When you're searching for a golf school or private golf lessons that will actually move the needle on your game, the coach matters more than the clubhouse. At Top Tier Golf, our golf instruction programs are built around finding coaches whose credentials, experience, and teaching philosophy are simply a level above the rest. David McQuade is one of the clearest examples of that standard.
Dave is a Certified Class A PGA Instructor who currently teaches through Top Tier Golf's coaching programs at two of our flagship partner courses: Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida and The Wilderness Club in Eureka, Montana.
Whether you're a Florida golfer chasing a lower handicap on the Nature Coast or a Montana golfer looking to sharpen your game against the backdrop of Glacier Country, Dave brings a rare combination of playing experience, teaching credentials, and firsthand knowledge of world-class golf design to every lesson.
Who Is David McQuade?
A native of Trumbull, Connecticut, Dave's golf journey started long before he became one of the country's most decorated club professionals. He attended Florida Southern College, where he was a four-year letterman on the golf team, competing at a high level throughout his collegiate career.
That competitive foundation shaped the way he approaches golf instruction today: technically sound, performance-driven, and focused on real, measurable improvement.
From there, Dave built a career inside the PGA of America that few professionals ever reach the top of.
PGA Master Professional: The Highest Designation in Golf Instruction
Of the tens of thousands of PGA of America professionals nationwide, only about 487 have ever achieved Master Professional status — the highest designation a PGA Professional can earn. It's not an award handed out for tenure alone. Master Professional status recognizes elite achievement across teaching, coaching, and the business of golf, and it places Dave in one of the smallest, most exclusive circles in the golf instruction industry.
For golfers evaluating golf coaching options, this distinction matters. It's the difference between working with "a golf instructor" and working with one of the most credentialed PGA certified golf instructors in the country.
A PGA Magazine Ambassador: A Well-Traveled Eye for World-Class Golf
Dave is also a PGA Magazine Ambassador, an invitation-only role reserved for a select group of club professionals who travel to top domestic and international golf destinations to evaluate the overall golf experience. This isn't a title you apply for — it's a title you're invited into based on your standing and expertise within the profession.
Ambassadors like Dave directly influence how the golf industry thinks about golf travel, course design, and the guest experience at premier destinations around the world.
That well-traveled perspective is a huge part of what makes Dave such a valuable coach for Top Tier Golf students. He doesn't just teach swing mechanics in a vacuum — he teaches with the context of having played and evaluated some of the best golf courses on the planet.
Coaching at Black Diamond Ranch: Tom Fazio's Masterpiece on Florida's Nature Coast
At Black Diamond Ranch, Dave helps golfers get the most out of a Tom Fazio-designed championship layout widely regarded as one of the most dramatic and strategically demanding courses in Florida. Fazio's design — carved through old limestone quarries — rewards precision and course management, and Dave's role as a Top Tier Golf coach is to help students understand not just how to swing the club, but how to actually play the golf course in front of them.
For golfers searching for a golf school near Lecanto, Florida, a Florida golf academy, or golf lessons on Florida's Nature Coast, Dave's program at Black Diamond Ranch is built to deliver real, structured improvement — not just a one-off lesson, but a coaching relationship focused on lasting change in your game.
Coaching at The Wilderness Club in Montana
Dave also brings his coaching expertise north to The Wilderness Club in Eureka, Montana, one of Top Tier Golf's premier mountain golf school locations. Golfers training with Dave at The Wilderness Club get access to the same elite-level instruction — grounded in his Master Professional credentials and global course experience — in one of Montana's most stunning golf settings.
For anyone searching for golf lessons in Montana, a Montana golf school, or private golf coaching near Eureka, MT, Dave's presence at The Wilderness Club gives students direct access to instruction most golf destinations simply can't offer.
What Golfers Can Expect From a Lesson With Dave
Above all, Dave is dedicated to making the entire golf experience a source of pride and enjoyment for every golfer he works with. Students who train with Dave through Top Tier Golf's coaching programs can expect:
- Credentialed, elite-level instruction from one of only 487 PGA Master Professionals in the country
- A performance-driven approach, shaped by Dave's own competitive playing background
- Course-specific coaching, tailored to the unique demands of Tom Fazio's design at Black Diamond Ranch or the mountain terrain at The Wilderness Club
- A world-class perspective, informed by Dave's work as a PGA Magazine Ambassador evaluating top golf destinations globally
- A coaching philosophy built around long-term enjoyment and pride in the game, not just quick fixes
This approach lines up directly with Top Tier Golf's broader coaching system — helping golfers pinpoint what's holding their game back, adjust the right fundamentals, and refine their swing for lasting results.
Book a Golf School With David McQuade
If you're looking for golf school an a great golf coaching program led by one of the most credentialed instructors in the country, David McQuade is currently teaching through Top Tier Golf at:
Visit either location page to learn more about Dave's coaching programs and book your session today.