Carol Preisinger, like most kids, played a lot of sports. Unlike most kids, however, she was raised by a Life Member of the PGA, George Preisinger. Not surprisingly this had an impact on the sport she would favor most, a sport that would become her career. 

“I am currently working on my thesis to gain Master Status,” notes Preisinger, who earned LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Class A Status in 1992. Prior to that, she studied Psychology at the University of Georgia, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1984. Understanding how the human mind works clearly gave Preisinger special insight into her students’ golf swings. She was named an LPGA Top 50 Teacher for 2008.

Since 2004, Preisinger has been ranked as a Top 100 Teacher in Golf Magazine. Golf for Women Magazine has formally recognized her talents as a teacher since 2000 in their annual rankings. Serving as an LPGA Teaching Professional for many years at City Club Marietta in Georgia, she was appointed her current position, the Director of Golf Instruction at the Kiawah Island Club in Kiawah Island, SC, in July 2004. 

Surrounded by golf her entire life, Preisinger knows the game inside and out. She also knows it could be improved upon.  

“If there’s one thing that I could change about the game, I would recommend to the USGA to let players play from tees/course yardage that correspond to their handicap, eliminating the ‘womens’ and ‘mens’ tee marker language,” says Preisinger.  

As a golf professional, Preisinger believes her students perceive her to be “patient and a good communicator.” She is asked all kinds of questions on the lesson tee, but the most common question tends to be about the practice swing. “Why do I have a great practice swing and then when I go to hit the ball, my swing is different?” her students wonder. Like
so many questions in golf, there’s no easy answer for that one. It’s best to focus on the two things amateurs struggle with most in Preisinger’s opinion: good posture and a good grip.

“I try to find the best grip that works for them and then get them in the proper posture,” explains Preisinger, “These two pre-swing basics directly influence their clubface and swing plane.” Preisinger adds that her approaches vary somewhat depending on the level of student. Beginners receive instruction “from the ground up.” Preisinger starts beginners with putting and chipping, then moves to short pitches and ends with a lesson in full swing. 

“For my advanced students who are looking to shoot lower scores, I have them work on their short games - lowering their putting average, improving their up and down game and so forth,” notes Preisinger, who played on a professional mini-tour for three years before fully committing to teaching the game. 

Her life may seem like it’s all about golf, but Preisinger does participate in a few off-course activities, including cooking, watching movies or college football games, and catching some zzzz’s. Her “perfect day” makes room for a round of golf on a sunny day in the low 80’s following a cup of expresso and a good breakfast. After golf, a quick call to Mom and Dad and then it’s off to the kitchen to cook dinner. She might close it out with a nice bottle of red wine and a good movie or an exciting college football game…either way, it always ends in a good night’s sleep.