HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Three golf instructors at The Sea Pines Resort have been named among the best in South Carolina in Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Every State ranking for 2026-27. Tim Cooke, Rick Barry, and Julie Cole all earned places on the biennial list, which highlights the top instructors as identified by their peers.
Cooke, The Sea Pines Resort’s director of instruction, is a PGA Master Professional. He has been honored multiple times on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers list and was the Carolinas PGA Teacher of the Year in 2014.
Barry has been with The Sea Pines Resort for more than 30 years and is a longtime PGA member. He has been recognized as a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher, named Carolinas PGA Palmer Maples Teacher of the Year, and ranked by Golf Digest among South Carolina’s top instructors for 20 years.
Cole, a former LPGA Tour professional with 12 tournament victories worldwide, previously served as director of instruction at the Dana Rader Golf School in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been recognized as an LPGA Top 50 Teacher, a Golf Digest Best in State honoree, and a Women’s Golf Journal Top 50 Teacher in America.
Golf Digest compiles its list every two years by surveying thousands of instructors nationwide. The full 2026-27 ranking is available at Golf Digest’s Best Teachers by State.
At the Golf Learning Center, instruction is customized for every level of golfer. A team of award-winning instructors address every element of the game. Club fitting and mental coaching are offered, as is individual and group instruction. The latest technology is employed to build individual plans, to improve full swing, short game, and golf performance on and off the course.
For more information about instruction at The Sea Pines Resort, visit seapines.com.
About The Sea Pines Resort
Situated on the southernmost tip of Hilton Head Island, the legendary Lowcountry destination features five miles of unspoiled beaches, 20 clay tennis courts, 14 miles of bike and walking trails, horseback riding, Eco-Adventures, water sports, and the 605-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve filled with wildflowers, wetlands, and more than 130 species of birds. As the first eco-planned destination in the U.S., The Sea Pines Resort has become the blueprint for numerous beach developments around the country. Guests can choose from an array of accommodations, including 300 villas, 100 rental homes, and the luxurious 60-room Inn & Club at Harbour Town, a Forbes Four-Star boutique hotel and Preferred Hotel Group member. The resort’s best-in-class collection of golf courses, amenities, meeting facilities, and accommodations makes Sea Pines one of the most sought-after leisure and group destinations in America. www.seapines.com and @seapineresort.
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