Stafford, VA – Pat Coyner, the PGA Director of Instruction at Baltimore Country Club in Timonium, Maryland, has been selected as the MAPGA’s 2015 Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes excellence in golf instruction along with overall performance as a PGA Professional. Coyner will be honored in front of his family, friends, and peers at the annual MAPGA Hall of Fame and Awards banquet on Saturday March 14, 2015 at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland
Whether it’s hosting a teaching seminar in the Section, or attending a coaching summit on a national scale, Pat is always looking for ways to improve his teaching habits and become an example for other instructors to follow. The 2015 Teacher of the Year award is Pat’s first award received from the Middle Atlantic PGA after being nominated for this award six previous times, four times in the Middle Atlantic Section, once in the Philadelphia Section, and once in the North Florida Section.
A native of Florida, Pat and his family were frequently moving as his father was an Army helicopter pilot. Pat’s passion for the game continued to grow at the age of 11 after he was lucky enough to attend a junior clinic, and play a few holes with PGA Tour players Mark Wiebe, Donnie Hammond, and the late great Payne Stewart.
Two years after earning his PGA Membership in 2006, Pat became a Teaching Professional at Woodholme and then in 2011, accepted the position as Director of Instruction at the Country Club of York in York, Pennsylvania. In January, 2014, Pat moved his talents back to the Baltimore area where he is currently the Director of Instruction at Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland.
Pat has been teaching and promoting the game of golf since 1999 and prides himself on being able to help beginners, accomplished amateurs, and aspiring professionals alike. Some of the notable teachers that Pat has worked with and learned from include Sean Foley, Mike Bender, Wayne DeFrancesco, Bernie Najar, Ted Sheftic, Mike Adams, James Leitz, and David Orr. He has also attended seminars lead by David Leadbetter, Dave Pelz, Chuck Cook, and Dr. Bob Rotella.
Over his 16 years as a golf professional, Pat has invested in a great deal of continuing education and has several specialty certifications that include: Trackman Certified Level 1-2; TPI Certified Level 1; TPI Junior Certified Level 2; BioSwing Dynamics Certified Instructor; U.S. Kids Certified Instructor; Member of the Positive Coaches Alliance; and Certified Instructor with SeeMore Putting Institute. In just his first year of employment at Baltimore Country Club, Pat has transformed the instructional program. Pat has increased the knowledge and abilities of all professional staff members at the club through education, mentoring, and promotions, and as a result, the Instructional department is growing like never before.
Outside of his time and dedication to Baltimore Country Club, Pat has been the host and lead instructor for five “Wounded Warrior” clinics in 2014. He is also involved with The First Tee of Baltimore, where one of his students, Charles Young, was the first golfer from the Baltimore Chapter to be invited to the Champions Tour Nature Valley First Tee Classic at Pebble Beach. At the National level, Pat was the host professional/instructor at Trackman University which was held at Baltimore Country Club in June, and attended by professionals from across the nation.
Pat’s philosophy in golf is to always strive to be the best, but realize that failure is a part of growing. Failure builds character, and helps you appreciate success when it finally comes.
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
Contact:
Eric Southard
esouthard@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 101
