Charlie King, the innovative Director of Instruction at the Reynolds Golf Academy at Reynolds Plantation, has been named by Golf Digest magazine to its prestigious list of the “50 Best Teachers In America.”

Charlie King, the innovative Director of Instruction at the Reynolds Golf Academy at Reynolds Plantation, has been named by Golf Digest magazine to its prestigious list of the “50 Best Teachers In America.” The 2013-2014 rankings were announced in the newly released November issue of the magazine.

King, 49, now in his 25th year of golf instruction, joined the illustrious list of golf’s most respected instructors at No. 46. He previously had been honored by Golf Digest as one of the leading teachers in Georgia and is a steady presence on the GOLF magazine list of Top 100 Golf Instructors. He currently is the only Atlanta-area instructor on the Golf Digest “Best 50” list.

“The Golf Digest Top 50 is a vote of your peers and I want to thank the teachers on this list who voted for me,” said King, who joined Reynolds Plantation in March 2006. “I try to remain focused on my students and not let awards be my goal. But I must say that it is professionally satisfying and personal validation that I am doing something right here at Reynolds Plantation when these awards come along every once in a while.”

As the head of the Reynolds Golf Academy, King provides a wealth of knowledge and insight to Reynolds Plantation residents and guests who enjoy this world-class amenity as part of their community. Author of three books including “The New Rules of Golf Instruction,” he is founder of an online learning center called New Rules Golf School Online and New Rules Golf Coach Certification for golf instructors.

“Charlie King is one of the most energetic and imaginative instructors in the game of golf,” said Mark Lammi, Vice President of Golf Operations at Reynolds Plantation. “He continues to create cutting edge programs that have quantifiably increased the skills, and in turn, the enjoyment of our members and guests. We are very fortunate to have Charlie leading the charge on golf instruction at Reynolds Plantation.”

A member of the PGA of America for 21 years, King has been a featured guest instructor on the Golf Channel and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows through the years. King’s honors include being a two-time winner of the prestigious Horton Smith Award for the PGA North Florida Section and most recently selected as the 2011 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year.

“We have a spectacular new setting for the golf academy and golfers who love to play at Reynolds Plantation,” King said. “By continually improving the instructional program, we enhance the overall experience for our members and guests.”

Originally from Decatur, Tenn., King attended Tennessee Tech University, where he earned a marketing degree.

Prior to his current role at Reynolds Plantation, King was the teaching professional at Nantucket Golf Club in Nantucket, Mass. He previously served as Director of Instruction at the Academy of Golf at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and was Director of Instruction at Tuscawilla Country Club in Orlando. He also coordinated instruction for golf teachers at the Golf Academy of the South and taught nationally for The Swing’s The Thing Golf Schools.