Val Patrick named LPGA Section Coach of the Year

By WA Golf Site Admin

Posted on Sep 7, 2023

One of Patrick’s students is Chloe Cho, who already is a U.S. Kids Golf champion, and who also made it to the second round in Drive, Chip and Putt competition in just her first year of trying.

For her efforts in championing women’s golf in the region, and in particular her role as a leader and mentor of young and beginning golfers, Val Patrick of Everett, Wash. was named the Coach of the Year by the LPGA Professionals Western Section.  

Val was nominated for the award by other LPGA Professional members. Having now received the award for the Western Section, Val will now be considered for the LPGA national award later this year.  

She has a long list of recognitions for her commitment to coaching. In 2022 Val received the Operation 36 Coach Impact Award, and was named one of the Top 50 Coaches for Operation 36. In 2021 and 2022, she was nominated for the Sandy LaBauve Spirit Award, which was named after the founder of Girls Golf LPGA-USGA and honors an individual who has gone above and beyond to inspire the lives of juniors through their passion and dedication to empowering girls through golf.  

Val is now the Director of Instruction at Mill Creek (Wash.) Country Club. In her practice as an instructor, Val also serves as a coach for the Girls Golf LPGA-USGA, The First Tee of Greater Seattle, and Operation 36. She is also the coach of the girls’ golf team at Shorewood High School in Shoreline, Wash.  

Patrick is the coach of the girls’ golf team at Shorewood High School in Shoreline. Left to right are Sofina, Mae, Coach Val, Josie, and Sadie.

“It’s been a great year for local women’s golf,” Val said. “After the COVID years, when most of our events were shut down, we were able to get going again. I partnered with Erin Szekely in this year’s Northwest Women’s Open, and was able to revive the LPGA Western Washington Championship, which was held concurrently with the Northwest Women’s Open. I felt good about getting that going again after the two-year layoff.” 

Originally from Michigan, Val moved to the Northwest in 1984. She has been a member of the LPGA Professionals since 2008, and now serves as the secretary of the LPGA Professionals Western Section.  

Find out more about Val at ValPatrickLPGA.com.