Getting Better Every Day is Ed Ibarguen’s motto. 

What You Need to Know 

Ed Ibarguen is the general manager and PGA Director of Golf at the Duke University Golf Club

Ibarguen is a graduate from UNC Chapel Hill

Golf Magazine has named Ibarguen as the Top 100 Golf teachers in the nation consistently since 2001 

Ibarguen is the general manager and PGA director of golf at the Duke University Golf Club. He’s spent the last 33 years leading the Duke Golf club and 42 years as member of the PGA of America.

“It gives you a chance to reflect back on all the people who have had a tremendous influence on your life,” Ibarguen said.

In October, Ibarguen received the recognition of his professional career: being inducted into the 2021 PGA of America Hall of Fame.

“It’s been quite cathartic for me,” Ibarguen said.

Ibarguen considers himself an adopted citizen of the South, moving from his home state of New Jersey to Chapel Hill to attend the University of North Carolina for college. Ibarguen spent the next decade working with the UNC golf program before trading his Carolina blue in for navy.

“If you can’t be loyal from day one then don’t take the job, I came over with that in mind,” Ibarguen said recalling what his father told him. “Tom Butters got me a round of golf, we played that week within the first month that I was here, just developed a great friendship.”

Ibarguen said when he got to Duke, he wrote up a mission statement for his players, staff and himself to follow: Getting Better Every Day. 

“I was lucky to be hired at Duke, and I felt I was incredibly prepared for it and felt like I was the best person for the job and sitting here 33 years later I guess I was right,” Ibarguen said.

Working for both UNC and Duke, opened doors for Ibarguen to get involved with golf at a national level. He was given the ranking of Master Professional with the PGA in 1991. He served as the national chairman for education, membership and coaching for the PGA for several years.

He’s had opportunities to coach sports legends like Michael Jordan and Dean Smith. Ibarguen will tell you, you make your own luck.

“A lot of people would say how I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I was also preparing for that for five years, if you work hard and prepare when an opportunity comes available, you can have a chance to take advantage of it, that’s where preparation brings luck, and you make your own luck,” Ibarguen said.

This is something he instills in his players and teachers.

Since 2001, Ibarguen has been recognized each year in Golf Magazine's Top 100 Golf Coaches in the nation. He was also inducted in the the Carolina’s PGA Hall of Fame in 2015.

“Everybody is different, they’re physically different in terms what they’re capable of doing in terms of being able to make the swing, but they’re also different in how they’re viewing themselves playing this sport,” Ibarguen said.

Ibarguen says helping people enjoy the game you love is the greatest job in the world.

“You know after 33 years, I feel like I am just starting the job with that kind of energy and excitement as I did on the first day,” Ibarguen said.