A famous golf instructor, Butch Harmon is married to Christy Harmon and has three children. His career has made him famous in the global level but he hasn’t been much open about his personal life. Let’s explore about his family.

Butch Harmon married his high-school sweetheart for the first time

Butch Harmon tied the knot with Lillie Duran, a woman of Mexican descent. His parents were against their inter-racial relationship, so the couple eloped shortly after completion of high school.

Butch Harmon looking to the right standing in the middle of golf course with a golf club in his hand

They welcomed two children together, a daughter Michaele Ann in 1967 and a son Claude Harmon III in 1969. Their children grew up well aware of their mixed heritage, but their relationship couldn’t last long.

No authentic details of the couple’s separation have been revealed. But some sources have claimed that the divorce happened sometime in the mid-70s. He had a tough time moving on from the broken marriage with a responsibility of raising two kids.

Butch is also a father of another son named Cole Harmon. He is 22 years old now. Don’t get confused with Cole Harmon, a character from the Dexter series, which was played by Chris Vance.

Butch is happy with his current wife, Christy

Butch has been married to Christy Harmon for a long time now. She worked as a flight attendant at American Airlines from 1987 to 2006. Reports have it that he met her in the late 1970s when he started his career at Crow Valley Golf Club in  Iowa. 

Butch Harmon with wife Christy Harmon

Detail about when and where the couple met and exchanged wedding vows is still under wraps. However, as per his memoir, The Pro, we came to know that, Christy was the one, who supported him to move on in his life and reach where he is now. He struggled as a broke, alone, unemployed and homeless guy during the 1980s.

He has said, ‘Somehow I got through this far with a great wife and a great life, which is something to be thankful for.”

About Butch Harmon’s son Claude Harmon III

Butch’s first son Claude is at the forefront of the new generation of golf teachers. Both his grandfather Claude Harmon Sr. and father Claude ‘Butch’ Harmon Jr., have been dominant golf instructors of their generation.  His parents’ records have been the perfect foundation for him to build knowledge of golf instruction. He has been recognized as the third-generation instructor.

Butch Harmon's elder son Claude Harmon III pictured in the golf course

A breakthrough win for Brooks Koepka at the U.S. Open 2017 has been one major success for Claude. Butch felt very proud of his son, who has made a name for himself.

This one was all Claude. He deserves all the credit. And to do it on Father’s Day made it more special. I know my dad was up in heaven looking down on his son and grandson, who followed in the family footsteps. It’s been rewarding, to be honest, a nice, fitting thing.

– Butch Harmon

He also celebrated the victory with Claret Jug at the British Open Championship in 2012.

Growing up, he had no knowledge of golf. But, while Butch was reinventing his golf career in the 1990s, he developed his interest in it, observing his father’s lessons with Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Greg Norman and others.

Claude started following his father’s footsteps in 1997 when he became Director of Golf Instruction at the Las Vegas-based Butch Harmon School of Golf. From 2002 to 2006, he taught on the European Tour & had successful professional collaborations with players such as Darren Clarke, Trevor Immelman, Adam Scott and Graeme McDonnell, some of whom are major championship winners.

In 2008, he became Director of Golf Instruction at the Butch Harmon School of Golf in Dubai.