By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Dr. Alison Curdt is a PGA Master Professional and an LPGA Top 50 Teacher. Her accolades include several Southern California PGA Section awards and acknowledgment on Golf Digest’s Top 50 Teachers in America list. She has served on several PGA of America committees and is the President of the Southern California PGA Section. Dr. Curdt is a clinical sports psychotherapist utilizing EMDR and Brainspotting to help athletes achieve peak performance and overcome athletic traumas. Alison Curdt is a superstar in our game and a leading professional in our industry.
As she manages her many duties as the Director of Instruction at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley, California, she prepares for the PGA Show in Orlando later this month. Curdt will present on Tuesday, January 21 on Tee 3 at the Orange County National Golf Center. Her topic will be “Applied Golf Psychology Tools for Building a Better Mental Game.” “We’ll cover how to utilize practical tools allowing students to access a better performance state,” Curdt says in the seminar description on the PGA Show website.
Despite these busy times, Alison recently shared some thoughts and ideas with us at Golf Range Magazine for our first “Five Questions” feature of 2025.
Golf Range Magazine: Can you tell us about your early days in golf? How old were you and who got you into the game?
Curdt: I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and my father got me into golf when I was just 7 years old. At that time, organized junior golf didn’t begin until age 8, so he would take me out onto the course to hit some shots and play a round until I was formally able to join the junior golf program.
Golf Range Magazine: Did you play golf in school, and when did you know you wanted to be a PGA of America Golf Professional?
Curdt: I competed in high school and earned a full scholarship to Florida State University, where I was a two-time academic All-American. I double majored in Psychology and Professional Golf Management and earned my PGA membership by graduation.
I sort of fell into the PGA of America Golf Professional lifestyle once I saw that life full-time on the LPGA Tour wasn’t feasible for me. It was a way to keep golf and competition active in my life and have a career in a sport that I grew up playing.
Golf Range Magazine: What’s trending in your programming and instruction at your facility?
Curdt: Currently, I’m doing minimal programming and focusing on individual development plans. I participate in the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program, look forward to starting a PGA HOPE site in 2025 and run a handful of intensive boot camps. My time over the past year or so has predominantly been spent with individual clients, focusing on their development over the timeframe they have laid out in their goals.
Golf Range Magazine: What is your favorite part of the game of golf? The business of golf?
Curdt: My favorite part of golf is the competition within oneself. It’s a sport that can never be perfected, and no matter how good one gets at playing golf, you can always get better. It’s like a never-ending journey.
My favorite part of the business of golf is coaching and helping people demystify the complexity of golf, making it more fun for them. There’s a lot of joy for me in helping someone feel good about their game.
Golf Range Magazine: What’s on the horizon for you in teaching and mentorship as a proven leader in golf coaching and instruction?
Curdt: I look forward to competing in my 8th major championship next June at the KPMG PGA Women’s Championship held at PGA HQ in Frisco, Texas. I am also excited about serving as the President of the Southern California PGA Section. As the first female President of the SoCal PGA, I hope to inspire others to get involved with the section and continue the excellence that our section exhibits. Lastly, every day I try to be 1 percent better, whether that’s learning something new, refining something old or evolving and acting like a sponge to absorb anything I can to be better.
