LPGA Professionals member recognized for embodying the spirit of Nancy Lopez

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Date) The LPGA Professionals proudly announce Nicole Weller, LPGA and PGA Professional, as the 2026 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award recipient.

Established in 2007, the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award honors an LPGA Professional who exemplifies leadership, passion, generosity, and approachability; values that define the legacy of Nancy Lopez, a 48-time LPGA tour winner, nine-time major champion, and World Golf Hall of Fame member.

“Being recognized with this honor is one of the most precious moments of my career, and I’m truly thrilled and appreciative to have been selected,” said Weller. “As a young golfer, I followed Nancy’s career and even watched her play up close while volunteering as a ‘Quiet Please’ marshal at the Boston Five Classic alongside my dad, Max. I was inspired by Nancy’s journey into golf, as both of our fathers played a significant role in introducing us to the game.

“Today, I continue to admire the incredible impact Nancy has on the golf world beyond competition. She leads and connects with passion, generosity, and her signature warmth that makes everyone feel included. I strive to pay that forward by creating meaningful learning experiences inspired by her gracious leadership and presence.”

Weller has dedicated more than three decades to the game of golf. Raised in Lakeville, Massachusetts, she began working in various roles at her local course before earning a golf scholarship and becoming a varsity letter winner at Wake Forest University. In 1995, she accepted her first teaching role as an Assistant Golf Professional at Cherokee Country Club, marking the beginning of a lifelong mission to grow the game.

Throughout her career, Weller has remained committed to giving back to the golf community through her personal motto: “Educating Golfers, Entertaining People, and Enhancing Lives.” Her expertise in youth development, sports psychology, golf fitness, and competitive play has enabled her to create comprehensive programs that have positively impacted thousands of students.

In 2000, she founded an LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site in Knoxville, Tennessee, growing participation by more than 200 percent. In 2016, she helped launch The Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. program, an initiative designed to introduce children ages 2-5 to golf through an innovative certification program for instructors. She also teaches with the Pine Needles Golfari Schools, collaborating with fellow LPGA Professionals to deliver engaging learning experiences.

Inspired by the meaningful golf experiences she shared with her own father, Weller has created opportunities that foster connections through the game, including National Parent-Child Summer Camps and private instruction designed to bring families together.

A prolific writer, Weller is the author of Let’s Play Golf, Big Thoughts from Little Golfers, and Match Play Golf Flashcards, and the co-author of the LPGA Girls Golf Handbook. Her background in sports psychology informs her work as an educator and presenter, influencing audiences and advancing the game on a global scale.

Weller’s leadership extends across the industry. She is known for building strong professional networks, encouraging collaboration, and mentoring fellow instructors. Most recently, she participated in the LPGA’s inaugural We Are the Women in Golf Summit, sharing her passion with both LPGA Professionals and LPGA Amateurs. Through her involvement in events such as the PGA Show and national youth and family summits, she continues to make a meaningful impact on the growth to the game worldwide.

Her accomplishments have earned widespread recognition. In 2013, Weller became the only individual to receive both the PGA and LPGA National Junior Golf Leader Awards in the same year. She has also been named an LPGA Top 50 Instructor multiple times and recognized by Golf Digest as one of the Best Teachers in North Carolina.

Weller exemplifies the qualities of an ambassador of the game. Her passion, leadership, generosity, and approachability make her a deserving addition to the distinguished group of recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award.

Weller joins an elite group of women who have shaped golf’s future. Past recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award include Debbie O’Connell (2007), Troy Beck (2008), Patti Benson (2009), Lynn Stellman (2010), Malia Folquet (2011), Suzy Whaley (2012), Marvol Barnard (2013), Angela Aulenti (2014), Teresa Zamboni (2015), Donna White (2016), Sandy LaBauve (2017), Lynn Marriott (2018), Louise Ball (2019), Dana Rader (2020), Cindy Miller (2021), Tina Tombs (2022), Deb Vangellow (2023), Sue Powers (2024), and Karen Palacios-Jansen (2025).

Nicole Weller Named the 2026 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award Winner

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