Nicole Weller

Raised in southeastern Massachusetts and beginning golf near age 4, Nicole Weller rose through youth golf and women's amateur golf competition before competing for Wake Forest University, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology ('94). Nicole followed with a master's degree in sport psychology at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ('95) and proceeded to enter into both the LPGA and PGA of America certification programs while working as an assistant professional at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville. Based on her degree, Nicole presented her findings at the AAASP in New Orleans, the World of Golf Congress in Northern Ireland, and the World Scientific Congress of Golf at St. Andrews, Scotland.

Nicole progressed as a teaching professional at Fairways and Green Golf Center in Knoxville, where she grew the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf chapter there from 15 to nearly 80 girls ages 4-17 before moving to Savannah, Georgia, with her husband (PGA member and Head Golf Professional Ty Weller). Nicole served members and guests there at The Landings Club as Head Teaching Professional before joining U.S. Kids Golf in the Pinehurst area and then as a lead instructor at the prestigious Pinehurst Resort Golf Academy. Nicole currently instructs members, guests, and local area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club near Wilmington, NC with occasional schools still at Pinehurst Academy, as well as speaking and guest instructing at limited clubs, organizations, and programs around the country.

Nicole is a Class A member of the PGA of America, the LPGA, and the Proponent Group. She is U.S. Kids Golf and Spirit of Golf Certified, has attended TPI/TPI Junior, and served on two PGA National Youth Player Development Committees, the LPGA Education Committee, and the PGA Special National Awards Committee. She most recently shot green screen video educational footage for use with the PGA ADM program in Las Vegas and continues to educate colleagues and customers about reaching their best potential through golf and related topics.

Having authored the Let's Play Golf sticker activity book for children ages 4-8+ (2011), Match Play Golf educational flashcard memory games (2014), and Big Thoughts from Little Golfers for adults (2021), Nicole is the only duo award recipient ever in the same year for both the PGA and LPGA Junior Golf leader Awards and also the US Kids Golf Master Teacher award (2013). She launched Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. with partner Dr. Patricia Donnelly in 2016, a certification and turnkey curricula/kit program designed to assist professionals and industry coaches learn how to work with youngsters ages 2-5 through various early childhood concepts such as behavior, nutrition, early childhood theory, safety and near-golf activities (interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, physical movement, fitness, art, and music).

Nicole has earned other honors including 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 and multi-year LPGA Top 50 Teacher recognitions. She has been nominated multiple times for the LPGA Ellen Griffin Rolex Award and the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award.

Nicole enjoys quiet downtime at home, traveling, baking, home improvement projects, garden weeding and family time with her husband and cat near Wilmington, 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 hang-gliding, and skydiving and has attained a black belt in the Isshinryu martial arts form (weapons, forms, sparring).

Speech Topics:

Nicole’s tagline is ‘Educating Golfers, Entertaining People, and Enhancing Lives'. She is an Author. She is an Explorer. She is an Award-Winning Golf Professional Educator. Her story evolves as a first-generation American born to Swiss and German parents - she incorporates her style, culture, organizational precision, and thirst to guide others through Nicole-isms acquired through these international opportunities since childhood.

The Brain Game:

Nicole’s master’s degree related specifically to golf pre-shot routine timing and content, thus launching an interest into the realm of focus before, during, and after a golf shot (or activity) that involves not just the mental aspects but also the predetermining and underlying emotional components that kick off the positive or negative focus process. The presentation includes keys to a successful mental and emotional pre-shot/activity and post-shot/activity process with references to Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her discoveries and TED talk, Positive Coaching Alliance Mistake Rituals, and stories about various sport psychology methods. Participants jot down as much or little of their routine in a whole new light that incorporates not just the physical components but also the mental and emotional components not usually considered. Nicole may even hit shots (outdoors or indoors with foam balls) and demonstrate what pre-shot routines might look like. When on-site at a golf facility, Nicole may have students participate in interactive skill activities as well pending on agenda and resources.

Fun New Frontiers: Family Golf for Ages 2-5:

Nicole has spoken on local, state, regional, and national levels to relay information to a colleague in the golf industry at the highest level concerning golf for the youngest ages of 2-5. Many work with youngsters from an adult perspective, thereby detracting from an age-appropriate fun experience as a child. With research data, live lessons, and relevant examples of early youth childhood development needs and tactics, Nicole strives to assist other professionals and families in understanding the earliest of ages in childhood development and in bolstering their programs and customer service offerings to members and guests... she is one of the more widely-known award-winning golf professionals amongst her peers to work with youngsters ages 2-5 in golf. Presentation materials include data, successful examples of activities for youngsters and families, thoughts on generating class and incremental revenue, interactive activities, occasional live lessons, and the How-Tos of working more effectively with this age group. Nicole’s sticker activity book and flashcards serve as examples of rhymes, images, phrasing, and fun activities that engage youngsters in effective and enjoyable learning activities through golf.

Mental Golf Workshop Discovery Zone:

Nicole guides customers through understanding their DISC style in golf terms and how to be more aware of strengths and weaknesses in golf as well as normal daily activities. This program has been conducted with golf couples, LPGA teaching professionals, and golfers and has allowed spouses and parents the ability to better understand the differences in their styles and how to better respect and assist each other. This interactive workshop includes a PowerPoint presentation with background information on DISC and then the great reveal with their result reports taken beforehand, as well as relevant interactive skills activities during a golf event on-site.