David Leadbetter (born 27 June 1952) is regularly ranked as the worlds leading golf instructor, originally from Worthing in England. He began his career on the European and Southern African tours, but had little success as a player. Having an interest in the techniques, mechanics and psychology of the sport he soon moved into instruction and came to wide notice in the 1980s when he rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who then went on to win six major championships.

Leadbetter now runs an international chain of golf academies headquartered at the ChampionsGate Golf Resort in Florida, U.S. which has 36 holes designed by Greg Norman. (Click here to read the article in full)

Claude “Butch” Harmon, Jr. (born August 28, 1943) is one of the world’s best known golf instructors. He is the son of 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon, Sr. and has been in the golf industry since 1965. Harmon briefly attended the University of Houston, and served in the U.S. Army for three years, seeing duty in the Vietnam War (The Pro, by Butch Harmon, 2006). Harmon was a PGA Tour player from 1969 to 1971, with one win to his name on the Tour, the 1971 Broome County Open. He lived in Morocco for several years in the 1970s, serving as the personal instructor to King Hassan II (The Pro, by Butch Harmon, 2006).

Harmon is best known for having been Tiger Woods’ golf coach early in the great champion’s career, though they have since gone their separate ways. In April of 2007, it was announced that Harmon would start working with Phil Mickelson. He has also worked with other major champions such as Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard, and with younger stars such as Adam Scott and Natalie Gulbis. In 2003 he was ranked the top golf teacher in the United States in a poll of his peers organized by Golf Digest magazine, and has repeated as winner of this honour each year since. He runs the Butch Harmon School of Golf at the Rio Secco Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada in the U.S. He also gives golf clinics around the world and appears regularly in the media, including work for Britain’s Sky Sports. Commentating for Sky sports at the 1997 Ryder cup Harmon was asked about the negative press Nick Faldo was receiving from the media in the build up to the event “How can you not like Nick Faldo? He’s one of the greatest golfers of all time and he’s also one hell of a nice guy”.

Butch Harmon was raised in a house on Stratton Road in New Rochelle, New York when his father was the head pro at Winged Foot Golf Club in nearby Mamaroneck. During his childhood, he also lived in south Florida, when his father worked as the winter professional at the Seminole Golf Club. He graduated from Iona Grammar School and then New Rochelle High School. He excelled in all sports and was a star halfback on the 1961 New Rochelle High School football team that compiled a 5-2-1 record.

Harmon’s brothers Craig and Bill are both top golf coaches who have made Golf Digest’s Top 50 teachers list. His other brother Dick, who was also a top golf coach, died in February, 2006, at age 58. Butch Harmon wrote the 2006 book The Pro, describing his life in golf with his father, brothers, friends, and the top players he has coached.

One of the top five golf instructors in the world, Jim McLean has worked for 20 years with top touring professionals such as Ben Crenshaw and Cristie Kerr as well as beginning golfers to improve their skills. The Jim McLean Golf School was created with this in mind to provide a place where amateurs and pros can go to work on their golf skills.

The schools include state-of-the-art practice and instructional facilities. They have become the #1 golf school in the United States. It is also the only place you can learn the Eight Step Swing System. The Jim McLean golf school employs 6 of Golf Digest’s “Top 50 Teachers” in America.

There are currently 6 schools located in the United States: Doral Golf Resort & Spa, PGA West, La Quinta Resort & Club, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Wigwam Golf Resort and Jim McLean Golf Center. A 7th school is being built at Red Ledges.

Outside of the U.S.
In addition to schools in the U.S., there are also schools in Canada and there will soon be schools in Spain. Currently there is only one school in Candada: Legends on the Niagra. There is no word yet on where the schools will be in Spain.

Curriculum
The schools focus on several things including:

Biodynamics
This is a new addition to the schools and the Jim McLean Golf Schools are the only schools of their kind to offer biodynamics. They hook the golfer up to some electronical devices that will then analyze their golf swing and allow a 3-D analysis by the golf experts at the school. It also offers biofeedback capabilities.

Teaching Lessons
Golfers can train with a Lead Master Instructor in a private lesson or a 3 hour “Train Like the Pros” session.

Club Fitting
Certified fitting professional will examine you and your golf equipment making sure it fits you and making adjustments or recommendations where appropriate.

Past Students
Bill Murray
Ben Crenshaw
Brad Faxon
Christie Kerr
Angel Cabrera

About Jim McLean
Jim is probably best known for his work on The X Factor which became the all-time best-selling video on The Golf Channel and the #1 golf DVD in America.

Stanley Frank Utley (born January 16, 1962) is an American professional golfer and instructore who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.

Utley was born and raised in Thayer, a small town in southern Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri where he was a distinguished member of the golf team, a three-time all-Big Eight selection and two-time All-American. Utley led Missouri to the Big Eight Championship in 1984. He also led the Tigers to two NCAA appearances where they placed 13th and 14th respectively, in 1983 and 1984. He turned professional and joined the PGA Tour in 1984.

Utley’s sole PGA Tour victory came in 1989 at the Chattanooga Classic. He lost his PGA Tour card in 1992 and decided to play on the NIKE Tour (now known as the Nationwide Tour). In the 1990s, he played primarily in this venue.

As his touring career was winding down, Utley began to develop new career strategies for taking advantage of his reputation as one of the best chippers and putters in the game. He began a transition into teaching and writing with special focus on his specialty - the short game. Utley has risen to prominence as one of the best instructors in golf. Golf Digest has called him one of America’s 50 greatest teachers.

Utley was elected to the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, the first golfer ever chosen. He is a man of strong Christian faith. He and wife, Elayna, have a daughter and a son. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.