About Nicole

Nicole Weller is a proud member of both the PGA of America and LPGA. She has served on the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Savannah Board, two terms on the PGA National Youth Player Development Committee, the LPGA Education Committee, the PGA Special Awards Committee, is a co-author of the LPGA Girls Golf Playbook and has been a proud partner with both Little Linksters and The Littlest Golfer.

A U.S. Kids Master Kids Teacher certified with both U.S. Kids Golf and Spirit of Golf, Nicole was given the prestigious honor of being the first professional to receive both the 2013 PGA and LPGA National Junior Golf Leader awards in the same year.  Some of her top accolades include 2017 & 2019 LPGA Top 50 Teachers List, GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teacher, Georgia PGA Horton Smith Section Award, Golf Digest Best 50 Women Teachers, Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, Golf Digest Top Teacher in the State, LPGA T&CP Southeast Junior Golf Leader and Teacher of the Year, Georgia PGA East Chapter Teacher of the Year. Some of her most favorite recognitions are the handmade artwork of her young students!

Nicole has been a presenter at PGA National Youth & Family Summits and the LPGA National Teaching Summit, as well as PGA sections around the country.

Nicole enjoys quiet downtime at home, traveling, baking, home improvement projects and family time with her husband in Pinehurst, NC. Her background includes a European upbringing, with both parents having immigrated to the U.S. from Germany and Switzerland and a brother who now resides overseas. She has been hanggliding, skydiving and has attained a black belt in the Isshinryu martial arts form (weapons, forms, sparring). 

Books and Programming

Nicole published her children's golf book, Stick to Sports: Let's Play Golf, in 2011 and flashcard memory game, Match Play Golf, in 2014. Please CLICK HERE to see more information, see the videos or to order books. The books is perfect for youngsters ages 4-8+ complete with point and sticker rewards and a suggested itinerary for adult mentors to follow. The flashcards are perfect for ages 2-6 and have several different ways in which to play.  Her new book, Big Thoughts from Little Golfers, is set to launch in Summer 2021.

In 2016 after a two year development phase, Nicole partnered with Dr. Patricia Donnelly to create a turnkey certification program to help golf professionals and those in the industry being introducing youngsters ages 2-5 into the golf culture through an online certification program complete with complete yet adaptable curricula and optional equipment kits as needed. The Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. program is based on Teaching through Play, Research, Age-Appropriateness, Intrinsic Motivation and healthy Nutrition concepts. She is no longer running the program but encourages those interested to visit www.littlegolftrain.com for further information...

Career Background

Nicole began her golf career at age four through her Dad, Max, in southeastern Lakeville, Massachusetts when he began to learn golf as well. She was senior co-captain of the Coyle & Cassidy High School Boys Golf Team in Taunton and competed in state, regional and national youth and women's amateur golf before playing on the Wake Forest University Women's Golf Team ('94). Nicole pursued her master's degree in sport psychology from The University of Tennessee ('95) and first entered into the golf industry as an assistant professional at Cherokee C.C. in Knoxville. She quickly gained footing as a successful teaching professional at Fairways & Greens Golf Center in Knoxville and was President & Site Director for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Knoxville (2002-2004), growing the program from 15 to nearly 80 girls. Nicole, with husband and fellow PGA member Ty Weller, relocated to Savannah in 2005 to The Landings Club, where she served the golf instruction program for the large community membership and club staff on Skidaway Island as the Head Teaching Professional until 2019.  She and her husband moved to Pinehurst in early 2020 for a short one-year stint to join up with U.S. Kids Golf at the Longleaf Golf & Family Club and U.S. Kids Golf Academy at Longleaf.  Nicole currently is a proud Golf Academy Instructor with the Pinehurst Golf Academy at Pinehurst Resort.

 

Her background and education in youth golf, sport psychology, golf fitness and competition have allowed Nicole to provide an all-encompassing program for thousands of students. Creating a comfortable and Socratic learning environment that is specific to all students is key to her. Feedback through digital and non-digital learning tools, video, self-assessments and challenge games are just a few tools she uses to enhance the learning experience. She has enjoyed using many fun learning tools such as BirdieBall, My Mini Golf, SNAG, Orange Whip Trainer, ParKit, TagTeach, Grip it Rite, CoachNow, Live View Golf... among many. Her goals are simple - Nicole strives to meet the students' needs, involve them in the learning process, encourage transfer training methods, provide feedback resources and assist in making golf an anticipated and fun experience in their lives.

Nicole released an article with Dr. Patricia Donnelly targeting childhood development stages and how they relate to young golfers, with thoughts on how adults (coaches, parents, grandparents) can successfully help children ages 2-9 gain a fun and effective introduction into the game. CLICK HERE to read the article.

YOU-TUBE / VIMEO VIDEOS & Nicole Weller You-Tube Channel

Golf Digest Putting Tip based on July 2011 Article	Pitching	Putting
Etiquette - Fixing Divots	Chipping	Bunker
Etiquette - Taking Care of the Greens	Shot Shaping	Swing Balance
USGA Rules of Golf Movable Obstruction video
2013 GRAA 3-year old student lesson video
2013 GSGA SE Youth Golf Summit at Druid Hills Golf Club
2013 Golf Channel PGA National Award Announcement
2014 PGA Youth & Family Summit Presentation Youth Golf Clip
2014 PGA Youth & Family Summit Presentation Parent/Staff Comments Clip
2014 Fox News Clip of PGA of America National Awards Presentation
2014 PGA Awards Youth Leader Tribute Video with Jimmy Roberts
2014 PGA Merchandise Show Floor Interview with Chip Beck
2014 Three-year old Student Lesson Highlights with music
2014 Three-year old Student Lesson Highlights with GRAA voice-over notes
2014 GRAA article on use of SNAG golf equipment for youth and adult programs
2014 Podcast from PGA Expo with Jeff Harrison of Swingpoint Media
2018 Golf Channel piece on Girls Golf 2020 5-Year Old Swing Video (Pinehurst CVB)

 

PGA SPORTS ACADEMY VIDEOS WITH DON LAW

Introduction	Safety	Nutrition
Jump Hurdle	Dribbling Station	Balance, Throw & Catch
Tic Tac Putt	Bunker Relay	Tower of Power
Last One Standing	Golf Assessment	Close

 

PAST POSITIONS

• Carolinas Golf Association Intern (Pinehurst, NC)

• Pinehurst Jr Golf School Counselor (Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, NC)

• Assistant Golf Professional (Cherokee Country Club, Knoxville, TN)

• Teaching Professional (Fairways & Greens Golf Center, Knoxville, TN)

• Site Director & President Girls Golf of Knoxville, Inc. (501c3), a chapter of LPGA*USGA Girls Golf

 

AWARDS

• 2002: Coyle & Cassidy High School Athlete Hall of Fame Inductee

• 2004: Isshinryu Karate Sho-Dan Black Belt

• 2004: Tennessee PGA Knoxville Chapter 'Junior Leader of the Year'

• 2005: GOLF Magazine 'Southeast Region Top Teacher' - February Issue

• 2007 & 2009: Georgia PGA East Chapter 'Teacher of the Year'

• 2010: Golf Digest Magazine Top 40 under 40  'Best Young Teacher'

• 2010, 2011, 2012: U.S. Kids Golf 'Top 50 Kids Teacher'

• 2011: LPGA T&CP Southeast 'Teacher of the Year'

• 2012: Golf Digest 'America's Best 50 Women Teachers'

• 2012, 2013: LPGA T&CP Southeast Junior Golf Achievement Winner

• 2012: Georgia PGA Section Horton Smith Trophy Recipient

• 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016: GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional

• 2013: PGA National Junior Golf Leader

• 2013: LPGA T&CP National Junior Golf Leader

• 2013: U.S. Kids Golf Master KidsTeacher

• 2015: Golf Digest Best Teacher in State (13th on Georgia list)

• 2017 & 2019: LPGA Top 50 Teachers (sponsored by Women's Golf Journal)

• 2017 & 2018: GRAA December Golf Range Magazine Growth of the Game Elite Status Member

 

 

PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA & APPEARANCES

• Perceptual & Motor Skills Journal research study published article (1995)

• Scientific Golf Conference Presentations - New Orleans, University of Ulster N. Ireland, University of St. Andrews

• Golf psychology articles - East TN Golf News, TN PGA Newsletter, This Week at the Landings (TWATL)

• Ladies Links Fore Golf (Winter 2010, pp. 36-37, 'Nice Practice Swing!')

• 6 filmed golf tips for CyberLinks Golf for television (January 2011)

• 2 filmed golf tips for Golf Digest Magazine (January 2011)

• EWGA Golfapalooza National Conference Speaker (Amelia Island Florida, April 2011)

• Golf Digest Magazine Article: Learn to Be a Clutch Putter (July 2011)

• Golf Digest Magazine Article: Get Your Power Back (August 2012)

• Chapter in Joel Zuckerman's book Pro's Pros: Extraordinary Professional Making Golf Great (2013)

• PGA Magazine Online article on Stick to Sports: Let's Play Golf (2013)

• GRAA Boot Camp lesson with 3 year old Max (2013)    VIDEO 1    VIDEO  2     VIDEO 3

• Tee It Up Radio Segment with Kris Wilson / The Littlest Golfer (2013)

• Interview with Robert Blumenthal of www.golfconversations.com (aired January 2014)

• The Littlest Golfer Video (aired January 2014)

• The Landings Club - Club Line Article (January 2014)

• Speaker NENY PGA Spring Meeting (April 2014, Albany NY)

• GRAA Golf Magazine Video (September 2014)

• GRAA Golf Magazine Article (October 2014)

• Georgia PGA Teaching Summit Live Lesson Presenter (2014)

• Proponent Group Presentation with Dr. Patricia Donnelly (January 2015)

• GRAA September Issue Swing Fan Article (2015)

• PGA Las Vegas Expo Presenter (August 2015)

• Fall Meeting Kentucky Section PGA Presenter (December 2015)

• PGA Youth & Family Summit Presenter (January 2016)

• WTOC Savannah News Story (August 2016)

• Podcast Interview (August 2016) w/Dr. Patricia Donnelly hosted by Mark Croft KBLUAM.com

• Fall Meeting NFPGA Section North Chapter Presenter (2016)

• U.S. Kids Golf Instructor Certification Seminar Host at The Landings Club (December 2016)

• Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. LIVE TRAINing Workshop Host/Presenter (January 2017)

• Spring Meeting New England PGA Section Presenter (Boston, March 2017)

• Golf Talk Live Online Radio Show with Ted Odorico (April 2017)

• LPGA National Teaching Summit Youth Programming Co-Presenter with Louise Ball and Stacy Miller Arndt (Des Moines, IA, August 2017)

• WTOC Mid-Morning Live Interview (2017)

• WomensGolf.com Kids Golf Article #1 (2017)

• WomensGolf.com Kids Golf Article #2 (2018)

• Golf Channel Story on LPGA*USGA Girls Golf  (April, 2018)

• WomensGolf.com Aiming Article (2018)

• Proponent Group Presenter (Dallas, TX, November 2018)

• PGA SoCal Youth Summit Keynote Presenter (Irvine, CA, March 2019)

• GRAA Women's Golf Article - Be Better on the Course than on the Range (April 2021)

• GRAA Youth Golf Article - 10 Keys to Youth Programming (April 2021)

• Youth Golf Podcast with Chris Knobloch on the Banana Ball Golf Show (May 10, 2021)

 

 

CHARITIES, BOARDS, COMMITTEES & NON-PROFIT SUPPORT (PAST AND PRESENT)

• Supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters (and a past BIG several times)

• The First Tee of Savannah Volunteer

• LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site Director (Knoxville & Savannah Landings Club) and Committee Member (Local Savannah Chapter)

• 2013-2014, 2017-2019 PGA National Youth Player Development Committee

• 2015 Co-Author on the LPGA Girls Golf Playbook Project

• 2015-2016 PGA National Awards Selection Committee

• 2016 Launch of Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. as Co-Partner with Dr. Patricia Donnelly. Ambassador role 2019.

• 2017 Personal visits to Memorial Children's Hospital to bring golf activities to children

• 2018 LPGA Education Committee

• 2018-Present: Coordinate and host events for the Web.com Tour Savannah Golf Championship (Youth Clinic, Executive Women's Golf Experience, Family Fun Zone)

 

COMPETITION BACKGROUND

• AJGA Tour (1989 Rolex/Golf Magazine All-American Team)

• State, Regional and National Youth & National Women's Amateur Championships

• 3 USGA Girls Junior Championships & 1 U.S. Women's Publinks Championship

• High School Boys Golf Team Senior Co-Captain & 1990 State High School Girls Champion

• 1993 NCAA Championship (7th team finish) & ACC Championships (1994 Championship team)

• LPGA T&CP National Championships  & Southeast Team Championship

• GA PGA East Chapter Pro-Ams

• Several Knoxville karate competitions (placed in weapons and forms, competed in sparring)