Darlene Sommer

Darlene Sommer
Darlene Sommer
After a successful High School Athletic Career, Darlene decided to take up golf while she was attending college studying to become a High School History and Math teacher. She fell in love with the game and in two short years she decided to pursue a career in Golf combining both her passion for teaching with her love for golf. She joined the LPGA in 1979 and became a Class A Member in 1982.

As a teaching pro with an educational degree, she started out learning from the best she could and studied under teaching professionals like Bob Toski, Carl Loren, Gary Wiren and DeDe Owens to name a few. Many of their teaching principles she still uses today.

As the Head Golf Professional at Hillendale Golf Course in Ithaca NY she started a Junior Golf Program that ran for over 20 years and inspired many juniors not only to love the game but decide to make it their career as well. During her time at Hillendale she was awarded the LPGA Northeast Teacher of the Year. She was also recognized by Golf for Women’s Magazine at one of the Top 50 Teachers in Golf as well as being recognized by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest Magazine in their annual Top Instructor issues.

For over 25 years, she was the LPGA Junior Golf Clinic Coordinator for both the LPGA Corning Classic as well as the Rochester International / LPGA Championship. In early 2006, Darlene began her journey into Golf Biomechanics and Kinetic Motion 3D training and become a Certified K-Vest instructor as well as a Certified Titleist TPI Fitness Instructor.

She designed and developed a new training center called “Play Better Golf” using the K-Vest, Darlene developed a 3-D training curriculum using Golf Biomechanics, Kinetic Motion, TPI Fitness and the Yoga for Golfers program for her students and other teaching professionals.

In 2009, Darlene become the Head Golf Professional / General Manager at Champion Hills Country Club in Victor NY where she was able to continue her K-Vest training in a new Indoor Learning Center. During the early years at Champion Hills, Darlene co-hosted a weekly golf talk radio show with local sportswriter, Rick Woodson, called “The Golf Tee”. She also did a series of Golf Tip articles which were posted in the Messenger Post.

Darlene is now the Director of Instruction for Darlene Sommer Golf where she is committed to helping students of all levels enjoy this amazing game of golf.