Julie Cole is an all-around athlete who grew up playing golf and tennis, swimming and running track. She played basketball for Ohio State University. It’s no surprise, then, that she made a career out of sport, playing the Asian, European and LPGA Tours for seven years. She logged a few wins, including the 1984 Thailand Open. 

“The others are too old to mention,” notes Cole, a Class A LPGA Teaching Professional who now teaches golf full time for the Dana Rader Golf School at the Ballantyne Resort in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cole also provided instruction at the inaugural LPGA Golf Clinic for Women held there in 2008. It turned out to be an ideal setting. 

“Ballantyne is a women-friendly resort because the course is very playable and there are two LPGA teaching professionals on staff,” adds Cole. The LPGA Golf Clinics for Women series will return to Cole’s neck of the woods in 2009 on April 27.  

Making one Top 50 “best teachers” list in the nation is pretty good; Cole is on two. She’s been recognized by the LPGA as a Top 50 Instructor, having earned Section Teacher of the Year honors. And for four years running she’s landed a spot on Golf for Women’s Top 50 Teachers list. Cole has likely earned these distinctions through her knack for getting good results out of every student. 

Energetic, fun, and most importantly, effective on the lesson tee, Cole readily connects with her students. “I will find a way that they can ‘get it’,” she says. One of her favorite students has amazing hand eye coordination coupled with a strong desire to learn. Working with this student is inspiring, but sometimes Cole runs into bigger challenges.

“I probably get asked the most about how to be more consistent as a golfer,” says Cole. “For beginners, I just go right to the grip. For the more advanced player, I use video, find out their ball flight tendencies and ask what their swing history has been.” Cole then takes her time with the final analysis so that the advanced student can still play with swing changes. “With the better players, I also work on routines and their mental approach to practice and play,” adds Cole. 

Golf is a great game, according to Cole, but let’s face it, it's a lot slower than basketball. “If I could change one thing about golf, I would find a way to create faster play so that more people can play, and it doesn’t take up so much time!” proposes Cole. Until then, Cole will do the best she can with the students she has, improving their swings and overall course management. That should help move things along. 

The perfect day for Cole? Sunny and outdoors. No question she has the perfect job for it. 

Click here to learn more about Julie Cole.