Val Patrick grew up playing golf at an independent golf course near East Lansing, Michigan called Par-Mor owned by Art Prior. Art was her golf coach through junior golf, college golf and mentor as she started her professional teaching career. This course was well attended by the golf coaches at Michigan State University, both womens and mens golf teams. Par-Mor had two courses, one a regulation 9-hole and an executive 9 hole course. Complete with a large practice putting green and two practice chipping greens as well as sand traps made this a well appointed course for sharpening all the skills required for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced players.
Val knew early on that golf would become an important part of her life because she lived at the golf course from morning until night from the time she was 10 until college. She was a ‘natural’, it was in her blood thanks to her dad that took her playing every weekend at the municipal courses in greater Lansing and East Lansing Michigan. Her junior years were filled with first place wins and course records throughout the southern Michigan area in junior tournaments as well as womens state events. She was also one of the first junior girls to play in a Mens All City Tournament in the late 60’s. She didn’t matter where the tournament was or who was in it as long as her name had a tee time beside it.
After college she turned pro and taught at Par-Mor for several years. She taught men, women and junior players. She was also the Instructor for the women’s’ golf class offered through the YWCA where she held classes for beginners and intermediate players.
Competition was not out of the question all together as she had the desire to seek her playing card in the LPGA. Playing in three separate Q-schools, and missing the cut by 2-3, and 4 shots, she knew that the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional section is where she would put her energy.
Val relocated from Michigan to Seattle in 1985. She is a member of the EWGA Seattle Chapter, and she is an instructor at Puetz Golf at the Aurora Avenue location.
“Currently teaching and working at Puetz Golf gives me an opportunity to meet many people. I am available to teach people at all levels of skill and I love having the driving range facility, what a perfect setting for players needing practice while having the best golf equipment retail store in one location in the Seattle area.”
