“I had played in big tournaments with some great players so I had a pretty good idea of what it took to compete at that level”
Jim McLean has shaped the swings of champions for decades. From Seattle’s Rainier Golf & Country Club to the global stage, his passion for golf has inspired thousands.
University of Houston, BS in Economics All-American Golfer Top 3 Ranked Teacher in America for 25 Years.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Jim McLean grew up a pitch shot from the Rainier Golf & Country Club, a perfect playground for a future star. The eldest of two boys, he was the son of John McLean, a Boeing engineer and low single-digit handicapper who qualified for three U.S. Amateurs. Golf wasn’t just a game in the McLean household; it was family legacy. Jim eagerly followed his father around the course, honing his natural talent through endless practice and early junior competitions in the Pacific Northwest.
At age 11, Jim picked up his first club, drawn in by his father’s passion. A natural athlete with incredible hand-eye coordination, he pitched no-hitters in Little League and sank 25 straight free throws at a Seattle Sonics halftime show. Jim quickly excelled. “He was just an amazing athlete,” recalls childhood friend Jim Kintner. Growing up in south Seattle with Rainier Golf & Country Club visible from his home, he sneaked onto the course to follow his dad and practiced relentlessly in the backyard. By 16, Jim was serving notice as a Northwest shooting star, balancing golf with excellence in other sports and rapidly dominating junior and amateur events across the region.
Jim’s junior career lit up the Pacific Northwest like a comet. His high school team claimed two state titles, but it was his individual brilliance that turned heads. As a teenager he swept both the Washington State Jaycees Junior and the Washington State Junior titles in 1966 and again in 1967. He went on to win the prestigious Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur three times, in 1969, 1971, and 1972, dominating the region’s strongest fields. In 1970 he took the Northwest Open, beating seasoned PGA professionals while still an amateur, and that same year added the Seattle Amateur to his collection.
The following year he claimed the Pacific Coast Amateur, filling an already overflowing trophy case. At just 16, Jim boarded his first plane to compete in the Western Junior at Purdue University, reaching the semifinals and gaining the kind of national confidence that only big stages can provide. Soon after, he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and, over the years, earned spots in four U.S. Amateurs. These high-pressure battles against the best young players in the country taught him the mental fortitude required at the elite level, lessons he would one day pass along to thousands of pupils.
In 1968, Jim McLean earned a full golf scholarship to the University of Houston, the era’s premier program, choosing it over Stanford and Arizona State. From 1969–1973, he competed alongside future PGA Tour stars like Fuzzy Zoeller, John Mahaffey, Bruce Lietzke, and Bill Rogers, thriving amid fierce competition on one of college golf’s most talented rosters. The early days were tough: A 40-man roster meant only five spots for tournaments, and Jim lettered with just one sophomore event. Despite the challenges, he earned All-American honors and secured three college victories, honing his skills in a powerhouse program that dominated the NCAA in the early seventies.
But as a junior and senior, Jim McLean rose to No. 1 or 2 on the powerhouse Houston team, securing three college tournament victories and earning All-American honors in 1972. Majoring in economics and business, he adeptly balanced rigorous academics with the intense grind of elite collegiate golf. Intense rivalries against the University of Texas featuring stars Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite proved pivotal; those fierce matchups forged lifelong friendships and later led Crenshaw and Kite to become McLean’s students. Jim qualified for two U.S. Opens and the 1972 Masters, where he made the cut as an amateur and finished tied for 43rd. “It was difficult in the beginning,” Jim reflects, “but those battles built me.”
Jim McLean graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. During his time there from 1969 to 1973, he excelled as an All-American golfer on the Golf Team, competing alongside future pros like Bill Rogers. McLean’s collegiate experience honed his skills and passion for the game, setting the stage for his professional aspirations. Though he initially aimed for the PGA Tour, his academic background in economics provided a solid foundation for his eventual pivot to teaching. This blend of athletic prowess and business acumen helped him build a renowned career in golf instruction, where he applied analytical thinking to develop innovative methods like the X-Factor. His Houston years were formative, blending rigorous studies with competitive play that fueled his lifelong dedication to the sport.
Pupil Gail Flanagan, now a 28-time USGA qualifier, fondly recalls his infectious energy: “He loved kids, loved seeing people get better.” From 1975–1979 at Westchester Country Club, Jim McLean directed golf at elite clubs including Sunningdale (1979–1982), Quaker Ridge (1983–1988), Sleepy Hollow (1988–1993), and Tamarisk (1987–1988). These prestigious roles immersed him in tour events, where he networked with legends like Ken Venturi, Claude Harmon, and Harry Cooper. Winter teaching stints in Florida, Arizona, and California further enriched him with insights from top instructors. McLean pioneered innovations like video analysis and his groundbreaking X-Factor concept, emphasizing shoulder-hip differential for power.
Headquartered at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, the Jim McLean Golf School has grown from its 1991 launch at Doral Resort into one of the most respected academies on the planet. Today it operates flagship facilities in Miami Beach and Park City, Utah, while licensing schools in Spain, Mexico, and South Korea. Over three decades it has welcomed thousands of golfers of every ability, from weekend players to multiple major champions.
At the heart of the school is Jim’s famous 8-Step Swing, a clear, research-based framework that simplifies the golf swing without sacrificing power or individuality.
The X-Factor concept he pioneered remains one of McLean’s system top cornerstones, teaching golfers how to create torque and explosive distance safely. Using cutting-edge video analysis, Trackman, and a deep emphasis on correct body motion, every lesson is customized because, as Jim says, “there is no one perfect swing, only the perfect swing for you”. Whether you’re a beginner Golfer breaking 100 or a tour player chasing another major, the mission remains the same: give every golfer a clear understanding of the swing, the tools to improve consistently, and the confidence to perform at their highest level.
Jim McLean’s teaching empire exploded in 1991 with the founding of the Jim McLean Golf School at Doral Resort, Miami. What began as a powerhouse academy grew into a global force, certifying 420 pros. He’s taught thousands, including 100+ tour pros and major winners: Tom Kite, Curtis Strange, Keegan Bradley, Gary Woodland, Cristie Kerr, Lexi Thompson, Peter Jacobsen, Bernhard Langer.
A prolific author, Jim penned 15 golf books plus a business guide, contributing to Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and Golf Illustrated. A summit staple (12 PGA Teaching Summits, three European), he also served 15 years on national PGA committees.
