2026 PGA National Teacher & Coach of the Year
Bernie Najar is the Director of Instruction at Caves Valley Golf Club and one of the most decorated coaches in American golf — Golf Digest 50 Best, Golf Magazine Top 100, and coach to champions from World Long Drive to national, state and club amateur events to professional tours around the world.
| No. | Honor | Mark | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | PGA of America National Teacher & Coach of the Year | 2026 | The profession's highest teaching honor |
| 02 | Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers | Since 2017 | Golf Digest's No. 1 teacher in Maryland since 2011 |
| 03 | GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers | Since 2015 | 4× MAPGA Teacher of the Year — 2004, '14, '22, '23 |
| 04 | World Long Drive Championships, students | 3 | Kyle Berkshire — 2019, 2021, 2023 |
| 05 | Maryland State Junior Boys titles, students | 10 of 12 | Plus the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur |
Students have earned dozens of college scholarships, won more than 200 major club, amateur and professional events and qualified for virtually every major professional tour.
Thirty years of coaching, one standard
Bernie Najar is in his 14th season as Director of Instruction at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. Since 1994 he has coached players of every ability — from beginners to major-tour professionals — with the same premise: master the three games of golf — speed, power and finesse — and the scores follow.
A multiple winner of the Middle Atlantic PGA's top instruction honors, Bernie has completed the PGA's Master Professional Program in Teaching and Coaching, and teaches from one of the most technologically advanced indoor-outdoor studios in the mid-Atlantic: the Caves Valley Performance Center, equipped with Swing Catalyst force plates, TrackMan, Foresight, K-Vest and SAM PuttLab.
Kyle Berkshire, 3x World Long Drive Champion
Bernie and Bryan Kim, 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur.
3× World Long Drive Champion
The longest driver on the planet — world titles in 2019, 2021 and 2023 — built on speed training developed with Bernie.
PGA Tour
Qualified for the PGA Tour in 2024; medalist at U.S. Open qualifying in 2025 and made the cut at Oakmont.
No. 2 in college golf
2023 USGA Junior Amateur champion, U.S. Junior Presidents Cup team, and two collegiate wins at Duke.
Speaking engagements
Bernie speaks to PGA sections, corporate audiences and golf organizations on coaching, performance and the three games of golf — the same material featured on the cover of PGA Magazine's Coaching Issue (Feb 2026).
Co-coaching events
Specialized teaching events at your club or facility: Bernie works alongside your professional staff to deliver a day of instruction your members will talk about all season.
Speed / Power / Finesse
How to play the three games of golf — Bernie's newest book, available now in paperback and e-book.
The Game
Enjoying golf on and off the course — with a foreword by student and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas L. Friedman.
“Bernie is that rare coach who can meet the athlete where they are, at whatever level they are — including the very best — and bring out a better player.”
“Bernie has been amazing at knowing which stage I'm at with my game, prioritizing what we work on, and giving me what I need at the right time. There's no doubt the work we did led to me winning the U.S. Junior Amateur.”
“I'm extremely thankful for Bernie's ability to work with my unique swing characteristics and never putting a governor on my swing — which has made me the longest hitter on the planet.”
“Bernie stands out for his ability to connect with anyone and make complicated subjects easy to understand and apply.”
“Bernie never tires of learning. He's always available to share his knowledge with his fellow professionals. His students' successes are well documented, and his contributions to golf are on full display.”
Instructor Resource & Networking Program
Bernie's program helps PGA Professionals and Associates learn and build relationships with fellow professionals and mentors. The video library captures sessions with guests like Martin Hall, Kevin Weeks, Scott Fawcett and leaders from Cobra Puma Golf — across coaching, technology, equipment and professional development.
28+ sessions
Recorded learning opportunities from the last several years of the program.
4 tracks
Coaching, technology, equipment & apparel, and professional development.