Laird Small

Laird Small has spent more than 28 years at Pebble Beach, including 19 as Director of the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, which he helped launch to national prominence in 1996; he previously spent nine years as Head Professional and Manager of the Spyglass Hill Golf Shop. A San Jose State University graduate in Recreation and Leisure Studies, he holds Class A-14 teaching professional status and was named a PGA Master Professional with a Specialty Certification in Teaching and Coaching in 2002. His honors include being named the 2003 National PGA Teacher of the Year, a spot on Golf Digest's list of America's top 50 teachers every year since 2007, and continuous inclusion on Golf Magazine's top 100 teachers list since 1995. Small has authored Play Golf the Pebble Beach Way, co-authored GolfCordz the Power Source, and contributes regularly to Golf Magazine, Golf Tips Magazine, and Golf Digest, while also helping build the AT&T Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association, which now serves roughly 2,500 kids a year. Over his career he's coached notable students including Bill Gates, Tom Kite, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett.