Best Golf Coaches in Miami 2026: Gabriel Bello, Barbara Roca, Julio Nutt Golf Instruction, & Forgione Compared

Best Golf Coaches in Miami 2026: Gabriel Bello, Barbara Roca, Julio Nutt Golf Instruction, & Forgione Compared

Updated July 2026 - By the TeachMe.To Editorial Team

Miami’s golf scene runs twelve months a year, and that year-round demand has produced an unusually deep coaching pool. The metro draws instructors with backgrounds ranging from elite private-club experience to European tour play to decades-long tenures at nationally recognized academies - a range that most seasonal golf markets simply cannot match. Lesson rates across the active TeachMe.To roster in Miami currently span $100 to $125, a relatively tight band that means price alone is rarely the deciding factor.

The more useful question is fit: which credential angle, lesson format, and booking experience match the way you actually want to learn? A first-time golfer who needs patience and fundamentals has different requirements than a single-digit handicapper chasing a tighter ball flight. The four coaches and academies below represent distinct approaches to that problem - two bookable directly on TeachMe.To with verified student reviews and a risk-free first-lesson policy, and two established local names worth knowing as you make your decision.

The 4 coaches and academies compared

Gabriel Bello

Gabriel Bello holds the strongest verified review record of any golf coach on TeachMe.To’s Miami roster: 102 reviews at a perfect 5.0 average rating, a happy student score of 100/100, and both the Super Coach and Student Favorite designations on the platform. Those distinctions are earned through sustained booking volume and consistent post-lesson feedback - not self-reported credentials.

His teaching background includes assistant pro experience at two of Miami-Dade’s most prominent private clubs, giving him a frame of reference most independent coaches lack. That experience translates into lessons that go beyond surface-level swing tips. Students repeatedly cite his ability to explain the reasoning behind each adjustment - the why, not just the what - which helps changes actually stick between sessions.

His format is mobile across Miami-Dade, covering both outdoor course settings and indoor studio environments across the metro. That flexibility matters during Miami’s summer rainy season, when afternoon thunderstorms can cut outdoor sessions short without warning.

“Great coach, super explanatory on why and how to do certain things.” - Alberto A.

“Took the time to teach me the fundamentals and get my form right. It was my first time taking a lesson and I feel so much more confident - definitely recommend 10/10.” - Stephany G.

“The instructor was knowledgeable and patient, and I saw improvement right away. Highly recommend for golfers at any level.” - Dominick R.

Best for: First-time golfers who want a strong conceptual foundation; intermediate players looking to correct mechanics with an instructor who can explain the reasoning behind every change; anyone who values documented, consistent quality over a larger name.

Trade-off: Price tier is $$$, the higher end of Miami’s current market range. Booking is exclusively through TeachMe.To, which is a feature for some students and a friction point for others who prefer direct instructor contact.

Barbara Roca

Barbara Roca is USGTF-certified and brings a playing career that started at age 8 and ran through junior championships across South America before continuing into college golf. That competitive background gives her lessons a technical precision that goes beyond recreational instruction - she knows what functional mechanics actually look like under pressure.

With 35 reviews at a 5.0 average and a happy student score of 99/100 on TeachMe.To, her track record is consistent. Students highlight her patience, her willingness to challenge comfortable habits - grip, weight distribution, tempo - rather than simply validate existing technique, and her ability to adapt sessions based on where each student is in their progress rather than following a fixed curriculum.

Her price tier is $$, making her one of the more accessible options on the TeachMe.To Miami roster without any sacrifice in credential depth. She teaches across a mix of outdoor course settings and an indoor studio on the east side of Miami-Dade, which provides a useful alternative when afternoon weather pushes sessions off an open course.

“Patient, adapts classes based on progress, focuses on drills and swing mechanics.” - Christine C.

“She challenged me to adopt a new grip despite my hesitation and helped me focus on slowing down in the upswing. She also helped me change weight distribution which I expect will help me with distance.” - Christine C.

“Barbara’s steady approach made it easy to focus on the basics. I’m a new golfer and I enjoyed the lesson.” - Thomas R.

Best for: New golfers who want structured, fundamentals-first instruction; intermediate players open to having their technique genuinely challenged; students who prefer steady, progressive improvement over one-and-done quick fixes; price-conscious learners who do not want to compromise on coach quality.

Trade-off: Fewer reviews on file than Gabriel Bello, which means a shorter verified track record on the platform - though her 5.0 average across 35 reviews is consistent. Does not yet hold a Super Coach designation.

Julio Nutt Golf Instruction

Julio Nutt is one of the most credentialed golf instructors in South Florida. As the Lead Master Instructor at the Jim McLean Golf School, he trained directly under Jim McLean - one of the most recognized names in American golf instruction. Golf Digest has listed him among Florida’s top golf instructors every year since 2019, and he brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to each session.

His teaching model covers significant range: private lessons, group sessions, virtual and online instruction, indoor simulator work, destination coaching, and a high-performance elite coaching track. That breadth makes him a viable option for everyone from serious amateurs to competitive players who want structured, data-informed development.

His primary base is the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, one of Miami’s most recognized golf destinations, through the Jim McLean Golf School.

Best for: Competitive golfers and high-performance students who want access to a nationally recognized instruction methodology; players who specifically want to work within the Jim McLean system; golfers who value Golf Digest-recognized credentials as a selection signal.

Trade-off: Based at a fixed facility in Coral Gables rather than operating a mobile model across the metro. No publicly listed first-lesson policy or trial option. Pricing is not published openly, which makes direct comparison harder before committing.

Michele Forgione

Michele Forgione is the founder and director of instruction at FGA (Forgione Golf Academy), a two-location golf academy operating with six instructors on staff. He is an active tour professional with European Challenge Tour membership - a competitive credential that sets him apart from most instruction-only coaches in the Miami market.

Running a multi-instructor academy means FGA can absorb a wider range of student schedules and skill levels than a single-coach operation. It also means a student working with Forgione specifically may sometimes work with another FGA instructor depending on availability, which is a structural reality of the academy model.

The European Challenge Tour background is a genuine differentiator. Forgione is not coaching from historical competitive experience - he is currently active at a professional level, which typically reflects current technical fluency in the mechanics of high-level ball-striking.

Best for: Golfers who want to train within an academy structure rather than a one-on-one independent model; students interested in working with an instructor whose competitive career is ongoing rather than retired; players who may want access to a bench of multiple instructors under one roof.

Trade-off: Academy model means instruction may not always be with Forgione directly. No booking platform or dedicated URL was available in sources reviewed for this post, which makes initial research harder without direct contact. No published first-lesson policy.

How to decide

Choosing the right golf coach in Miami comes down less to a single “best” answer and more to which coach’s format, credential type, and booking experience matches your actual situation:

• You are a first-time golfer or early-stage beginner who wants clear explanations, patience, and a strong fundamentals foundation - and you want the security of a verified booking platform with a free first lesson - choose Gabriel Bello.

• You want structured, technically precise instruction at an accessible price tier with a coach who will genuinely challenge your existing habits rather than just reinforce them - choose Barbara Roca.

• You are a serious competitive amateur or high-performance player who specifically wants access to the Jim McLean instruction methodology from a Golf Digest-recognized Florida instructor, and you are based in or willing to travel to Coral Gables - consider Julio Nutt Golf Instruction.

• You prefer an academy structure over individual coaching, want access to a team of instructors, or are drawn to working with a coach who holds current active European tour professional status - consider Michele Forgione and FGA.

Browse the full roster of golf coaches in Miami on TeachMe.To to filter by availability, location, and price - or explore all golf coaches across every city if your schedule has you traveling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do golf lessons cost in Miami?

Based on the active TeachMe.To roster in Miami, lesson rates currently span $100 to $125 per session. That is a relatively narrow range compared to many major metros, which means the credential and fit questions tend to matter more than price shopping alone. Gabriel Bello and Barbara Roca both operate within this market range; their exact session rates are visible at booking on their respective TeachMe.To listings.

What should I look for in a golf instructor in Miami?

Start with teaching certifications and playing background, then look at the volume and consistency of student reviews - not just the average star rating, but whether the written feedback reflects the kind of improvement you are after. Miami-specific factors worth weighing include whether the coach teaches at an indoor facility (useful during the summer rainy season when afternoon storms are frequent), their location relative to your neighborhood, and whether they offer bilingual instruction if Spanish is your stronger language.

Where do golf coaches in Miami teach?

Miami’s golf coaching landscape includes outdoor course settings, driving ranges, and indoor studio environments across Miami-Dade and surrounding areas. Gabriel Bello and Barbara Roca both use a mobile model - teaching at a mix of outdoor courses and indoor studios around the metro. Julio Nutt Golf Instruction operates primarily out of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables through the Jim McLean Golf School. FGA under Michele Forgione runs two academy locations.

Are these golf coaches good for kids and beginners?

Yes - several coaches reviewed here work regularly with new and younger golfers. Gabriel Bello’s student reviews include multiple first-timers who reported immediate improvement and confidence gains. Barbara Roca is noted in student feedback for her patience with beginners and her ability to build foundational mechanics from the ground up. Both are bookable through TeachMe.To, where you can read verified student reviews before committing to a session.

Is the first lesson really free?

Both Gabriel Bello and Barbara Roca offer a free first lesson through TeachMe.To. The platform’s refund policy means your first booking is fully refundable within 24 hours, so there is no financial risk in trying a session. This applies to bookings made through TeachMe.To directly. Neither Julio Nutt Golf Instruction nor Michele Forgione’s FGA publish a comparable trial-lesson policy in available sources.

How do I book a golf lesson in Miami?

The most direct path is through TeachMe.To, where you can browse coach profiles, read verified student reviews, compare price tiers, and book a session in a few clicks. Gabriel Bello and Barbara Roca are both active and bookable on the platform. For Julio Nutt Golf Instruction, visit julionutt.com directly to inquire about availability and pricing at the Jim McLean Golf School. For Michele Forgione and FGA, direct contact through the academy is the recommended path given limited online booking information available in sources reviewed for this post.

Methodology

Coach profiles for Gabriel Bello and Barbara Roca - including review counts, average ratings, happy student scores, Super Coach and Student Favorite designations, and price tiers - are drawn from TeachMe.To’s platform record as of July 2026. The market price range ($100 to $125) is computed from the active Miami golf coach roster on TeachMe.To and reflects current listed rates across that cohort. Competitor profiles for Julio Nutt Golf Instruction and Michele Forgione are sourced from their respective external sites and publicly available descriptions; review volumes and first-lesson policies for those coaches are not available through a centralized platform and are noted as such.

Miami’s golf instruction market has genuine depth at the top end, and the coaches reviewed here represent four meaningfully different approaches to the game. Gabriel Bello leads the TeachMe.To Miami roster with 102 reviews at a perfect 5.0 and a 100/100 happy student score - the strongest verified platform record among golf coaches on TeachMe.To in Miami. Barbara Roca brings USGTF certification and a South American junior competitive background to lessons that students describe as technically precise and genuinely challenging, at a $$ price tier with 35 reviews at a 5.0 average. Both offer a free first lesson, and all bookings through TeachMe.To are fully refundable within 24 hours - meaning there is no financial reason to delay getting on the course.