The most talented young instructors in golf: Golf Digest's new Best Young Teachers list

Perhaps it’s a reflection of golf’s youth movement or a new spike in the game’s popularity, but whatever the reason, we believe there are more talented golf instructors under the age of 40 than ever before. Back in 2008, when we debuted our biennial list, we identified 20 teachers in their 20s and 30s who were worthy of national recognition. Our latest group of award winners stands at 178. It’s a diverse group, and a creative one, too. We challenged our winners to provide an “original” golf tip, and their response was impressive. Hopefully you’ll learn a few things from them. These are Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America.

BEST YOUNG TEACHERS IN AMERICA 2021-2022

NORTHEAST

• AARON ASEDO / 35*

Knickerbocker C.C., Tenafly, N.J.

$175/hr.

• JASON BARRY / 32

Springdale G.C., Princeton, N.J.

$175/90 min.

• NICK BOVA / 35*

Hamilton Farm G.C., Gladstone, N.J.

$240/hr.

• DAVID BOVE / 34*

Tashua Knolls G. Cse., Trumbull, Conn.

$175/hr.

• STEVEN CHALMERS / 36*

Saucon Valley C.C., Bethlehem, Pa.

$150/hr.

• SCOTT CHISHOLM / 35

Rolling Green G.C., Springfield, Pa.

$175/hr.

• EARL COOPER / 31

Earl Cooper Golf at Union League G.C., Torresdale, Philadelphia

$200/hr.

• ADDISON CRAIG / 30*

The Bridge G.C., Bridgehampton, N.Y.

$200/hr.

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• BRIAN CREGHAN / 33*

Rolling Green G.C., Springfield, Pa.

$250/hr.

• GREG DUCHARME / 29

Trump G. Links at Ferry Point, New York City

$300/hr.

• PETE EGAZARIAN / 38*

Northeast Performance Institute, Portland, Conn.

$150/hr.

• DARREN FALK / 36*

Holly Ridge G.C., Sandwich, Mass.

$120/hr.

• JUSTIN FOSTER / 35

Ridgewood C.C., Danbury, Conn.

$120/hr.

• MARIO GUERRA / 36

Quaker Ridge G.C., Scarsdale, N.Y.

$250/hr.

• BRIAN GUSSIS / 36*

GolfTec Woodbridge, Metuchen, N.J.

$175/hr.

• RYAN HAGER / 26*

Plainfield C.C., Edison, N.J.

$140/hr.

• JENNIFER HUDSON / 36*

Sankaty Head G.C., Siasconset, Mass.

$200/hr.

• NICK IACONO / 32*

Chester Valley G.C., Malvern, Pa.

$150/hr.

• ADAM KOLLOFF / 38

Pure Drive Golf, Woburn, Mass.

$175/hr.

• MICHAEL LABELLA / 31*

Nemacolin Resort, Farmington, Pa.

$175/hr.

• SEAN MCTERNAN / 39

Brae Burn C.C., West Newton, Mass.

$165/hr.

• CJ NAFUS / 30*

Roxiticus G.C., Mendham, N.J.

$150/hr.

• NICK NOVAK / 35*

The Golf Performance Center, Ridgefield, Conn.

$250/hr.

• JOE OSTROWSKI / 35

Glen Head (N.Y.) C.C.

$150/hr.

• JORGE PARADA / 36

Liberty National G.C., Jersey City, N.J.

$350/hr.

• RICO RICIPUTI / 33*

Wentworth by the Sea C.C., Rye, N.H.

$150/hr.

• BILL SCHMEDES III / 35

Forsgate C.C., Monroe Township, N.J.

$250/hr.

• JASON SEDAN / 35

On Course Golf Academy, New Durham, N.H.

$300/90 mins.

• PAUL SELVAGGIO / 36*

Westchester C.C., Rye, N.Y.

$150/hr.

• STEFANIE SHAW / 33

Sebonack G.C., Southampton, N.Y.

$170/hr.

• STEPHEN SIERACKI / 34

Woodcrest C.C., Cherry Hill, N.J.

$200/hr.

• MICHAEL SWEENEY / 34

The Bridge Golf Harlem Learning Center, New York City

$285/hr.

• DAVID TARASCHI / 32*

Burlington C.C., Mount Holly, N.J.

$150/hr.

• MARK WALDER / 37

DiJulia Golf, New Hope, Pa.

$175/hr.

• MICHAEL WHEELER / 34

Rossi Golf Center, Exton, Pa.

$125/hr.

• MATT WILSON / 35

Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.

$220/hr.

• MICHELLE WINKLER / 30*

The Stanwich C., Greenwich, Conn.

$150/hr.

(* indicates the instructor is new to the list)

MID-ATLANTIC

• ANDREW BREWER / 27*

Bayville G.C., Virginia Beach, Va.

$125/hr.

• JOANNA COE / 31*

Baltimore C.C., Lutherville, Md.

$150/hr.

• GAYLON CUDE / 32

Golf House Tennessee, Franklin

$140/hr.

• ROBBIE FRITZ / 38

Greensboro (N.C.) C.C.

$125/hr.

• BILLY HOFFMAN / 39*

Westwood C.C., Vienna, Va.

$140/hr.

• MATT KILLEN / 35

Troubadour G. & Field Club, College Grove, Tenn.

$2,000/3 hrs.

• CATHY KIM / 34*

1757 G.C., Dulles, Va.

$150/hr.

• MITCHELL MOORE / 33*

Mitchell Moore Golf Academy, Hopkinsville, Ky.

$80/hr.

• DANIEL NEBEN / 32*

TPC Potomac (Md.) at Avenel Farm

$150/hr.

• GAVIN PARKER / 28*

Salisbury C.C., Midlothian, Va.

$125/hr.

• BEN PELLICANI / 36

Westhaven G.C., Franklin, Tenn.

$125/hr.

• JOHN SCOTT RATTAN / 39*

Congressional C.C., Bethesda, Md.

$200/hr.

• BRANDON RAY / 38*

Lowcountry Lessons at Patriots Point Links, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

$180/hr.

• BRIAN ROGISH / 36

The G.C. at Lansdowne, Leesburg, Va.

$160/hr.

• RYAN SMITH / 35*

Marc Lapointe Golf Academy, Fort Mill, S.C.

$100/hr.

• DOUG SPENCER / 39

Northstone C.C., Huntersville, N.C.

$155/hr.

• COLBY WOLLITZ / 34*

The Golf Academy at Persimmon Ridge, Louisville

$120/hr.

• TYRUS YORK / 37

High Performance Golf Academy, Nicholasville, Ky.

$135/hr.

SOUTHEAST

• DAVID ANGELOTTI / 31*

Sea Island G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.

$235/hr.

• CHRISTOPHER ARDOLINA / 35*

Cove Cay G.C., Clearwater, Fla.

$100/hr.

• DAVID ARMITAGE / 38

La Gorce C.C., Miami Beach

$200/hr.

• CHRIS BIGGINS / 28*

The C.C. of Birmingham (Ala.)

$80/hr.

• MEGAN PADUA BUZZA / 35

Bonita Bay C., Bonita Springs, Fla.

$220/hr.

• STEVE BUZZA / 33

Bonita Bay C., Bonita Springs, Fla.

$220/hr.

• DANIEL CARRAHER / 35*

The G.C. at South Hampton, St. Augustine, Fla.

$150/hr.

• CODY CARTER / 31

The Club at Savannah Quarters, Pooler, Ga.

$120/hr.

• STEPHEN CLARK / 35*

Rick Smith Golf Performance Center, Doral, Fla.

$200/hr.

• JOE COMPITELLO / 35

Indian Creek (Fla.) C.C.

$155/hr.

• STEVEN DEBOER / 31*

Steven DeBoer Golf Academy, Hanceville, Ala.

$100/hr.

• MATT DEJOHN / 30*

Matt DeJohn Golf Academy, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

$125/hr.

• JORDAN DEMPSEY / 39

PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

$250/hr.

• KATIE DETLEFSEN DAHL / 32*

West Bay C., Estero, Fla.

$135/hr.

• JESSICA DICKSON / 37

Shadow Wood C.C., Bonita Springs, Fla.

$140/hr.

• SARA DICKSON / 33

Wilderness C.C., Naples, Fla.

$120/hr.

• NICK DUFFY / 39

Nick Duffy Golf at Orange County National Golf Center, Winter Garden, Fla.

$150/hr.

• ALEX FERNANDEZ / 29*

Jim McLean Golf School Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

$125/hr.

• IAIN HIGHFIELD / 38

The Leadbetter Golf Academy, Acworth, Ga.

$200/hr.

• JACKSON KOERT / 30*

Frederica G.C., St. Simons Island, Ga.

$170/hr.

• ANDREW LANAHAN / 38*

PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

$200/hr.

• STEVE LIPPINCOTT / 36

GolfTec Carrollwood, Tampa, Fla.

$125/hr.

• TYLER MCGHIE / 37*

Orange County National Golf Center, Winter Garden, Fla.

$300/hr.

• JON MCLEAN / 34*

Jim McLean Golf School Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

$195/hr.

• MATT MCLEAN / 36

The Concession G.C., Bradenton, Fla.

$200/hr.

• BRETT MEYER / 35

The Leadbetter Golf Academy ChampionsGate, Fla.

$195/hr.

• JOHN MONTGOMERY / 30*

Celebration (Fla.) Golf Academy

$95/hr.

• RENEE TRUDEAU O’HIGGINS / 37

Quail West G. & C.C., Naples, Fla.

$150/hr.

• CARLA OVERHISER / 33*

John Webster Golf Academy at The Breakers, Palm Beach

$200/hr.

• RUSHI OZA / 34*

Jim McLean Golf School Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

$125/hr.

• ZACH PARKER / 39

The Leadbetter Golf Academy, ChampionsGate, Fla.

$250/hr.

• JAKE PLECZKOWSKI / 34*

Naples (Fla.) National G.C.

$130/hr.

• JON SCHOEPF / 28*

Jim McLean Golf School at Miami Beach G.C.

$195/hr.

• JUSTIN SHEEHAN / 35

Pelican G.C., Belleair, Fla.

$200/hr.

• ALANA SWAIN / 32

PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach

$225/hr.

• JOHN TILLERY / 38

Cuscowilla G.C., Eatonton, Ga.

$250/hr.

• BRANDO TOMMASI / 37*

Jim McLean Golf School at Miami Beach G.C.

$250/hr.

• T.J. YEATON / 32

Atlantic Beach (Fla.) C.C.

$200/90 min.

• GRAYSON ZACKER / 35

Jim McLean Golf School Biltmore Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

$250/hr.

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MIDWEST

• KIEL ALDERINK / 37

Royal Melbourne C.C., Long Grove, Ill.

$150/hr.

• GREG BARESEL / 36

Cantigny G., Wheaton, Ill.

$140/hr.

• LUKE BENOIT / 39

Interlachen C.C., Edina, Minn.

$160/hr.

• GARY BISSELL / 31*

The Meadows G. Cse., Allendale, Mich.

$100/hr.

• TIM BOEGH / 36*

GolfTec Madison (Wis.)

$150/hr.

• MOLLY BRAID / 33

Westmoor C.C., Brookfield, Wis.

$125/hr.

• GARRETT CHAUSSARD / 37

Skokie C.C., Glencoe, Ill.

$140/hr.

• LUKE DONAH / 27*

Cedar Rapids (Iowa) C.C.

$150/hr.

• CARLTON DOVE / 38*

Wichita (Kan.) C.C.

$95/hr.

• ADAM FARABAUGH / 34*

C.C. of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

$130/hr.

• RICHARD FRANKLIN / 37*

Deerpath G. Cse., Lake Forest, Ill.

$175/hr.

• CHRIS GREEN / 34

Glen View C., Golf, Ill.

$180/hr.

• COURTNEY MAHON / 37

Falcon Ridge G.C., Lenexa, Kan.

$100/hr.

• CHAD MIDDAUGH / 36

Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio

$100/hr.

• KYLE MORRIS / 35

The Golf Room, Dublin, Ohio

$175/hr.

• MAUREEN FARRELL / 33*

Sykes/Lady Overland Park (Kan.) G. Cse.

$100/hr.

• JOHN PERNA / 38

TPS Player Service, Naperville, Ill.

$375/hr.

• JON REIGSTAD / 39*

Keller G. Cse., Maplewood, Minn.

$100/hr.

• EVA ROGERS / 32*

Medinah (Ill.) C.C.

$145/hr.

• DANIEL SHELDEN / 38*

Ruth Lake C.C., Hinsdale, Ill.

$125/hr.

• TYLER SLOCUM / 28*

Lake Shore C.C., Glencoe, Ill.

$130/hr.

• T.J. SULLIVAN / 36*

GolfTec Oak Brook (Ill.)

$150/hr.

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SOUTHWEST

• JEREMY ANDERSON / 37

Legacy Golf Performance Center, Phoenix

$250/hr.

• JONATHAN BUCHANAN / 35

Dallas C.C., Highland Park, Texas

$175/hr.

• MIKE BURY / 39

Mike Bury Golf Academy, Dallas

$225/hr.

• TROY DENTON / 38

Maridoe G.C., Carrollton, Texas

$200/hr.

• JOSEPH DICHIARA / 37*

Ancala C.C., Scottsdale

$150/hr.

• NICK DUNN / 32*

Altus Performance, The Colony, Texas

$150/hr.

• KATIE FINNEY / 37*

GolfTec The Woodlands (Texas)

$190/hr.

• EJ KIM / 38

Axis Golf Academy and Fitting Center, Cypress, Texas

$150/hr.

• JOHN KOSTIS / 33

JPK Golf Instruction, Scottsdale

$175/hr.

• JUSTIN KLEMBALLA / 33

Forest Highlands G.C., Flagstaff , Ariz.

$125/hr.

• LINDY LABAUVE / 31*

The Westin Kierland G.C., Scottsdale

$130/hr.

• ANDREW LEWIS / 36*

Altus Performance, The Colony, Texas

$175/hr.

• COREY LUNDBERG / 37

Altus Performance at Trinity Forest G.C., Dallas

$250/hr.

• KENNETH MESIMER / 34*

Lakeside C.C., Houston

$130/hr.

• CLIFF MISHLER / 32

The Golf Ranch, Richardson, Texas

$175/hr.

• ASHLEY MOSS / 30

Superstition Mountain C.C., Gold Canyon, Ariz.

$200/hr.

• PAXTON O’CONNOR / 29

Desert Mountain C., Scottsdale

$225/hr.

• AARON OLSON / 39

Tour Striker Golf Academy at The Raven G.C., Phoenix

$200/hr.

• JARUT PADUNG / 32

America Golf Academy at Paradise Valley G. Cse., Phoenix

$150/hr.

• ANDY PATNOU / 32

Starfire G.C., Scottsdale

$150/hr.

• RYAN RODY / 35*

Southern Hills C.C., Tulsa

$200/hr.

• ROBERT SCOTT / 39*

Royal Oaks C.C., Houston

$150/hr.

• KAYLIN SKOVRON / 33

Jeff Isler Golf, Southlake, Texas

$160/hr

• HENRY STETINA / 34*

Red Hawk G.C., Las Cruces, N.M.

$70/hr.

• CRAIG TRAHAN JR. / 38*

Denton C.C., Argyle, Texas

$125/hr.

• JENNIFER TUCKER / 37*

Desert Mountain C., Scottsdale

$130/hr.

• THOMAS VALDEZ / 38*

GolfTec Houston Galleria

$125/hr.

• J.J. WOOD / 36*

Golf Performance Group at Northgate C.C., Houston

$130/hr.

• BRIAN ZEIGLER / 33*

Dallas National G.C.

$200/hr.

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WEST

• A.J. AVOLI / 39

Omni La Costa Golf Performance Institute, Carlsbad, Calif.

$300/hr.

• JASON AICHELE / 39*

Meadow Springs C.C., Richland, Wash.

$125/hr.

• JOHN BATTAGLIA / 35*

PGA West Golf Academy, La Quinta, Calif.

$175/hr.

• MARIO BEVILACQUA / 31*

TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas

$300/hr.

• DEVAN BONEBRAKE / 35

Rolling Hills C.C., Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.

$225/hr.

• ALEXANDRA BRAGA / 36*

Denver C.C.

$120/hr.

• JARED BUTTS / 34*

Will Robins Golf, Folsom, Calif.

$150/hr.

• PRESTON COMBS / 31*

Twin Lakes G. Cse., Goleta, Calif.

$650/3 hrs.

• ALISON CURDT / 38

Alison Curdt Golf at Wood Ranch G.C., Simi Valley, Calif.

$150/hr.

• TANYA DERGAL / 36*

Brentwood C.C., Los Angeles

$125/hr.

• STEFANIE FERGUSON / 33*

Experience Golf at Common Ground G. Cse., Aurora, Colo.

$250/90 min.

• TYLER FERRELL / 39

La Rinconada C.C., Los Gatos, Calif.

$250/hr.

• MATT HENDERSON / 35

TPC Las Vegas

$150/hr.

• AYUMI HORI / 35*

Balboa G. Cse., Encino, Calif.

$250/hr.

• JON HORNER / 35

Jon Horner Golf Academy at CordeValle, San Martin, Calif.

$225/hr.

• KYLE KUNIOKA / 35

Honolulu C.C.

$150/hr.

• SEAN LANYI / 39

Langdon Farms G.C., Aurora, Ore.

$125/hr.

• MACKENZIE MACK / 33

Callaway Golf, Carlsbad, Calif.

$50/hr.

• CHRIS MAYSON / 39

Maderas Golf Academy, Poway, Calif.

$300/hr.

• ERIN MENATH / 37*

Erin Menath Golf, Redmond, Wash.

$130/hr.

• NATHAN MORRIS / 37*

GolfTec Westminster (Colo.)

$190/hr.

• ANDREW NAVARRO / 34*

The Club at 3 Creek, Jackson, Wyo.

$165/hr.

• PATRICK NUBER / 38

GolfTec Headquarters, Englewood, Colo.

$250/hr.

• TRAVIS OLSON / 34

Rock Creek Cattle Company, Deer Lodge, Mont.

$140/hr.

• JAMIE PUTERBAUGH / 36*

Aviara Golf Academy, Carlsbad, Calif.

$175/hr.

• JASON PUTERBAUGH / 37*

Aviara Golf Academy, Carlsbad, Calif.

$175/hr.

• KEVIN SHIMOMURA / 37

Ko Olina Golf Academy, Kapolei, Hawaii

$140/hr.

• BRAD SKUPAKA / 33

GolfTec Headquarters, Englewood, Colo.

$250/hr.

• DREW STECKEL / 34

Southern Highlands G.C., Las Vegas

$350/hr.

• JORDAN THOMAS / 37*

Rick Smith Golf Academy, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

$189/hr.

• JAKE TOLIVER / 30*

The Los Angeles (Calif.) C.C.

$140/hr.

• GINA UMECK / 39*

California State University, Northridge

$100/hr.

• GAVIN WITZER / 39

Henry Brunton Golf Academy at Strawberry Farms, Irvine, Calif.

$1500/10 hrs.

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