Get Real … Be Golfthentic!

LPGA Teaching Professional, Dori O’Rourke is a popular writer, teacher, and speaker.

She’s had the honor of working with over 5,000 men, women, juniors, and seniors, of all ages and skill levels; taught over 10,000 lessons, written two golf books, had over 100 golf magazine articles published, and presented well over 100 golf schools and mental game seminars across the country.

Whether reading one of her many golf books or articles, participating in one of her memorable talks or seminars, or attending a one-on-one golf lesson or clinic, people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy her fun, relaxed, and straight-forward approach.

A Quick Look at Some of Her Career Highlights …

• CEO and Director of Education, Perfect Approach Golf
• LPGA “Class A” Teaching Professional – over 20 years experience
• Coach for over 5,000 men and women golfers of all ages and  levels – juniors to seniors and beginners to professionals
• Author, Custom-Fit YOUR Golf Swing – the book that’s starting a swing revolution
• Author, I Found the Golf God, 10 Secrets for Golfing Success – mental game golf book
• Author, The Mystery of Feeling Great – life improvement book
• Golf Magazine Columnist 1986-2003 – multiple publications, including GOLF NEWS Magazine
• National Speaker and Seminar Leader for over 20 Years – The Best Way to Think About Golf; Feeling Great About Golf; The Psychology of Improving Your Golf Game
• Lead-In Speaker for Al Geiberger’s Mr. 59 Tournament Clinics
• Lead-In Speaker and emcee for Lee Elder’s Charitable Fundraising Events
• Infomercial Spokesperson – seen weekly on The Golf Channel 2000-2002
• Golf Video Host – Swing Your Best with the I-Swing System
• Experienced WPGT, Players West and Futures Tour Player
• Known as a Specialist in the Mental Game of Golf
• Certified Personal Coach – over 20 years in the field of personal development
• Certified Master NLP Practitioner – NLP is Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a powerful set of personal development, communication and coaching tools
• BA in Sports Medicine from University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, with an emphasis in Psychology, Communication and Business

17 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Dori …

• Dori used to think golf was the most boring game ever created, and didn’t start golfing until her junior year of college, when she was required to take a 2-week golf class as part of her Sports Medicine major.
• Dori went to college on a tennis scholarship, but the summer following the 2-week golf class, she became so hooked on the game, she turned in her tennis scholarship her senior year to focus 100% on golf.
• Dori once gave a golf lesson to singing superstar, Mariah Carey, at DisneyWorld in Florida — “Rush Hour” star and family friend, Chris Tucker, set it up, and Mariah arrived in high heels (luckily, she did it as a joke and had tennis shoes with her).
• Dori was a tournament water skier in the Sacramento Water Ski Club as a kid, but was always 2nd best to fellow club member, Deena Brush.  It’s no wonder — Deena Brush Mapple went on to become one of the best water skiers of all time, and was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame in 2000.
• Dori was already a seasoned LPGA Professional in 1995, when her Mom married PGA Tour Legend, Lee Elder – the first African-American man to play in the Masters; Ryder Cup Member; and winner of 15 Tour events.  Dori thinks Lee is a great addition to the family, and loves playing golf with him!
• Dori’s favorite tennis player of all time, Martina Navratilova, once sent her a handwritten note thanking Dori for her book, “I Found the Golf God,” and stating that the concept of “Target Golf” had helped her golf game.
• Dori’s favorite LPGA Professionals are Nancy Lopez, Amy Alcott, and Annika Sorenstam; Favorite PGA Professionals are Lee Elder, Fred Couples, and Tiger Woods; Michelle Wie is also a favorite.
• Speaking of favorites, Dori feels honored to have had the chance to watch famous Canadian golfer, “Pipeline” Moe Norman, hit balls on 10 different occasions, and treasures that they became friends.
• Dori took up ice hockey in her late 30’s, and learned how to play wearing hand-me-down skates previously used by NHL great, Chris Chelios.  (Unfortunately, the skates had no memory of their earlier experience when Dori wore them!) 
• Dori hosted the first television show at her elementary school, which was broadcast into the classrooms each morning.  Later, she became the co-host of a 30-minute television show created fully by kids as part of the Sheriff’s Explorer Program.
• According to a newspaper reporter, Dori was the youngest (and possibly first) female General Manager of an 18-hole golf resort, taking the reins of the Mission Bay Golf Center in San Diego at age 30.
• In addition to teaching golf, Dori founded two not-for-profit organizations, volunteered as a Crisis Counselor, and worked as a paid Life Coach for several years, before founding NexStep Golf with Janelle Lunsford in 2001.
• Dori became the communication instructor for the volunteer Crisis Counselor training, and also gave “Personal Empowerment Talks” (her P.E.T. project), to “high-risk” high school students as part of a rape prevention grant.
• Dori was a straight “A” student in high school and college, graduating with honors and the 3rd and 5th highest grade point average, respectively.
• Dori is a major animal lover.  For 15 years, she had a pet cockatiel named “Boy,” that she trained to talk, fly to her on command, and whistle the chorus of “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.”  And, while she used to prefer dogs to cats, now her favorite playmate is “Buddy Boy,” her tuxedo cat!
• Dori loves to help people anonymously, and is more motivated to raise money for charitable causes than for herself (so she wisely does both whenever possible for double motivation).
• Dori was once the lead singer in an airband, and is often caught dancing through the house and in the car while driving.