Hank Haney

Hank Haney
Name	Hank Haney
Birth date	1955
Birth place	United States
Occupation	Golf instructor, coach, author, commentator
Years active	1970s–present

Hank Haney is an American golf instructor known for coaching multiple PGA Tour professionals, most notably a long-term partnership with Tiger Woods. He has worked with elite players on swing mechanics, contributed to golf instruction literature, appeared on television, and founded instructional programs and academies. Haney's methods emphasize biomechanics and video analysis and have influenced modern coaching practices in professional PGA Tour and amateur development.

Early life and education

Haney was born in the mid-1950s and raised in the United States. He developed an early interest in golf and athletics, participating in youth programs associated with local clubs and municipal courses. Haney attended institutions where he studied kinesiology-adjacent subjects and gained certification through organizations such as the PGA of America and instructional clinics affiliated with the United States Golf Association and regional golf associations. His formative experiences included exposure to coaching philosophies from prominent figures in American and international golf instruction circles.

Playing and amateur golf

As a young player, Haney competed in regional amateur events and collegiate-level competition linked to state and university programs. He played alongside or against amateurs who later appeared on the PGA Tour, European Tour, and in major championships like the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open. While he did not establish a long-term career as a touring professional on circuits including the PGA Tour Champions or LPGA Tour, his practical playing background informed his later teaching of shotmaking, course management, and tournament preparation.

Coaching career

Haney's coaching career progressed through positions at high-profile clubs, academies, and instruction centers connected to venues such as private country clubs and municipal golf facilities. He earned recognition from entities including the PGA of America and appeared at instructional events hosted by organizations like the Golf Channel and national coaching symposiums. Haney developed a teaching methodology integrating motion analysis, launch monitor data from manufacturers such as TrackMan and Flightscope (radar) technology, and on-course strategy used by professionals in events like the Ryder Cup and The Open Championship.

Work with Tiger Woods

Haney became widely known for his multi-year coaching relationship with Tiger Woods, beginning in the mid-2000s. During their partnership, Woods competed in majors such as the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, and The Open Championship, and in tour events on the PGA Tour. Haney worked on swing changes, putting technique, and mental preparation used in elite tournaments including the Players Championship and U.S. Open. Their collaboration received coverage from broadcasters including ESPN, NBC Sports, and the Golf Channel, and spawned debates among commentators like Butch Harmon, Phil Mickelson, and David Leadbetter on instructional approaches. The tenure ended after several years, and Haney later published accounts detailing coaching dynamics and decision-making during that period.

Other professional coaching and clients

Beyond his work with Tiger Woods, Haney coached a range of professionals across international tours. His pupils included winners and contenders on the PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, and developmental circuits like the Korn Ferry Tour. Haney worked with collegiate stars transitioning to professional ranks from programs at institutions such as Stanford University, University of Texas, and University of Georgia, and advised amateur champions from events like the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur Championship. He also collaborated with coaching staffs for national teams appearing in competitions like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

Media, writing, and business ventures

Haney authored instructional material, contributing books, articles, and columns distributed through publishers and outlets including sports sections of The New York Times, Golf Digest, and instructional segments for ESPN and the Golf Channel. He produced video tutorials and digital courses leveraging slow-motion analysis used on platforms associated with YouTube (service), subscription services, and proprietary academies. Haney appeared as a commentator and analyst on telecasts for networks such as CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN2, and participated in reality and documentary projects about swing instruction and tour life. He founded golf academies, clinics, and branded training programs that partnered with equipment manufacturers like Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway Golf Company to offer custom fitting and pedagogy.

Personal life and legacy

Haney's personal life includes residence in the United States and involvement with charitable initiatives tied to golf foundations and youth programs such as chapters affiliated with the First Tee. His legacy rests on a high-profile coaching portfolio, influence on contemporary swing instruction combining biomechanics with on-course tactics, and published accounts that contributed to public understanding of elite coaching dynamics. Haney is referenced in discussions of modern instruction alongside figures like Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Sean Foley, and Claude Harmon III, and his methods continue to inform coaches working with amateurs and tour professionals.

Category:American golf instructors Category:Living people