Our latest edition of Top 100 Teachers in America has some new faces — 15 of them, in fact, some of whom you may already know from their contributions to GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com, others with whom you’ll become better acquainted in the coming months and years.
The new fleet will officially be welcomed into the fold at GOLF’s annual Top 100 Teacher Summit at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Fla, Dec. 15 –17. But in the meantime, we thought we’d introduce you to our newcomers by asking each of them to provide a bite-sized nugget of game-improvement wisdom that has helped shape their teaching philosophies.
Stay tuned. There will be much more where this came from!
David Armitage: Shell Bay Club, Hallandale, Fla.
“Golf improvement starts with clarity. Build a consistent pre-shot routine, focus on solid fundamentals and track your practice. Combine purposeful reps with on-course awareness, and measure progress with data — improvement becomes focused, repeatable and fun.”
Jason Carbone: Canterbury GC, Beachwood, Ohio
“Find a bunker: Draw a line in the bunker to represent the ball position. Make practice swings until the divots start after the line for full swings and erase the line for bunker shots. Do this until you can’t miss!”
Step 1: Find a bunker!
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Patrick Coyner: Cherry Hills CC, Cherry Hills Village, Colo.
“The clubface is the CEO of the swing. When you learn to better control the face through proper arm structure and wrist angles in backswing and early transition, the club delivery and body movement become more instinctive and repeatable.”
Dr. Alison Curdt: Wood Ranch Golf Club, Los Angeles
“Improvement comes from purposeful, intentional practice. Set clear goals, focus on quality over quantity and stick to one thing. Small, consistent adjustments compound into lasting progress — patience, discipline and self-awareness are the real game changers.”
Wayne Flint: Highland Park GC, Birmingham, Ala.
“Grip, aim, posture and ball position are key elements that, if practiced correctly, will result in a more consistent outcome. These can be practiced at home, away from the course and accomplished in only minutes every day in front of a mirror. Think of it like brushing your teeth daily for your golf swing.”
Every sound swing starts with a sound grip.
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Jennifer Hudson, Sankaty Head GC, Nantucket, Mass.
“Dynamic balance is key for successful contact. Create a balanced swing by holding finish for three seconds. Checkpoints include weight on lead leg, trail knee pointed to target and the ability to tap the ground with your trail toe.”
Parker McLachlin: McCormick Ranch GC, Scottsdale, Ariz.
“The lie dictates everything. Before you even think about your swing or club selection, take a moment to really understand your lie. That simple awareness will tell you what shot to hit, what technique to use and what’s actually possible. Great short games don’t start with talent — they start with better decisions.”
Rick Murphy: Rick Murphy Golf, Greensboro GC, Greensboro, N.C.
“Dedicate focused time to work on each area of the game. Balanced practice helps you find your strengths and weaknesses, builds confidence, consistency and develops your understanding of your game, making you a more complete player.”
Dr. Rick Sessinghaus: FLOWCODE Studio, Burbank, Calif.
“The state a golfer is in mentally, emotionally and physically will impact performance. Training the pre- and post-shot routines to be focused, confident and calm will help get the most out of your technical skills. Distraction, doubt and tension will ruin even the most skilled player. The other benefit is you will enjoy the game more with the proper mental skills.”
Proper mental skills are essential
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Rick Silva: M3G | Movement3Golf, Highland Park, Ill.
“In the early takeaway, less is more. The best players generate approximately 6 percent of total work here— almost all from body rotation, not ground or linear force. Focus on a smooth, rotational start, and you’ll create organization for when you need it most in the swing to apply force and movement.”
Christopher Smith: Eugene CC, Eugene, Ore.; Puerto Los Cabos GC, San José del Cabo, Mexico
“Keep in mind: Thought always precedes action. Not so much what — a swing thought, cue or feel — you are thinking but how you are thinking. Take charge of your energy — mindset, emotions and intention — before each and every shot, and your results shall improve.”
Doug Spencer: Spencer Golf Academy, Huntersville, N.C.
“Calibration is the key to better golf. Honestly assess your equipment, body and strategy. By knowing your true distances and skills, you can make smarter decisions and eliminate variables.”
Know your numbers!
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Monique Thoresz: Quaker Ridge GC, White Plains, N.Y.
“Get instruction from a professional as soon as possible once you start the game. A good teacher can save you a ton of time, energy and money as you start your improvement journey!”
Matthew Wilson: Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.
“Your improvement rests on three basics: 1. You need runway — give yourself time; 2. Pursue feedback — make sure you are learning the correct stuff; and 3. Establish rhythm — practice often, but briefly. Get this right and you’ll combat forgetfulness, avoid wasted effort and lay the foundation for progress that lasts.”
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