BUTCH LIEBLER
[ Butch ] was the pro at Elizabeth Manor when I was a kid. He left when I was 11. I started working with him seriously when I got back from residency [ in 1999 ]. It probably led to winning the State Open in 2008 and a couple of little tournaments.
I was looking to play serious golf, and Butch was the person I knew to help me. The joke is if he hadn’ t left Elizabeth Manor when I was 11 years old, I’ d have been on Tour. He helped me play competitive golf at a higher level. If I hadn’ t fixed some of the swing issues I had … I’ d never have moved to another level.
There were some big issues we took on one by one. I had the confidence that Butch had golf knowledge. I knew he had helped Carl Paulson. He’ d taught his brother, Steve, to play. I knew he knew what he was doing and maybe half of it was mental confidence just knowing he knew what he was doing.
As we all get older you say,“ OK, what has this guy done for golf In Virginia?” He’ s been a stalwart in Tidewater. He has helped so many people play golf.
I never heard Butch be negative. He has always been positive. He’ s always been,“ Why can’ t you do that? You’ ve got to practice more.” That’ s one of the things I remember him saying a lot.
— Roger Newsom, ophthalmologist and two-time winner of the State Open of Virginia and winner of Senior Open of Virginia
“ Butch developed an incredible stable of PGA proteges, including his two sons, to influence the business of golf. As an instructor, he helped a handful of players reach the various tours and countless amateurs improve their game. Butch is the epitome of a PGA professional who has excelled in the business and the game of golf.”
— Jon Guhl, former MAPGA executive director
I started getting lessons from Butch sometime when I was at Hickory Middle School [ in Chesapeake ]. I can’ t remember exactly what year, but I saw him for lessons every few weeks until I went to college in 2011.
Butch was the“ best of the best” in the Tidewater area. Name any of the top players coming out of Hampton Roads, and I guarantee they saw Butch for lessons at some point. He was a great teacher, and he had worked with so many of the good players in our area. I knew he could help me get better. My dream growing up was to get a scholarship and play college golf.
With Butch’ s help, I was able to play college golf at the University of Virginia. Once I got to college and my parents moved from the area, I stopped seeing Butch for lessons, but we have kept in contact over the years as he was a big part of getting to where I am now.
— Lauren Coughlin, three-time LPGA Tour winner
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