2025 PGA National Award Winner
For Outstanding and Continuing Contributions to Professional Education
Michael Jacobs, PGA, a Metropolitan PGA Section Member and Head Professional at Rock Hill Golf & Country Club in Manorville, New York, is the 2025 PGA of America Professional Development National Award recipient.
The award recognizes teachers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to lifelong education, training and the advancement of professional training and advancement for others. Past winners of this prestigious honor include Jim McLean, Joe Hallett, Bill Strausbaugh and Paul Runyan.
As a teaching, coaching and research leader in the Metropolitan Section, Jacobs has presented education, teaching and coaching summits throughout the Association and world, sharing his findings on the intersection between the science of the swing and the art of teaching and coaching. The only instructor on Golf Digest’s “50 Best Teachers in America” list and the Golf Magazine “Top 100 Teachers” to be a Head PGA Professional at a public golf club, his research has earned the attention of PGA Champions Steve Elkington, Jason Dufner as well as Open Champion Padraig Harrington, who visit Rock Hill to work with Jacobs.
Hundreds of PGA of America Members around the country have gone through Michael’s rigorous training program to integrate science and teaching. He is the only coach to have developed his own 3D-motion-capture software for the golf swing and his facility on Long Island is a hub for research and front-line teaching. A multi-award-winning PGA Professional on the Section level, Jacobs received the Metropolitan PGA Professional development award (2020) and the Teacher of the Year honor (2012).
Michael Jacobs was voted as the 8th Best Golf Teacher in America by his peers 2024/25
Michael is the only instructor on Golf Digest’s Best Teachers list and the Golf Magazine Top 100 to be a head PGA professional at a public golf club. In addition, he’s the only coach to have developed his own 3D motion capture software. His facility on Long Island is a hub for high-level golf research and front-line teaching for students ranging from major champions to aspiring Tour professionals to weekend players of all abilities.
“Michael brings a lot of knowledge, but he’s also willing to listen and collaborate. As much as my golf and swing has improved with him, I value just as much his enthusiasm for the game of golf”
Padraig Harrington
2024 World Golf Hall of Fame
3-time Major Champion
“Michael Jacobs isn’t just giving a better golf lesson. He’s making a fundamental contribution to the advancement of teaching.”
Steve Elkington
1995 PGA and 1991 & 1997 Players Champion
“I know what I feel and believe about the swing. Michael actually knows the math, and knows how to help teachers explain it. He’s given me really powerful tools to share the why behind what I do more effectively with players.”
Stan Utley
PGA Tour Winner & Top 50 Teacher
“Michael Jacobs is doing important work that will ultimately make every teacher better at helping players. He’s moving the game forward.”
Mark Blackburn
2020 PGA Teacher of the Year
Golf Digest No. 1 Teacher
“You won’t find an elite teacher more generous with his time and knowledge than Michael Jacobs. He’s a model I point to when I’m talking to young pros.”
Tony Ruggiero
Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher
Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher
“Most who invest what Michael has in something are reluctant to share all of what they’ve spent so long learning. Michael is the opposite. He’s always willing to help me and others better their craft.”
Jason Guss
Three-time Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year
Dr. Steven Nesbit is the Chief Technology Officer of Jacobs 3D
Dr. Steven Nesbit, Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette College, spent 30 years devoted to the study of biomechanics. He is the designer of the USGA's original golf swing study that determined the contributions of the player and club to driving distance, the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers and the Chief Technology Officer of Jacobs 3D since 2013. Dr. Nesbit and Michael Jacobs work full-time on the study of human movement and continue to publish their research.
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The human body is an incredible, ever-changing system, and imposing arbitrary movement requirements doesn’t do it justice. The only way to get the most out of your body is to understand what you can do. Michael Jacobs operates one of the most sophisticated motion analysis studios in the world, combining university-grade technology with 25 years of experience teaching elite athletes and instructors how to diagnose and improve motion inefficiency. You can swing faster and more reliably, and do it while putting less stress on your muscles and joints—and you can teach others how to do it, too. The proof is in the results. Padraig Harrington swings faster now as a senior than he did at 35—and he led the PGA Tour Champions in distance in 2022 at 309 yards.