLS, CALIF.
23. MIKE BENNETT (36)
VOTES: 1079 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: Stack & Tilt Miami AVENTURA, FLA.
24. TONY RUGGIERO (41)
VOTES: 1056 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Dewsweepers Golf MOBILE, ALA.
25. ANDREW RICE (32)
VOTES: 1044 LESSON RATE: $200/HOUR
FACILITY: Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa SAVANNAH, GA.
26. JASON BAILE (NR)
VOTES: 1011 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Jupiter Hills C. TEQUESTA, FLA.
27. BERNIE NAJAR (42)
VOTES: 1001 LESSON RATE: $275/HOUR
FACILITY: Caves Valley G.C. OWINGS MILLS, MD.
28. CHERYL ANDERSON (40)
VOTES: 992 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: Mike Bender Golf Academy LAKE MARY, FLA.
29. TERRY ROWLES (T50)
VOTES: 900 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: Hudson National G.C. CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.
30. JOHN DUNIGAN (NR)
VOTES: 874 LESSON RATE: $275/HOUR
FACILITY: Applebrook G.C. MALVERN, PA.
31. GRANT WAITE (NR)
VOTES: 832 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Grant Waite Golf OCALA, FLA.
32. RICK SESSINGHAUS (37)
VOTES: 808 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Flowcode Golf Academy BURBANK, CALIF.
33. KEVIN WEEKS (45)
VOTES: 804 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Cog Hill G. & C.C. LEMONT, ILL.
34. SHAUN WEBB (T46)
VOTES: 752 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Athletic Motion Golf WINTER GARDEN, FLA.
35. JAMIE MULLIGAN (NR)
VOTES: 739 LESSON RATE: NO RATE
FACILITY: Virginia C.C. LONG BEACH, CALIF.
36. TRILLIUM ROSE (43)
VOTES: 714 LESSON RATE: $240/HOUR
FACILITY: Woodmont C.C. ROCKVILLE, MD.
37. JUSTIN PARSONS (NR)
VOTES: 680 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Sea Island Golf Performance Center ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.
38. KEVIN KIRK (49)
VOTES: 646 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Trump National Doral MIAMI
39. MARK SWEENEY (NR)
VOTES: 622 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Waldorf Astoria G.C. ORLANDO
40. SUZY WHALEY (T50)
VOTES: 614 LESSON RATE: $200/HOUR
FACILITY: The C.C. at Mirasol PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.
41. GARY GILCHRIST (NR)
VOTES: 600 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, FLA.
42. CHRIS MAYSON (NR)
VOTES: 586 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Rancho Santa Fe C.C. RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIF.
43. JON SINCLAIR (NR)
VOTES: 576 LESSON RATE: $750/3 HOURS
FACILITY: Sinclair’s Golf Training Center EULESS, TEXAS
44. ERIKA LARKIN (T46)
VOTES: 572 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: The C. at Creighton Farms ALDIE, VA.
45. JOE HALLETT (NR)
VOTES: 569 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Vanderbilt Legends C. FRANKLIN, TENN.
46. MIKE MCGETRICK (NR)
VOTES: 565 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: Mike McGetrick Golf GAINESVILLE, VA.
47. ALISON CURDT (NR)
VOTES: 552 LESSON RATE: $175/HOUR
FACILITY: Alison Curdt Golf at Wood Ranch G.C. SIMI VALLEY, CALIF.
48. JOHN GRAHAM (NR)
VOTES: 548 LESSON RATE: $2,500/4 HOURS
FACILITY: John Graham Golf WEBSTER, N.Y.
49. JASON CARBONE (NR)
VOTES: 546 LESSON RATE: $200/HOUR
FACILITY: Canterbury G.C. BEACHWOOD, OHIO
50. MIKE LABAUVE (NR)
VOTES: 538 LESSON RATE: $275/HOUR
FACILITY: Talking Stick G.C. SCOTTSDALE
Hope you enjoyed this story! If you have someone who loves golf in your life, there's no better gift this holiday season than Golf Digest+, the ultimate experience on how to play, what to play and where to play your best golf.