Mel Sole

Director of Instruction, Owner of the Ritson-Sole Golf Schools

• Mel Sole has been named a "Top Teacher in North America" for the 3rd time by Golf Magazine in Feb. 2005.
• Mel is one of only 4 Top Teachers selected in the state of South Carolina, his home state.

After a playing career on the South African PGA Tour, Mel turned his focus to teaching under the tutelage of Phil Ritson back in the 70's. Phil had been coach to Mel and several other Pros, including the renown Gary Player, who were playing the SA PGA Tour. Mel found the teaching side of golf to be hugely rewarding, and his coaching of Junior Golf Teams in South Africa produced 2 National Champions and several Junior Champions. In 1984, Mel moved to Toronto, Canada, where he opened the Canadian Golf Academy, an indoor/outdoor teaching facility. In 1988 his long-time friend and mentor, Phil Ritson–now based in Florida–invited Mel to head up the Phil Ritson Golf Studio in Myrtle Beach, SC. The school relocated to Pawleys Island, SC in 1991 as the Phil Ritson – Mel Sole Golf School, and has had great success at beautiful Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club for 15 years. Mel's diversified roster includes stars in professional sports, CEO's of major corporations, and many novice golfers of all ages. His golf instructional book, Golf Step-by-Step, was published by Chrysalis Books in January, 2003 and sells worldwide. Mel is a teaching editor with Golf Tips Magazine, Coastal Carolina Business Journal and Privilege Magazine in Toronto, Canada. His lessons have also appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf Illustrated. Membership on the South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel reflects Mel's passion for quality golf in America. Teaching philosophy shared by Mel Sole and Phil Ritson: These 2 veteran golf instructors believe in teaching each person individually, according to his or her unique physique and capabilities. The golf swing should be kept as simple as possible, and students are taught to utilize the big muscles which create power with a minimum of effort.

"As someone who has been around athletic competition all my life, I can say, without reservation, that Mel Sole is the finest teacher I have come across in any sport." — Dave Hart, Director of Athletics at Florida State University "I've taken lessons from the most famous players in golf, but nothing beats what I've learned from Mel at the Phil Ritson – Mel Sole golf School. They're the best in the world!" — The late Wayne Calloway, former Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo

Phil Ritson

Phil Ritson has been called the "Pros' Pro" in his more than 50 years of teaching golf. His roster of Touring Professionals has included Gary Player, Curtis Strange, Seve Ballesteros and David Frost, to name a few. More recently, his students have included K. J. Choi, and several Asian players on the LPGA Tour. Phil was also a mentor to the renown David Leadbetter, who hails from South Africa. Phil has tutored many amateurs worldwide as well, and Gary Player says "Phil has that rare talent to teach golfers of all calibers, from the beginner to the superstar." Accolades for Phil include being consistently named a "Top 50 Teacher in the USA" by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. Phil's award winning instructional video tapes called "Encyclopedia of Golf" and "Golf Your Way" have helped to improve many golfers' games. Two books, Golf Your Way and Total Golf, have provided further access to Phil's legendary wisdom of this great game. Phil is a teaching editor with Golf Magazine and he has been featured giving tips and commentary on ESPN, Canadian National Television, and the Golf Channel. Currently, Phil teaches one-hour lessons at Phil Ritson's Golf Your Way Studio at Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, Florida (near Orlando).