Patrick Isabelle USGTF Level IV Master Teaching Professional Kingwood, TX

Being introduced to golf on a bet sounds like a fairy-tale beginning, but it is exactly the way 41-year-old Memphis, Tennessee, resident Patrick Isabelle was introduced to the game.

Patrick, an ex-collegiate basketball player, never imagined growing up that he would ever watch a golf match on television, much less play a round in his entire life. However, at the ripe age of 32, after knocking down a few beers, he accepted the bet of an also-competitive fellow co-worker that he could not hit a teed-up golf ball with a driver. Strike one. Strike two. After getting strikes three, four, five, six and seven out of the way, above all the laughter, he decided to accept a tip from the gentleman whom he had to pay - an amateur player for over 15 years: "Turn away from the ball like you are about to hit a pitch."

With a freakishly flat backswing, Pat wound up and struck the ball a might blow of 275 yards, with a draw. As silence overtook the group, most of whom had spent years playing the game, Pat could only look in amazement at the caption of the ball against the clear blue sky.What ensued was six years of progressive hacking and ingraining bad habits due to not taking a lesson. Regardless, he managed to get down to shooting in the mid-eighties. Even with numerous swing flaws, his friends quickly excluded him from the weekend betting. His majestic distances hit with every club amazed even scratch golfers, who knew that distance does not always guaranteed a low score.

His love for the game had grown tremendously over the years. Pat was a successful sales and marketing professional, and, in sales, as most of you know, the more successful you are, the fewer hours you have to spend working - an excellent opportunity to play golf!
Then, one day, he came across an advertisement from the USGTF: "Learn to teach golf, the profession of a lifetime." He quickly sent off for the materials.

The organization in which Pat was employed announced a merger with a payout option. That, coming one month after a Fathers Day gift of a fully-paid Level III certification class with the USGTF from his wife, along with a new Cobra 400cc driver.

Pat was in a no-lose position to give it a try. A rain-battered week was at hand and sort of jumbled the playing portion of the course. This left Pat a little disappointed in himself as he was unable to complete his PAT.

After a reassuring conversation with Bob Wyatt regarding the success other Level II Associates have had teaching, and that he would be able to take the PAT any time he would like in the future, Pat went on to pass both the written and verbal instruction testing and returned to Memphis with his head held high.

Currently, Patrick Isabelle is the founder and head instructor of Isabelle Golf Instruction, Plus. His instruction and event-planning organization in Memphis has most recently launched instruction facilities through Health and Fitness, LLC, owners and operators of WellworX Sporting Clubs. One of the largest of its kind in Memphis, it is the first health and fitness club to offer in-house golf instruction in the state. With the money he received from the company payout, Pat was able to purchase video equipment, netting, swing trainers, mats and other materials needed to fully equip the facilities.

Pat is respected by his golfing colleagues, several of whom are receiving instruction from him. He proudly displays the USGTF logo.

Back to Main Articles