U.S. KIDS GOLF PRESENTS TOP 50 KIDS COACHES, MASTER KIDS COACHES

Travis Glass Photo: Brock Badgers Athletics

The U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute is once again proud to recognize the best kids coaches in the world through the 2025 Top Kids Coach and Master Kids Coach awards.

“The coaches that are being recognized with these awards stand out because they realize that coaching kids is a unique challenge, but also a wonderful opportunity,” said Dan Van Horn, the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “They understand it’s not just about teaching specific skills, though that is very important, but it’s also about how to instill a lifelong love of the game. The ability to do both is really the best measure of a kids coach, and this year’s honorees do it the best.”

This year’s Top 50 class consists of coaches from 20 states and 10 countries.

Presented since 2004, the U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Coach award is widely recognized as the pinnacle achievement for junior golf coaches worldwide. Award recipients are chosen based on their contributions to youth golf in their community. These contributions include but are not limited to coaching players ages 12 and under, use of the Player Pathway in advancing their players, creativity, engagement with parents, communication, and organization.

Additionally, 12 coaches will be honored as Master Top 50 Coaches. Coaches achieve the Master Kids Coach status upon earning the Top 50 award for a third time. “Becoming a Master Top 50 elevates your place in junior golf to the highest level of coaching,” noted Van Horn. “It shows a longevity, commitment, and results that will impact families and the entire golf community for many years to come.”

All coaches will be recognized at the annual Top 50 Awards Ceremony on the Main Show Stage during the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida

Top 50 Kids Coaches, Class of 2025:

Luke Allen……………………South Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Yang Bai………………………Rosemead, Calif.

Luke Baker…………………..Spring, Texas

Gene Bakkum………………Oakland, Calif.

Candice Bromley………….Nottage, Wales

Robin Campbell……………Aberdeen, Scotland

HouKuan Choi……………..Shreveport, La.

Philippe Corsaletti………..Villeneuve Loubet, France

Jeff Cowell…………………..Southern Pines, N.C.

Edward Doherty II………..Hingham, Mass.

Jonathan Dudley………….Greensboro, N.C.

Daniel Fowler………………Atlanta, Ga.

Stefanie Giacchini…………Lexington, Ky.

Travis Glass………………….Niagara Falls, Canada (Eagle Valley GC & Head Coach, Brock Badgers Golf Program

Scott Guzinski………………Virginia Beach, Va.

Casey Hall……………………Mountain View, Calif.

Chad Johansen…………….Bristol, Ill.

Dawn Kachel………………..Onalaska, Wis.

Sean Kirschenberg………..Victoria, Australia

Stephanie Kolbas……………….Eagle, Neb.

Nicholas Korns…………………..Grand Blanc, Mich.

Nicholas Langelotti…………….Bronxville, N.Y.

Jacob Lehman……………………Rye, N.Y.

Catalina Mackelfresh………….Enniskerry, Ireland

David Maslen…………………….Chicago, Ill.

Mack McConaha………………..Dublin, Ohio

Alistair McNaughton…………..Dornoch, Scotland

Ric Moore…………………………Pasadena, Calif.

Clay Myers II……………………..West Palm Beach, Fla.

Rushi Oza………………………….Davidson, N.C.

Clayton Pendergraft……………Lemont, Ill.

Andrew Pratt……………………..Auburn, Ala.

Jay Reid…………………………….Mooresville, N.C.

Ezequiel Ruiz……………………..Buenos Aires, Argentina

Grady Santoso……………………Tangerang, Indonesia

Marius Schutte…………………..Hung Yen, Vietnam

William Smittle…………………..White Plains, N.Y.

Matthew Stoughton…………….Johnson City, N.Y.

Master Kids Coaches, Class of 2025:

Jimmy Bayne…………………High Point, N.C.

Ryan Benton………………….Dothan, Ala.

Travis Fowler…………………London, United Kingdom

Andrew Gerlach…………….Hilton Head, S.C.

Jerrel Gill………………………Coral Gables, Fla.

Megan Johnston……………Ridgedale, Mo.

Katie Manlolo……………………..Kapolei, Hawaii

Chad Moscovic……………………Frisco, Texas

Joseph Portfilio…………………..Bloomfield Hill, Mich.

Eva Rogers…………………………Medinah, Ill.

Matthew Rueb……………………Bismarck, N.D.

Jonathan Shoffner……………….Humble, Texas

For more information on the U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Coach Award, visit: https://foundation.uskidsgolf.com/about-our-coaches