Jim “Doc” Suttie
Former Northern Illinois University golfer Jim “Doc” Suttie, a PGA teaching professional at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, is once again listed among Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers.
Suttie is tops in Illinois and ranks No. 18 on the prestigious list, which appears in the November 2013 issue.
Suttie, a DeKalb native who learned to play the game at Kishwaukee Country Club, earned his bachelor’s degree in biomechanics from NIU in 1970 after earning four letters in golf.
He stayed at NIU to complete his master’s in kinesiology while working as assistant golf coach.
Golf Digest, which has been ranking the top teachers in the game since the year 2000, polled 1,200 leading golf instructors nationwide to determine the 50 Best Teachers in America, as well as the best teachers in each state. Suttie is also listed as the No. 1 teacher in Illinois.
“To be recognized by Golf Digest and voted by my peers in the industry as one of the 50 Best Teachers in the game and No. 1 in Illinois is very humbling and rewarding,” said Suttie, who earned a PhD in biomechanics from Middle Tennessee St. in 1983.
Suttie is one of only a handful of instructors to have appeared on the Golf Digest list every year since 2000. In addition to his being honored annually by Golf Digest, he was also named the National Teacher of the Year by the PGA in 2000.
Suttie, who stills holds the Kishwaukee Country Club course record of 63, has worked with PGA tour champion and 2011 Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger among other notable students. He also mentored former NIU women’s golfer and LPGA Tour competitor Nicole Jeray.
