Kevin Smeltz has worked with some of the best in the game including Nick Price, Charles Howell III, Camilo Villegas and Na Yeon Choi. Although he still works with several world-class players, Kevin's passion lies in training and developing junior golfers.
After graduating from the University of North Florida with All-American Honors, and playing professionally for a brief time, Kevin decided to pursue a career in golf instruction. After taking a job at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Kevin served as David Leadbetter’s assistant for a year and a half, assisting David with a variety of major championship winners such as Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Greg Norman, and more.
After serving in Japan as director of the David Leadbetter Junior Academy, Kevin worked as the Director of Instruction and Director of Training and Certification Worldwide for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy HQ in Orlando, Florida.
In September 2013, he became the Director of Instruction at the International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He has also written for numerous publications in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. and starred in videos for Golf Digest and several Asian media outlets.
Players under Kevin's guidance have won 22 tournaments on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, and LPGA Tour. He has coached players who have won on the European tour, the Ladies European tour, and the JLPGA tour. Kevin has taught both men and women in the top 10 in the Rolex World Rankings, including a major champion. Five of his players who qualified for the PGA tour had no prior status on that tour.
Kevin has taught two U.S. Walker Cup team members, two No. 1-ranked college players, a No. 2-ranked college player, two NCAA champions, two Curtis cup team members, as well as three players in the top 5 in the World Amateur Golf rankings (WAGR).
From 2018 to 2024, Kevin served as the Director of Golf at PGA Academy at Mission Hills Golf Club in China, the largest golf club in the world.
Kevin's awards include:
• Golf Digest’s Top 20 Teachers Under 40 (2007-2009)
• Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Florida (2007-2013)
• Golf Digest’s Best Young Teacher (2010)
• Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers (2013-2018)
• Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in the world (2020-2021)
• Best Teacher in Asia Pacific (2020-2021)
