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 before Nicole shifted into a her role there as a proud Golf Academy Lead Instructor with the Pinehurst Golf Academy at Pinehurst Resort. She currently instructs members, their guests and local Wilmington area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club near Wilmington, NC and travels back monthly to Pinehurst to instruct the popular new Women's Golf Retreat experiences while speaking / guest coaching at a limited amount of clubs and programs around the country... contact Nicole if interseted in having her visit your program to host an event for ages 2-5 or introducgtory Learn Golf in One Day for Women!
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 guided feedback resources and assist in making golf an anticipated and fun experience in their lives. Nicole looks at set-up fundamentals, club path, club face and centeredness of contact with regards to all swing motions in golf.
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.
