We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Alison Curdt recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Alison, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents did a great job of supporting a variety of interests. Whether it was a variety of sport interests, or hobbies, they allowed me the freedom to explore my interests. As I entered high school, they encouraged me to narrow down my interests. They mentioned what it might feel like to be excellent in one thing as opposed to being mediocre in a variety of things. This prompted me to focus on golf where I was gaining a lot of success. I was still able to participate in other activities but concentrated on golf to earn a collegiate scholarship. This impact accelerated my success in golf performance, ultimately guiding me into coaching and teaching the game today.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Alison is a PGA Master Professional in Instruction and a LPGA Master Professional. Being one of 9 women to achieve the highest PGA credential earned by an instructor and only 1 of 2 women to be a dual master professional in both organizations, Alison has over 33 years of golf competition background and played on a full scholarship as a 2-time Academic All American at Florida State University while earning degrees in Psychology and Professional Golf Management. Her teaching prowess has been recognized in many ways including being selected by the LPGA in 2018, 2017, 2015 & 2012 as the Western Section Teacher of the Year. Alison was chosen as the LPGA’s National Teacher of the Year in 2015 and the PGA Northern Chapter Teacher of the Year in 2015. In 2016, Alison was selected as the Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year and Golf Digest added her as one of the Best Young Instructors in America. Her clubfitting skills were recognized in 2016 as the Northern Chapter PGA chose her as Clubfitter of the Year and the SCPGA awarded her club fitter of the year in 2018. Recently the LPGA chose Alison as a Top 50 Instructor for the second time and the SCPGA inducted her into the Teaching Hall of Fame. The SCPGA Northern Chapter selected her as Golf Professional of the Year in 2017. In 2019, the SCPGA selected her as the Golf Professional of the Year and the LPGA Western Section selected her as the 2020 Golf Professional of the Year. Alison currently teaches at Wood Ranch Golf Club in the Los Angeles area
Alison completed her Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a practicing psychotherapist in the state of California and currently works with adolescents, couples, families, and individuals in her private practice Curdt Performance Therapy. Alison strives to develop and coach golfers in all areas of their lives.
Alison continues to be very active playing competitively and has played in 7 LPGA Tour Majors: 2 LPGA Wegman’s Tour Championships in 2012 and 2014, and the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, & 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She is the first women from Southern California to ever qualify for the PGA Professional Championship in 2018 and made a return trip to the PPC in 2021. She helped Team USA win the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup in October 2019. Alison has been a seven-time SCPGA Omega Women’s Player of the Year.
Alison’s teaching philosophy is a student-centered approach allowing her to use a vast approach of modalities to help students reach their goals. She has taught over 25,000 golf lessons and is extremely well versed in video analysis, club fitting, golf fitness, and the mental side of the game. Students can be assured all areas of their game will benefit.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Being able to connect with people is one of the most important attributes to being successful in this field. Because I am experiencing many different types of people, personalities, likes/dislikes, I have to be a chameleon to meet the client where they are. It helps to have a high EQ and be a master communicator. People want to feel heard, seen, and understand, and those components can make for a successful session helping the student accomplish their goals.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
in 2014 I was faced with leaving a secure job that was a dead-end. I knew there was no promotion in site due to the gender discrimination faced in this industry. It was pivotal to create my business, become my own boss, and build a successful teaching practice and psychology practice where I could be on my own terms. Upon hindsight, this also was super helpful to my current success, as if I had stayed in that dead-end position, I would not be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alisoncurdtgolf.com and www.curdtperformancetherapy.com
- Instagram: alisoncurdtgolf
- Facebook: alisoncurdtgolf
- Linkedin: Alison Curdt
- Twitter: Glf66Grl
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/alisoncurdtgolf
- Yelp: Alison Curdt Golf
Image Credits
Cean One, Karen Share, Golf Magazine