Nicole Weller Wins Golf Award
Nicole Weller is named the 2026 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award winner, honored for leadership, teaching excellence, and growing the game.
The LPGA Professionals have named Nicole Weller, LPGA and PGA Professional, as the 2026 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award recipient—an honor recognizing an LPGA Professional who embodies the leadership, passion, generosity, and approachability that define the legacy of Nancy Lopez.
What Is the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award?
Established in 2007, the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award celebrates an LPGA Professional who reflects the qualities long associated with Nancy Lopez, a 48-time LPGA Tour winner, nine-time major champion, and World Golf Hall of Fame member.
Nicole Weller on Receiving the 2026 Honor
“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,” Weller said.
Weller shared that her admiration for Lopez began early, when she followed Lopez’s career and watched her compete up close while volunteering as a “Quiet Please” marshal at the Boston Five Classic alongside her father, Max.
“Today, I continue to admire the incredible impact Nancy has on the golf world beyond competition,” Weller said. “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.”
A Career Dedicated to Growing the Game
Weller has devoted more than three decades to golf. Raised in Lakeville, Massachusetts, she worked in multiple 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, launching a career focused on instruction, mentorship, and expanding access to the sport.
Teaching Philosophy and Impact
Throughout her career, Weller has been guided by her personal motto:
• “Educating Golfers, Entertaining People, and Enhancing Lives.”
Her expertise spans:
• Youth development
• Sports psychology
• Golf fitness
• Competitive play
That combination has helped her build comprehensive programs that have impacted thousands of students.
Programs and Initiatives Led by Weller
Weller’s work includes several standout initiatives aimed at introducing golf to new audiences and strengthening family connections through the game.
LPGA*USGA Girls Golf (Knoxville)
In 2000, Weller founded an LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site in Knoxville, Tennessee, growing participation by more than 200 percent.
The Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. Program
In 2016, she helped launch The Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. program, designed to introduce children ages 2–5 to golf through an innovative certification program for instructors.
Pine Needles Golfari Schools
Weller also teaches with the Pine Needles Golfari Schools, collaborating with fellow LPGA Professionals to deliver engaging learning experiences.
Parent-Child Camps and Family Instruction
Inspired by the golf experiences she shared with her father, Weller has created opportunities that build family bonds, including:
• National Parent-Child Summer Camps
• Private instruction designed to bring families together
Author, Educator, and Industry Leader
Weller is also a prolific writer and educator. She is the author of:
• Let’s Play Golf
• Big Thoughts from Little Golfers
• Match Play Golf Flashcards
She is also the co-author of the LPGA Girls Golf Handbook.
Her background in sports psychology informs her work as a presenter and educator, helping influence audiences and advance the game on a broader scale.
Recognition and Awards
Weller’s accomplishments have earned national recognition across the golf industry. Highlights include:
• In 2013, becoming the only individual to receive both the PGA and LPGA National Junior Golf Leader Awards in the same year
• Being named an LPGA Top 50 Instructor multiple times
• Recognition by Golf Digest as one of the Best Teachers in North Carolina
Joining a Distinguished Group of Past Winners
With the 2026 honor, 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)
• Karen Palacios-Jansen (2025)
Why Nicole Weller Represents the Spirit of Nancy Lopez
The Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award recognizes more than performance—it honors the professionals who elevate the game through leadership and service. With decades of instruction, program building, mentorship, and advocacy, Nicole Weller exemplifies the qualities that make this award so meaningful.
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