16 Landmark Books
#1 Best-Selling Golf DVD Ever
40+ yrs Instruction Research

Jim McLean — Hall of Fame | New Books | Jim McLean Golf School

Why Train with Jim McLean


  • Top 3 ranked teacher in America for 25 years; currently #1 in Florida.
  • Major champions coached include Cristie Kerr, Gary Woodland, Curtis Strange, Keegan Bradley, Lexi Thompson, and more.
  • Eight juniors coached to #1 national ranking.
  • Inducted into multiple Halls of Fame; most recently the PGA of America Hall of Fame (Class of 2025).
US & LPGA Major Champions #1 Ranked Juniors Global Golf Schools
Elevate Your Game.

Book a Lesson at Jim McLean Golf School

World-class coaching at our flagship Biltmore location and global academies in Utah, Mexico, Spain, and South Korea.

Jim McLean Overview & Credentials

University of Houston, BS in Economics • All-American Golfer • Top 3 Ranked Teacher in America for 25 Years, currently #1 in Florida.

Tournament Achievements & Major Qualifications

Wins

  • Pacific Northwest Open
  • 3× Pacific Northwest Amateurs
  • Pacific Coast Amateur (Olympic Club, San Francisco)
  • 3 College Tournaments
  • PGA National Skins Game ($51k)
  • Westchester PGA
  • 3 PGA Club Pro Winter Events
  • Multiple Mini-Tour Tournaments

Major / Elite Qualifications

  • US Junior Championship
  • US Amateur (3×) — 4th Place Medal
  • US Open (2×)
  • US Senior Open
  • 4 State Amateurs (TX, OK, AR, LA)
  • Washington State Junior (2×)
  • National Skins Game Regional Qualifier
  • Medalist in multiple US Open, US Amateur & US Senior Open qualifiers
  • Runner-up in Met PGA & New York State Open
PGA Career & Leadership Roles

Professional Roles

  • Assistant Professional, Westchester CC (1975–1979)
  • Director of Golf, Sunningdale G&CC (1979–1982)
  • Director of Golf, Quaker Ridge GC (1982–1988)
  • Director of Golf, Sleepy Hollow G&CC (1988–1993)
  • Director of Golf, Tamarisk CC (1987–1988)
  • Director of Golf, Doral Golf Resort & Spa (1991–2008)
  • Owner, JMGS Doral (1991–2017)
  • Owner, JMGS at The Biltmore Hotel (2018–Present)

Tours & Championships

  • Member, PGA Tour (1982)
  • Member, NGA Tour
  • Member, Canadian Tour
  • Qualified for 10 National Club Pro Championships
Hall of Fame Inductions (incl. 2025 PGA of America)
  • PGA of America Hall of Fame — Class of 2025
  • Miami Sports Hall of Fame
  • Metropolitan PGA Hall of Fame
  • South Florida PGA Hall of Fame
  • World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame
  • Northwest Hall of Fame (playing record)
PGA Contributions, Education & Mentorship
  • Helped establish the Met PGA Junior Golf Program
  • 15 years on PGA National Education Committee
  • 15 years on National Teaching Committee
  • 2 years on National Awards Committee
  • Conducted 15+ years of workshops with top instructors (Dick Harmon, Bob Rotella, Craig Shankland & others)
  • Trained 260+ assistants—many advanced to Directors of Golf/Instruction at top private clubs
Philanthropy, Military & Junior Golf Support

Junior Tours Sponsored

  • FCWT Junior Tour (10 years)
  • South Florida Junior Tour
  • Hurricane Junior Tour

Military Outreach

  • Free clinics for veterans & personnel across 10 US bases
  • Recognized with a US Capitol-flown flag for service contributions
Students — Champions, Juniors & Celebrities

Top Students & Champions

  • US Open & LPGA Champions: Cristie Kerr, Gary Woodland
  • Major Champions / Legends: Curtis Strange, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Bernhard Langer, Al Geiberger
  • LPGA Major & US Open Champions: Liselotte Neumann, Jane Geddes, Lauri Merten
  • Masters & US Open Winners: Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite
  • Other Tour winners: Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Brad Faxon, Adam Long, Peter Jacobsen, Len Mattiace, Vaughn Taylor, Bill Britton, Bobby Wadkins, Lennie Clements, Mark McCumber, John Mahaffey, Dana Quigley, Bo Hoag
  • Coached 8 juniors to #1 national ranking; Lexi Thompson & Cristie Kerr reached #1 as teenagers

Celebrity Students

  • Will Smith, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Conan O’Brien
  • Glenn Frey, Dan Quayle, Donald Trump, Alice Cooper
  • Alex Rodriguez, Dan Marino, Scottie Pippen, Penny Hardaway
  • Henry Kravis, George Roberts, Bob Woodward, Mario Draghi, Charles Schwab, Damian Lewis

The Houston Dynasty chronicles the philosophy, culture, and coaching systems behind one of the most influential golf programs in history. Jim McLean’s newest release explores the legendary University of Houston golf program that reshaped modern instruction and produced generations of champions.

  • Inside the rise of a legendary collegiate golf powerhouse
  • Coaching principles that shaped major champions
  • Lessons applicable to players, coaches, and instructors at every level
  • Never-before-told stories from inside the program
Collegiate Excellence Elite Coaching Systems Golf History
The Houston Dynasty book artwork
New Book Release

Purchase your copy today and be among the first to receive Jim McLean’s most anticipated book to date.

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Click Here to Order

Jim McLean — Books & Publications

Signature Works

From revolutionary swing theory to the most comprehensive Ben Hogan study ever written — these books define Jim McLean's legacy.

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⭐ Bestseller · Sports Illustrated Top 11
The Eight-Step Swing

The revolutionary system that changed golf instruction forever. McLean breaks the swing into eight precise checkpoint positions, building a grooved, repeatable, mechanically-sound motion that any golfer can master.

Swing Mechanics All Skill Levels 3rd Edition Updated #1 Golf DVD on Golf Channel
Order on Amazon → Learn at the School
"The Eight-Step Swing was ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the top golf instruction books of the 20th century."
— Sports Illustrated

The Complete Library

✦

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The X-Factor
Jim McLean
Classic
Power & Rotation
The X-Factor

The landmark study that revealed the secret behind every great ball-striker's power: the differential between hip and shoulder rotation at the top of the backswing.

  • Introduces the X-Factor® concept McLean pioneered through years of research
  • Explains how hip-shoulder separation generates explosive distance
  • Covers body angles, body motions, and key positions in detail
  • Basis of McLean's most recognized teaching innovation
Order on Amazon → Learn More
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🎯
The Slot Swing
Jim McLean
Downswing Mastery
The Slot Swing

Master the most critical move in all of golf — the transition from backswing to downswing. Getting into the slot is what separates consistent ball-strikers from the rest.

  • Detailed analysis of the ideal downswing slot position
  • Drills to build the correct inside-out path consistently
  • Fixes the most common downswing errors at their source
  • Trusted by tour professionals and club golfers alike
Order on Amazon → Learn More
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Build Your Swing
Jim McLean
Foundations
Build Your Swing

A comprehensive blueprint for constructing a sound, repeatable swing from the ground up — addressing setup, fundamentals, and the building blocks that underpin every great player's motion.

  • Step-by-step framework from grip and stance to full swing
  • Emphasizes universal fundamentals over style preferences
  • Practical drills for each stage of swing development
  • Ideal for beginners and golfers rebuilding their game
Order on Amazon → Learn More
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Golf Digest's Book of Drills
Jim McLean with Larry Dennis
120+ Drills
Practice & Drills
Golf Digest's Book of Drills

Co-authored with Golf Digest Senior Editor Larry Dennis, this unparalleled encyclopedia of improvement-generating drills covers every facet of the game — from the tee to the green.

  • Over 120 drills guaranteed to lower your handicap
  • Covers full swing, short game, putting, and course management
  • The most comprehensive drill reference in golf instruction
  • Used by McLean's schools and students for decades
Order on Amazon → Learn More
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The Complete Hogan
Jim McLean
Award-Winning
Hogan Study
The Complete Hogan

The most thorough and authoritative study of Ben Hogan's legendary swing ever published. A lifetime of McLean's research distilled into a definitive analysis of golf's greatest ball-striker.

  • Exhaustive frame-by-frame breakdown of Hogan's mechanics
  • Companion to the 6-award-winning Hogan video series
  • Reveals the secrets behind Hogan's ball-striking supremacy
  • Essential reading for students of the game's history and technique
Order on Amazon → Learn More
8️⃣
The Eight-Step Swing
3rd Edition — Jim McLean
Updated Edition
Swing System
The Eight-Step Swing 3rd Edition

The updated edition of the all-time classic incorporates McLean's latest research, new chapters for women and juniors, 50+ new illustrations, and a refined building-block approach.

  • Sports Illustrated Top Golf Book of the 20th Century (#11)
  • All-time #1 best-selling golf DVD on Golf Channel
  • New chapters: women, juniors, preshot routine & fundamentals
  • Used by champions Tom Kite, Cristie Kerr & Bernhard Langer
Order on Amazon → Learn More