The votes are in! We surveyed several thousand leading golf instructors from coast to coast asking them to name who they think are the top teachers in the country. For the second time in a row, Mark Blackburn has been voted by his peers No. 1 on Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America, with Chris Como a close second. Both teachers work with tour stars: Blackburn’s top players are Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, and Como’s are Xander Schauffele, Kurt Kitayama and Si Woo Kim..
Rounding out the top five in the national ranking are Sean Foley of Orlando, Dana Dahlquist of Long Beach, Calif., and Jason Baile of Tequesta, Fla., the current national PGA Teacher and Coach of the Year. Seven new teachers join the 50 Best for 2026-'27. See the full ranking below.
2024-'25 Ranking in parentheses
NR: New since last ranking
1. MARK BLACKBURN (1)
VOTES: 4375 LESSON RATE: $1,500/HOUR
FACILITY: Blackburn G. Academy at Greystone G. & C.C. BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
2. CHRIS COMO (2)
VOTES: 4141 LESSON RATE: $11,000/SCHOOL
FACILITY: Como Coaching Academy at Nelson G. and Sports C. DALLAS
3. SEAN FOLEY (3)
VOTES: 2661 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Sean Foley Performance ORLANDO
4. DANA DAHLQUIST (9)
VOTES: 2208 LESSON RATE: $950/HOUR
FACILITY: Dana Dahlquist G. LONG BEACH, CALIF.
5. JASON BAILE (26)
VOTES: 2174 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Jupiter Hills C. TEQUESTA, FLA.
6. JOSEPH MAYO (21)
VOTES: 1928 LESSON RATE: $1,500/2 HOURS
FACILITY: Westhaven G.C. FRANKLIN, TENN.
7. CLAUDE HARMON III (5)
VOTES: 1895 LESSON RATE: $1,000/90 MINS
FACILITY: Butch Harmon Floridian PALM CITY, FLA.
8. CAMERON MCCORMICK (4)
VOTES: 1670 LESSON RATE: $700/HOUR
FACILITY: Altus Performance DALLAS
9. MARTIN CHUCK (7)
VOTES: 1409 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: Tour Striker G. Academy at The Raven PHOENIX
10. MICHAEL BREED (10)
VOTES: 1390 LESSON RATE: $600/HOUR
FACILITY: Michael Breed G. Academy GREENWICH, CONN.
11. MICHAEL JACOBS (8)
VOTES: 1377 LESSON RATE: $600/HOUR
FACILITY: Jacobs 3D G. at Rock Hill G.C. MANORVILLE, N.Y.
12. DAVE PHILLIPS (12)
VOTES: 1368 LESSON RATE: $3,500/2 HOURS
FACILITY: Titleist Performance Institute OCEANSIDE, CALIF.
13. JAMES SIECKMANN (6)
VOTES: 1361 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: James Sieckmann G. Academy at Shadow Ridge C.C. OMAHA
14. BRIAN MANZELLA (13)
VOTES: 1326 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Brian Manzella G. Academy NEW ORLEANS
15. STAN UTLEY (11)
VOTES: 1321 LESSON RATE: $600/HOUR
FACILITY: Shady Oaks C.C. FORT WORTH
16. ANDY PLUMMER (14)
VOTES: 1242 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Stack & Tilt Miami AVENTURA, FLA.
17. SCOTT HAMILTON (19)
VOTES: 1215 LESSON RATE: $200/HOUR
FACILITY: Scott Hamilton G. Academy at Cartersville C.C. CARTERSVILLE, GA.
18. DAVID ORR (16)
VOTES: 1177 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Pine Needles Lodge & G.C. SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
19. JAMES LEITZ (20)
VOTES: 1114 LESSON RATE: $175/HOUR
FACILITY: Tchefuncta C.C. COVINGTON, LA.
20. BILL HARMON (22)
VOTES: 1099 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Bill Harmon Performance Center at Toscana C.C. INDIAN WELLS, CALIF.
21. NICK CLEARWATER (17)
VOTES: 1057 LESSON RATE: $1,000/HOUR
FACILITY: GolfTEC Headquarters ENGLEWOOD, COLO.
22. GEORGE GANKAS (18)
VOTES: 1030 LESSON RATE: $600/HOUR
FACILITY: George Gankas G. WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF.
23. ANDREW RICE (25)
VOTES: 1020 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: Westin Savannah Harbor G. Resort & Spa SAVANNAH, GA.
24. TONY RUGGIERO (24)
VOTES: 994 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Dewsweepers G. MOBILE, ALA.
25. ADAM SCHRIBER (NR)
VOTES: 992 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: LochenHeath G.C. WILLIAMSBURG, MICH.
T-26. BERNIE NAJAR (27)
VOTES: 936 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Caves Valley G.C. OWINGS MILLS, MD.
T-26. CHERYL ANDERSON (28)
VOTES: 936 LESSON RATE: $250/HOUR
FACILITY: Heathrow Legacy C. LAKE MARY, FLA.
28. GRANT WAITE (31)
VOTES: 919 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Grant Waite G. OCALA, FLA.
29. BOYD SUMMERHAYS (15)
VOTES: 888 LESSON RATE: $750/HOUR
FACILITY: Silverleaf C. SCOTTSDALE
30. MIKE BENNETT (23)
VOTES: 881 LESSON RATE: $350/HOUR
FACILITY: Stack & Tilt Miami AVENTURA, FLA.
31. TERRY ROWLES (29)
VOTES: 859 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
Hudson National G.C. CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.
32. JOE HALLETT (45)
VOTES: 816 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Vanderbilt Legends C. FRANKLIN, TENN.
33. JON TATTERSALL (NR)
VOTES: 784 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Tattersall G. Fusion ATL ATLANTA
34. SHAUN WEBB (34)
VOTES: 769 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Athletic Motion G. WINTER GARDEN, FLA.
T-35. JON SINCLAIR (43)
VOTES: 762 LESSON RATE: $1,000/3 HOURS
FACILITY: Sinclair’s G. Training Center EULESS, TEXAS
T-35. PARKER MCLACHLIN (NR)
VOTES: 762 LESSON RATE: $750/HOUR
FACILITY: Short Game Chef SCOTTSDALE
37. KEVIN WEEKS (33)
VOTES: 750 LESSON RATE: $325/HOUR
FACILITY: Cog Hill G. & C.C. LEMONT, ILL.
T-38. JAMIE MULLIGAN (35)
VOTES: 696 LESSON RATE: NO RATE
FACILITY: Virginia C.C. LONG BEACH, CALIF.
T-38. JUSTIN PARSONS (37)
VOTES: 696 LESSON RATE: $485/HOUR
FACILITY: Sea Island G. Performance Center ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.
40. JOHN DUNIGAN (30)
VOTES: 674 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Applebrook G.C. MALVERN, PA.
41. RICK SESSINGHAUS (32)
VOTES: 669 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Flowcode G. Academy BURBANK, CALIF.
42. TRILLIUM ROSE (36)
VOTES: 651 LESSON RATE: $240/HOUR
FACILITY: Woodmont C.C. ROCKVILLE, MD.
43. CHRIS MAYSON (42)
VOTES: 602 LESSON RATE: $400/HOUR
FACILITY: Rancho Santa Fe G.C. RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIF.
44. ERIC COGORNO (NR)
VOTES: 595 LESSON RATE: $2,000/4 HOURS
FACILITY: Bethlehem G.C. BETHLEHEM, PA.
45. ERIKA LARKIN (44)
VOTES: 591 LESSON RATE: $325/HOUR
FACILITY: The C. at Creighton Farms ALDIE, VA.
46. JEFF SMITH (NR)
VOTES: 556 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Spring Creek Ranch COLLIERVILLE, TENN.
47. MARK SWEENEY (39)
VOTES: 540 LESSON RATE: $500/HOUR
FACILITY: Waldorf Astoria G.C. ORLANDO
48. KEVIN KIRK (38)
VOTES: 507 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: The Woodlands C.C. THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS
49. TODD SONES (NR)
VOTES: 494 LESSON RATE: $300/HOUR
FACILITY: Todd Sones Impact G. VERNON HILLS, ILL.
T-50. ALISON CURDT (47)
VOTES: 481 LESSON RATE: $220/HOUR
FACILITY: Alison Curdt G. at Wood Ranch G.C. SIMI VALLEY, CALIF.
T-50. WILL ROBINS (NR)
VOTES: 481 LESSON RATE: $625/HOUR
FACILITY: Will Robins G. at Empire Ranch G.C. FOLSOM, CALIF.
