Laura Patrick
Hamel, MN
Baker National Golf Course
I passionately care about helping people and sharing the game of golf with others. I find out what golf means to each student and I help them make their golfing experience more meaningful. Each story is unique if you truly listen.
I focus on helping my students to improve on and off the course: My holistic coaching philosophy allows for personal growth in all aspects of a player's life, which leads to the maximizing of each player's potential. Areas of emphasis include the mental approach, fitness, nutrition, equipment, and appropriately managing expectations/fear.
I don't tell people what to do, I explain concepts: I explain why things are going wrong, why it needs to change, and how it needs to change. Students want to make the change because they see the value in it, not just because I tell them to change. This allows students to take ownership of their own change and success.
I treat every person with the same amount of attentiveness and respect. Whether students are 4 years old or 82 years old, whether they take one lesson or ten, and whether they are a new golfer or an achieved player they each get my full attention and respect. But I teach everyone differently to treat them the same. I see the world in a thousand shades of gray. Different things work for different people. I build upon each student's strengths and make their weaknesses less of a liability.
My life is an open book: I use my own personal life stories, successes, failures, and emotions to help students understand they are not alone and encourage them to get through challenging situations.
Happy students learn more: Students often find themselves laughing during lessons and taking a new view of the game (and themselves). My students truly enjoy the learning experience, stay relaxed, and have more success.
- TPI Certified Instructor - Golf Level 2
- Rotex Authorized Instructor
- Mach 3 Speed Training Heart
- Math Coach
- First Tee Level 3 Coach Certified
- Light Therapist
- 2019 LPGA Midwest Section Teacher of the Year
Since 2003, Laura has worked as a Teaching Professional for the Golf Academy of Three Rivers Park District at Baker National Golf Course in Medina, MN. She is the lead Golf Instructor at Baker National Golf Course and has trained/mentored PGA Professionals and junior lesson assistants who are typically former participants in her junior programs.
Laura averages approximately 290 hours of private instruction yearly to participants ages 4-93 in a climate shortened season. She also teaches 40 classes and camps a year that create a pathway to learning for golfers at various stages in their careers. Junior programs continue to approach maximum capacity at 456 youth. A mixture of innovative and industry-led adult programming has increased introductory, recreational, and competitive adults in programs to approximately 190 participants each year. Each of Laura's learning programs is created with an emphasis on creating relationships, developing a love for the game, and building golf skills. Due to Laura's enthusiastic commitment to growing the game, Baker National has become one of the premiere locations in the Twin Cities to learn and improve. Students often drive over an hour to participate in her programs and take private lessons.
In the off season, Laura Patrick Golf offers indoor lessons in the West Metro. In addition, she works with golfers using TPI concepts and ROTEXMotion training to increase strength and flexibility. She also focuses on helping golfers speed train for increased distance using Mach3 Speed Training Protocols. Laura is also creator and owner of FunFlight Golf, LLC. FunFlight is a developmental learning program that uses oversize balls and one regulation golf club. FunFlight is easily adaptable to any location or golf facility while easing the teaching and learning aspects of golf for beginners.
Laura served as the Women's Golf Coach at Augsburg College from 2005-2010 and the Delano High School Assistant Golf Coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. As Augsburg's Coach, her team recorded the best MIAC finish in 2009 and the lowest 54-hole total in school history. Since she began her coaching career, Laura improved the team's scoring average by 25.5 strokes and improved each player's stroke averages by an average of 7.1 strokes per player. Before moving to Minnesota, Laura was an instructor for several junior golf camps and women's clinics while an Assistant and Teaching Professional at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria, IL.
As a player, Laura has competed in professional tour events including the LPGA State Farm Rail Classic. Patrick competed collegiately at Bradley University (IL) after completing her first season at The Ohio State University. She was team captain and team MVP for a Bradley squad that claimed its first-ever MVC title in 1999. She was a finalist for Bradley's Watonga Award, an athletic department honor for community service, academic achievement and athletic success, in 2000. At Ohio State, Laura set a new freshman scoring average record in 1998, took rookie of the year honors in 1998, and earned medalist honors at the 1997 Lady Buckeye fall invitational. Patrick was an Illinois high school state champion in 1995, and was ranked 23rd nationally among junior girl golfers in 1996 by Golfweek magazine.
Check Out My Golf Tips:
- Chipping Improved Contact: https://youtu.be/OxGrLd9nlKk
- Putting Better Distance Control: https://youtu.be/epuOsHpO9m8
FunFlight Golf - FunFlight Golf, LLC isn't just a business, it's a movement: It's a movement to bring friends and family together by getting new golfers on the course right away with minimal time and monetary investment. FunFlight eliminates the fear of playing golf on the course and creates a stress-free experience for all while emphasizing developmental learning. With FunFlight, no golfer (or potential golfer) is ever left behind.