Butch Harmon Captures Top Spot; Package Also Includes Full Ranking of Best Teachers in Your State
WILTON, CT—Through a direct ballot survey of golf instructors nationwide, Butch Harmon was voted the top teacher in the game for the fourth consecutive time and is No.1 in Golf Digest’s biennial ranking of America’s 50 Greatest Teachers (2007-2008).
Appearing in the magazine’s August issue (on newsstands July 10), the America’s 50 Greatest Teachers package also includes a state-by-state list of the number one teachers and a pocket-size insert of the Best Teachers in Your State.
The full listings of America’s 50 Greatest Teachers and the Best Teachers in Your State can be viewed now at www.golfdigest.com
Harmon, who was tapped by Phil Mickelson earlier this year to refine his game, topped the last America’s 50 Greatest Teachers ranking in 2005—edging David Leadbetter, who placed first in the inaugural 1999 ranking. Leadbetter remains No. 2 in this year’s ranking, followed by Hank Haney (3), Jim McLean (4), Jim Flick (5), Chuck Cook (6), Jim Hardy (7), Rick Smith (8), Stan Utley (9) and Mike Bender (10).
There are six instructors new to the ranking this year. Short-game specialist Stan Utley debuts on the list at No. 9 in just his third year as a full-time teacher. He is joined by Paul Marchand (44), Dana Rader (T45), Todd Sones (T45), Don Hurter (47) and Bill Moretti (50).
Golf Digest sorted through 20,000 teaching professionals and another 1,000 LPGA and unaffiliated teachers to determine the country’s best.
As part of the nominating procedure, more than 1,000 teachers representing all 50 states completed ballots. The teachers were asked to rate all instructors in their geographic area and also to nominate the best teachers in the nation. The combined results of the local and national survey generated the list of America’s 50 Greatest Teachers, as well as a means to rank teachers within each state.
The top six instructors in the ranking are exclusive Golf Digest Teaching Professionals, as are Rick Smith (No. 8), Randy Smith (No.
16), Mike McGetrick (No. 17), Rob Akins (No. 22), Jack Lumpkin (T.
23), Todd Anderson (No. 25), Hank Johnson (No. T36), Dean Reinmuth (T. 48) and Tom Ness (T. 48).
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Top 25 Teachers
1. Butch Harmon, Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco G.C.,
Henderson, NV
2. David Leadbetter, David Leadbetter Golf Academy at
ChampionsGate, Orlando, FL
3. Hank Haney, Hank Haney Golf, Lewisville, TX
4. Jim McLean, Jim McLean Golf School at Doral Golf Resort &
Spa, Miami, FL
5. Jim Flick, TaylorMade Learning Center, Carlsbad, CA
6. Chuck Cook, Chuck Cook Golf Academy at Barton Creek Resort &
Spa, Austin, TX
7. Jim Hardy, Jim Hardy Golf, Houston, TX
8. Rick Smith, Rick Smith Golf Academy at Treetops Resort,
Gaylord, MI
9. Stan Utley, Kostis McCord Learning Center at Grayhawk,
Scottsdale, AZ
10. Mike Bender, Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, FL
11. Manuel de la Torre, Milwaukee C.C., Milwaukee, WI
12. Martin Hall, Ibis G. & C.C., West Palm Beach, FL
13. Dave Pelz, Pelz Scoring Game Schools, Spicewood, TX
14. Craig Shankland, Under Par Golf Academy, Daytona Beach, FL
15. Bob Toski, Toski-Battersby Golf Learning Center, Coconut
Creek, FL
16. Randy Smith, Royal Oaks C.C., Dallas, TX
17. Mike McGetrick, Colorado Golf Club, Parker, CO
18. Jim Buttie, Cog Hill G. & C.C., Lemont, IL
19. Mike Hebron, Smithtown Landing C.C., Smithtown, NY
20. Gary Wiren, Trump International G.C., West Palm Beach, FL
21. Pia Nilsson, The Legacy Golf Resort, Phoenix, AZ
22. Rob Akins, Spring Creek Ranch, Collierville, TN
T23. Jack Lumpkin, Sea Island Golf Learning Center, St. Simons
Island, GA
T23. Craig Harmon, Oak Hill C.C., Rochester, NY
25. Todd Anderson, Sea Island Golf Learning Center, St. Simons
Island, GA
Contact:
Andrew Katcher, 212-630-2488,
Andrew.Katcher@golfdigest.com
Bret Hopman, 212-630-2490, Bret.Hopman@golfdigest.com
