How does a golf professional juggle 12-hour days of coaching, mentoring and psychotherapy while preparing for a major championship? For Dr. Alison Curdt, an LPGA and PGA Master Professional, it is all part of her relentless pursuit of growth. As she prepares for her eighth appearance in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Dr. Curdt exemplifies what it means to be a teacher who never stops nourishing her curiosity and pushing the limits of learning.

Based at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Los Angeles, Calif., where she serves as Director of Instruction, Dr. Curdt brings over 35 years of competitive golf experience and a doctorate in clinical psychology to combine world-class instruction with a deep understanding of the mental game.

Dr. Curdt’s golfing origins trace back to age seven, competing in junior events and then later advancing to play collegiate golf at Florida State University, where she was a two-time Academic All-American. Remarkably, as a college athlete, she still completed her psychology degree in just two years and added a second major in professional golf management as a fallback to a playing career.

“I sort of fell into it,” Dr. Curdt admits. “I had not planned to be a golf professional, but I always knew I wanted to have golf in my life and still be able to play.”

Teaching became her true calling. At 29, she became the youngest female PGA Master Professional, driven to distinguish herself as an elite coach among her 30,000 peers. When the LPGA introduced its Master Professional track, she pursued it while working on her doctorate, aligning her dissertation research with her LPGA project. “I wanted to show my students the extra level I went through to receive the best education and become a top expert in my field,” she says.

Allison Curdt Doctorte Her research on athletic trauma has reshaped how the golf industry addresses anxiety and confidence, leaving a lasting impact. “I am proud of the research I conducted which helps the golf industry understand athletic traumas in a different light,” explains Dr. Curdt. “The type of psychotherapy and treatment I use can really relieve anxiety and help build confidence. That is an important milestone to leave not only in psychology but within the golf industry as well.”

Her journey to this point is as inspiring, as is her long list of accolades. Dr. Curdt’s distinguished career exemplifies her exceptional ability to excel in every pursuit, seamlessly blending academic rigor and elite golf instruction. Recognized consistently among Golf Digest’s Top 50 Teachers, she has also been named an LPGA Professionals Top 50 Instructor four times, earned the 2015 LPGA Professionals Teacher of the Year award and received multiple LPGA Western Section Teacher of the Year honors. Her induction into the SCPGA Teaching Hall of Fame further highlights her versatility, expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing golf instruction and beyond.

Dr. Curdt is the first female President of the Southern California Section of the PGA of America and previously served as LPGA Professionals Vice President. She is an inspiring member of the LPGA Professionals Global Education Team, helping to shape the next generation of golf instructors. “When I dipped my toe in the water, I felt like I was making a difference, and that is what motivated me to work up the ranks to serve at the highest level in both organizations,” she said.

Dr. Curdt manages a demanding schedule with strong leadership. Her day starts at 4:45 a.m. with fitness and mobility training, followed by an hour of personal practice at Wood Ranch before teaching from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Half her week includes evening practice; the other half, she shifts to her private psychotherapy practice. She also devotes a lot of time to teaching courses and evaluating lessons for the LPGA Professionals Teacher Education Program. “It’s jam-packed,” she says. “I feel like I have six different jobs.”

Yet competition remains a cornerstone of her drive. Her personal goal of playing in 20 to 24 tournaments annually, from chapter to section to national events, keeps her sharp. “Getting too comfortable is not a good recipe for me,” Dr. Curdt explains. “Challenges fuel my fire and keep me focused on the future.”

Curdt KPMG This year, she returns to the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at PGA Frisco, what is her eighth appearance in this major championship since 2012, inspired by past experiences, like playing alongside 2020 champion Sei Young Kim at Aronimink Golf Club during the fan-less COVID-19 year. “Watching a major winner up close showed me how precise you need to be to make birdies,” she recalled.

Since qualifying through the 2024 LPGA Professionals Championship at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Florida, Dr. Curdt has put in countless hours of work, honed her short game and is once again ready to savor this major moment with her brother caddying and her family cheering her on as she makes her way around the course.

Her advice to aspiring professionals? “Greatness does not come from balance. It comes from giving 100 percent of yourself to be great. Do not be afraid to make sacrifices if they fulfill your heart.”

And for Curdt, constant learning and improvement, both for herself and her students, will continue to define her legacy as a teaching professional and a competitor on golf’s biggest stage.

Dr. Alison Curdt: An LPGA Master Teacher’s Journey to Golf’s Major Stage

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