Mike Bender grew up in Waterloo and has had a distinguished career as both a player and a swing instructor. Bender was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American (1978-1980) and won the individual championship in 1979 and 1980 at California State University Stanislaus.

In 1986 Bender was Iowa PGA Section Player of the Year and then played on the PGA Tour for three seasons (1987-89).  He was North Florida PGA Section Player of the Year in 1995 and won the section Match Play Championship in 1998.

But it is in teaching that Bender has found his true calling. He has achieved worldwide recognition as one of the game’s top instructors. His most famous students are 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson and two-time U. S. Open Champion Lee Janzen.  He has also worked with LPGA tour winners Seon Hwa Lee and Joo Mi Kim.

Bender was named one of the Top 10 Greatest Teachers in America by Golf Digest in 2007 and in 2009 he was recognized as the PGA of America National Teacher of the Year.

Player

• Three-time NCAA Division III All-American: 1978-1980
• NCAA Division III Individual Champion: 1979 and 1980
• Herman Sani Invitational Winner in 1979
• Won the Waterloo Open in 1983
• Iowa PGA Section Player of the Year: 1986
• Played on the PGA Tour: 1987-1989
• North Florida PGA Section Player of the Year: 1995
• North Florida PGA Section Match Play Champion: 1998

Instructor/Professional

• 1986, Head Teaching Professional, Sunnyside CC, Waterloo, Iowa
• 1990-1991, Director of Instruction, Brooks Resort, Spirit Lake, Iowa
• 1992-Present, Director of Instruction at the Mike Bender Golf Academy, Lake Mary, FL

Accomplishments and Awards

• Ranked as one of the Top Three Best Teachers in America by Golf Digest (2019)
• Named the 2009 PGA of America National Teacher of the Year
• Ranked as one of the Top Five Best Teachers in America by Golf Digest (2011)
• Ranked by GOLF Magazine (since 1996) as one of the Top 100 Teachers in America
• North Florida PGA Section Teacher of the Year (1996, 1998, 2005, 2007)
• North Florida PGA Section East Central Chapter Teacher of the Year (1994, 1996,1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007)
• Speaker at the PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit (2004)
• PGA National Seminar Speaker at Bay Hill G.C. with Mike McGetrick, Craig Harmon and Randy Smith
• Featured speaker at seminars for the Saskatawean PGA (1996), Michigan PGA (1997), Southern Ohio PGA (1999) and Metropolitan PGA (2007).
• Inventor of the revolutionary MEGSA Perfect Practice Equipment and several teaching aids including The Arm Master, The Insider and the Right on Line
• Appeared on infomercial for The Silent Pro teaching aid with Gary McCord, Peter Kostis, Chuck Cook and Bob Toski.
• Appeared live on the QVC Network promoting the Medicus Club and on the product’s infomercial. Also produced a training video for the Medicus
• Club and served as a consultant for the company until 1997.
• Opened a golf academy at the Centrum Best Club near Amsterdam, Holland (1998).
• Served as a consultant to the Pro Golf Academy in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (1995).
• Currently conducting private golf schools at clubs throughout the United States, Canada and Europe during the summer months.

Click here to view Mike’s biography at his website