Virgil Herring graduated from Mississippi State University. He is Director of Instruction at the acclaimed Westhaven Golf Club and is founder of Higher Performance Golf Academy. Virgil received the 2003 Tennessee Section PGA Teacher of the Year Award and was named 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 Middle TN Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year. He was named a 2009 U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Instructor (source) by U.S. Kids Golf.

Virgil worked with PGA Tour player Brandt Snedeker from 2000-2007 and Tour players Harry Taylor, Brad Fabel, Cliff Kresge, Vance Veazey, Garrett Willis, Bob Wolcott & Kim Williams. He works with 52 Division-1 College Players and 22 top TN Junior Players. In Nashville, hear Virgil 7-8 a.m. Saturday on 104.5 The Zone.

Up Close and Personal with Virgil

Birthplace: Gettysburg, PA
Residence: Nashville, TN
Status: Married- Bela on 05/99
Education: Mississippi State University, Marketing/Professional Golf Management, Class of 1997
Business Interests: to own a state-of-the-art golf academy and to own a winery
Hobbies: Listening to music, study wine, play golf with my friends, going out to eat
Favorite Sports: Golf, Penn State Football, Denver Broncos Football, and college basketball
Favorite TV Shows: Friends, American Idol, Golf Central and Sports Center
Favorite Movie: Gladiator, Forrest Gump, Good Will Hunting, The Notebook
Favorite Music: Pearl Jam, Tool, Cold Play and a Perfect Circle
Favorite Food: cinnamon rolls, crabs, steak, hot wings, ice cream
Favorite Restaurant in Nashville: Morton's of Chicago, The Palm, The Melting Pot
Favorite Restaurant in Overall: David Paul's in Lahaina, Maui
Favorite Book: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Favorite Drink: Red Wine, a Coke from McDonald's and a Mountain Dew
Favorite Vacation Spot: Maui, Hawaii
Favorite Wine Vintages: 1997 Brunello, 1999 Napa Cabernet, 2000 Bordeaux
Favorite Winery's: Ernie Els Winery, Haut-Brion, Joseph Phelps, Shafer, Quilceda Creek
Favorite Golf Tournament: The Masters
Favorite International Golf Course: Ballybunion, Old Head, European Club and Royal County Down
Favorite Resort Golf Course: Bandon Dunes, Pebble Beach, Ocean Club, and Teeth of the Dog
Favorite Private Golf Course: &Augusta National, The Honors Course and Old Stone
Great Teaching Books: Faldo, The Swing for Life; Dave Pelz, The Short Game Bible; Jim McLean, The Eight Step Swing, The Way of the Shark: Greg Norman, 7 Laws of the Golf Swing by Nick Bradley
Best advice from parents: Always do your best. Also, marry your best friend
Best advice from a friend: Have a positive attitude towards everything and everyone
Best advice from my wife: Your appearance matters more than you know
Most Memorable moment of my career: Brandt Snedeker winning the U.S. Public Links Championship.
An Honor: To be recognized by my peers as the 2003 TN Section PGA Teacher of the Year.
Advice to young teachers: Become a great bench marker
Advice to young golfers: Enjoy it as a game first, and as a way of life second
Advice to golfer's parents: Do not live your dreams through your children
Best Part of Job/Worst: Best- meeting interesting people everyday, Worst- 115 degree heat index days
Mentors: Bill Strausbaugh "Coach," Harry Taylor
What would you do if you were not teaching golf?: I would move to Hawaii and hang loose with my wife Bela
A goal: To be the best golf instructor that has ever lived
A dream: To end my career teaching at Pebble Beach or at Kapalua in Maui.
A choice: to be happy- always
An advice: Personal happiness before personal wealth
My Golf Equipment: Callaway Golf Equipment and Golf Balls

Playing golf at "The Teeth of the Dog" in the Dominican Republic