When Butch Harmon opened the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco Golf Club (now called Serket) in 1997, he brought international attention to Las Vegas golf. While the city already offered outstanding courses and resorts, Harmon’s decision to establish his teaching headquarters in Southern Nevada helped elevate Las Vegas into one of the world’s premier golf destinations.
These days, Harmon is retired from his School of Golf, but he still works with some of the world’s best players when they come to Las Vegas, including Tommy Fleetwood and others.
Golf was part of Harmon’s heritage from the beginning. His father, Claude Harmon, was a Masters champion and one of the most respected instructors in golf history. Following in those footsteps, Butch built a reputation that earned him recognition as one of the game’s top teachers and repeated honors from his peers as golf’s No. 1 instructor.
Harmon’s list of students included many of the biggest names in golf, including Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Adam Scott and Natalie Gulbis. Many of those players spent time training in Las Vegas, bringing media attention and helping showcase Southern Nevada’s growing influence in the golf world.
Harmon was also indicted to the Class of 2006 Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame. A major overlook in the world of golf is Harmon not being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, which is long overdue. He came very close in the last voting, and hopes are he will earn induction with the next class.
Before becoming one of golf’s most famous instructors, Harmon was an accomplished player himself. He won the 1971 B.C. Open on the PGA Tour and also served as the personal instructor to King Hassan II of Morocco while teaching at Royal Dar Es Salam in Rabat.
Harmon has also been engrained in the Las Vegas community over the years, working with veterans, charitable events, and showing up to support junior golf and college events, including being a key supporter of UNLV Women’s Golf.
Today, Harmon’s legacy extends far beyond the practice tee. His presence brought some of the game’s biggest stars to Las Vegas, increased the city’s profile as a golf destination and helped inspire future generations of golfers.
Thanks, Butch!