In the world of golf, no one's perfect. Every golfer, professional or amateur, has weaknesses that call for improvement. This universal truth underscores why even the world’s best golfers hire coaches for their training.
If you are an aspiring golfer- aiming to pursue golf as a career, you should definitely consider joining a golf academy to hone your skills.
Below is the list of the world's best golf academies and schools that will help you fine-tune everything from your stance to how you swing and strike. Take a look and pick an academy you think best fits your needs.
The World’s Best Golf Academies & Schools
Claude Harmon Performance Golf Academy
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Claude Harmon Performance Golf Academy was founded by Claude Harmon III in January 2008. For three generations, the Harmon family has served as the world's best golf instructors, and Claude Harmon is continuing this tradition in his Dubai academy.
It is the only Harmon school outside of the United States offering one-on-one lessons from experienced golf coaches and providing its pupils with the latest training aids to help them achieve their goals.
Claude Harmon's teaching philosophy is all about improving the game's technical, tactical, and physical aspects to ensure lower scores and repeatable swings. Harmon III's philosophy has driven many amateur and professional golfers to success, including: Ricky Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Pat Perez, Marina Alex, Pajaree Anannarukarn, and Bubba Watson.
Butch Harmon School Of Golf
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
The Butch Harmon School Of Golf is an esteemed golf instruction centre known for using cutting-edge technology in its teaching methods. Founded by Claude Butch Harmon Jr. a.k.a the world's best golf instructor, who has trained some of the best professional golfers of all time, including: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Greg Norman.
Butch Harmon School Of Golf emphasises a personalised approach to instruction. The school understands that every golfer is unique and tailors its coaching methods to align with individual abilities and goals. This customised approach to teaching is aided by the school's advanced computers and video equipment that analyse the golfer's swing and help the coach recognise their strengths and weaknesses.
Both professional and amateur golfers can enroll in the Butch Harmon School of Golf if they wish to enhance their golf posture and game.
Palm Beach Gardens Leadbetter Golf Academy
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
The David Leadbetter Golf Academy is part of a global network of golf instruction centres founded by a highly regarded golf instructor, David Leadbetter. The golf school has four spacious classrooms, all equipped with the latest in V1 Golf swing analysis computer technology to help golfers analyse their golf swing and work on perfecting it.
The golf biometrics and coaches at the Academy's Palm Beach location are best across the globe. To train their students, they utilise Leadbetter's teaching philosophy of perfecting the basics ie how to shape the perfect golf shots and develop a repeatable swing that can produced even under pressure.
James Andrews Golf School
Location: Stoke by Nayland, Essex, England
The James Andrews Golf School is founded by PGA professional golfer with 18 years of experience in residential coaching. Within the academy, James, along with his team of experienced professionals, helps golfers enhance their skills by breaking down the golf swing into separate steps that coaches teach orally and practically. The golfers then practise each step vigorously until they achieve perfection.
The academy offers two 18-hole golf courses and two indoor coaching centres, both of which are equipped with Trackman 4 launch monitors to help golfers and their coaches critically analyse their golf swings and ball movement. The structured learning system and edge-cutting technology utilised to coach golfers makes James Andrews a great choice for beginners, amateurs, and professionals.
Mike Bender Elite Golf Academy
Location: Magnolia Plantation Golf Club in Lake Mary, Florida, USA
The Mike Bender Golf Academy was founded in 1991 by one of the most respected golf coaches in the world, Mike Bender. The school offers personalised one-on-one lessons to young individuals who aim to reach their "full competitive potential at the collegiate and professional ranks.”
Since 1991, Mike Bender and his experienced team have helped more than 120 kids earn college golf scholarships. Amongst its most successful students is Shun Yat, who qualified for Hong Kong Open in 2008 and made the cut, becoming the youngest golfer in a men's major professional tour event. In 2011, Shun Yat also ranked as the number 1 junior golfer.
The Mike Bender Elite Golf Academy offers tailor-made coaching lessons to its students, and every week Mike Bender himself analyses his pupils' performance to ensure they are doing well. The school also uses various technologies, including the K-Vest 3D Motion System, Boditrack Golf System, Sam Putt Lab Machine, and more. To make the most out of your school days, it’s best to wear high performance golf apparel offered by Druids a.k.a the UK’s best discount golf store.
The Leadbetter Golf Academy Dubai
Location: Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Leadbetter Golf Academy Dubai is a part of the global network of golf academies founded by world-class golf instructor David Leadbetter. At the school, David, along with his team, helps golfers identify and hold the ideal position of each body part and the club throughout the swing.
Every student receives personalised training, aided by advanced practising tools to make it more effective. By the end of their training at Leadbetter golf school, the golfers become more consistent with irons, understand the golf courses better, and hit straighter shots. This school is perfect for beginners who aim to take their game to the next level and professionals who wish to improve in certain areas.
PGA West Golf Academy, Palm Springs
Location: La Quinta, California, USA
The PGA West Golf Academy is known for its renowned instructors and stunning golf courses. The school aims to improve its students' golfing skills by offering custom programs based on their body's makeup and experience level. The staff at West Golf Academy guarantees that by the end of the training program, every golfer leaves with a clear picture of the path of improvement.
Golfers can choose from two or three days of golf school in which they get to play on prestigious golf courses like TPC Stadium and get one-on-one training sessions for golf coaches like Jerry Mowlds, Bryan Lebedevitch, Bruce Furman, Craig Freeman, and John Battaglia.
Valle Romano Golf School And Resort
Location: Estepona, Costa del Sol, Southern Spain
Valle Romano Golf School was founded in 2011 by a renowned PGA golf coach Jason Floyd. The school offers golf classes all year round for people of all ages and skill sets, including one-on-one training sessions for kids aged 10-18 aiming for a golf scholarship. The structured coaching programme, together with edge-cutting technology and passionate coaches, helps students enhance their skills and understand the game better.
Arnold Palmer Golf Academy
Location: Bay Hill Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, USA
The Arnold Palmer Golf Academy embodies Arnold Palmer's timeless golf philosophy and mirrors his approach to the game. As a legendary and charismatic golfer, Palmer believed that a good understanding of the fundamentals leads to a good game. The academy embraces this principle by offering comprehensive instruction covering everything from mastering the long and short games to mastering specialty shots, selecting the right clubs, developing effective course strategies, and even personalised equipment fitting.
The one-to-four ratio of coaches to students makes it possible for every individual to receive individual attention and in turn, helps players identify their strengths and work on their weaknesses. Besides training, the instructors also give students the confidence to stay calm in tough situations and produce consistent swings.
Last Word:
No one is born a star. In fact, behind every man standing in the spotlight is a group of individuals that helps them recognise their talent and polish their skills. Golf enthusiasts also need a support system to succeed, and the golf academies mentioned above offer that and more. Getting enrolled in one of the world’s top-notch golf academies is the best thing a golfer can do to polish their skills and improve their game.
So if your life goal is to make a name for yourself in the golfing world, get admission into your nearest school and don’t forget to wear Druids high quality golf t shirts and golf trousers on your first day of school.