Celebrating Excellence: 34 GOLFTEC Coaches Named in Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Every State (2026-2027)

Golf is more than just a game - it’s a pursuit of excellence, precision, and continuous improvement. That’s why being acknowledged as one of the country’s top instructors is a significant achievement. It’s with great pride that we celebrate thirty-four GOLFTEC coaches who’ve made Golf Digest’s Best Teachers In Every State List for 2026-2027.

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These recognition's are about way more than swing fixes and lesson time: they speak to the heart of golf. The impact ripples through our students seeing shots drop, through the golf community sharing tips, and the profession of coaching itself. Here at GOLFTEC we are incredibly proud of our honorees!

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The Honorees

Here are the coaches from GOLFTEC who earned this distinction, sorted by state:

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Colorado: Nick Clearwater, Connie Chen, Vince Downie, Jerred MacKinney, Nathan Morris, Patrick Nuber, Josh Troyer, Chad Miller, and Ty Walker

Illinois: TJ Sullivan‍

Maryland: Kevin Tanner

Michigan: Ian Hughes

Minnesota: Oliver Darby, Zachary Estridge, and Nick Pelle

Nebraska: Cory Fletcher, Brett Hahn, and James Kinney‍

Nevada: Tim Sam‍

North Carolina: Eric Jordan‍

Ohio: Pat Bernot, Michael Deiters, Nick Paez, and Joe Stago‍

Oregon: Brad Hunter‍

Texas: Doug Strawbridge and Erik Wait‍

Washington: Josh McKinley and Randy Potter‍

Wisconsin: Jacob Babcock, Tim Boegh, Todd Edwards, Todd Gamroth, and Kevin Kihslinger

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A Special Recognition

We are thrilled to spotlight Nick Clearwater, who ranked #21 in Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America for 2026-2027. It’s a testament to all of his hard work and help to grow the game of golf.

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Congratulations to All!

Huge congratulations to all the GOLFTEC coaches who made the 2026-2027 Golf Digest Best Teachers in Every State list. Your commitment to excellence not only lifts your students - it raises the standard for everyone in the game.

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Here’s to more growth, breakthroughs, and excellent instruction. Keep swinging upward!