“I have always been an athlete and went to school for physical education,” says Mulherin, who first tried golf at age 22. “I always knew that I wanted to teach, but it wasn't until I had the opportunity to experience golf that I realized golf would be my concentration,” she adds. Despite her late start in the game of golf,  Mulherin earned national certification in teaching with the PGA and today serves on the Certification Faculty, certifying PGA professionals in teaching. She is an active member of the Central New York PGA Section, formerly serving on the Board of Directors from 1996-2001. This year she was re-elected to a three-year term on the CNY Board.  A three-time winner of the CNYPGA Teacher of the Year Award, Mulherin’s approach to learning and sharing the game with others is a testament to her athletic prowess and her natural teaching ability.

“I love helping people,” smiles Mulherin. “There is such a feeling of satisfaction to have people walk away from a golf lesson feeling better about their game.” Mulherin has helped thousands of golfers feel better about their games in her 18 years as a PGA teaching professional. Her path to becoming a teaching pro may not have been typical – many of her colleagues played the game for years before turning their attention to teaching it. But the very fact that Mulherin first sought to be a teacher, then learned the game she would teach, gives her a unique perspective on coaching others toward improvement.

“I speak a language that is simple, and I am willing to say the same thing 10 different ways if necessary to get them to understand,” says Mulherin, describing what it means to be focused on teaching rather than solely on the mechanics of the game itself. “I am very patient, yet push my students to achieve their goals, whatever they may be,” she adds. Mulherin has worked with an  83-year-old woman for six years. This student has balance problems, a new hip and a body that just “isn't what it used to be.” Mulherin has discovered that golf lessons with this student aren't just about golf - they’re about life. “She uses her lessons as physical therapy,” explains Mulherin. “I have learned a lot about life through her – she was a doctor for many years.”

“She tells me that the reason she comes every week is because I don't ‘treat her differently’,” notes Mulherin. “I work within her limitations and challenge her to do the best that she can.” Consequently, Mulherin has inspired in this woman a love for the game; on Sundays, this senior student can't get away from the TV, following Tiger Woods every step of the way. “She's hooked!” laughs Mulherin. “Now at 83 she has much to look forward to that is vital to her physically and mentally. The secret here, though, is that she has taught me more about being a good teacher than I could ever imagine - challenging me to look beneath the physical makeup and recognize that as teachers, anyone can teach the athlete. Dealing with restrictions or limitations really brings out the best in my teaching,” adds Mulherin.

With all of her students, Mulherin is a teacher first, then a golf professional. She is an excellent listener and works with her students to identify immediate needs and help lay out a game improvement plan. She recommends her beginner students take a number of lessons followed by lots of repetition in the backyard, on the range and in the short game area. She tries to have them focus on the hole first and work backward from there, but few players are willing to do that. Mulherin’s ultimate goal with beginners is to help them develop a motion with good weight shift, allowing the club to swing fluidly. Intermediate players typically benefit by working on mechanics such as swing plane. This gives them a reference point to gauge what might be happening when things go bad. Mulherin helps them commit to a pre-shot routine and further develop their short game skills.

Mulherin’s advanced students need to understand their mechanics, work to their strengths and manage themselves on the golf course. She also offers these stronger players a few effective short game practice techniques to help them battle through the days when the swing just isn't there. “I care about making things better for my students and am willing to try anything to get them to understand,” says Mulherin. “I am very patient and never condescending. I will almost always use video and will give them drills to take home to enhance the results of the lesson. They may not be perfect with what we're working on, but they will have a very clear idea as to the road that they're to take to get to our goals.”

New students to Mulherin typically express interest in what kind of programs she offers for varying skill levels. During the first lesson, these students are usually looking to feel better about being on the golf course, either by improving their mechanics or maybe their course management skills. Mulherin is committed to satisfying their needs and interests as well as boosting their confidence in the process. “The information we share gives them the power to feel more confident in their golf experiences,” says Mulherin. “The interaction with people is wonderful,” she adds, “Being in such a beautiful environment day in and day out certainly adds to the love affair with this great game.”

In addition to teaching full-time, Mulherin has competed in her fair share of events as a PGA professional. She plays regularly in the CNYPGA Section tournaments and especially enjoys teeing it up in the Pro-Am events. While her practice time is limited during the season due to the long hours spent on the driving range teaching golf, Mulherin still relies on a consistent routine to maintain her game. She begins her practice sessions by focusing on tempo, swinging shorter clubs and working up to the driver. Mulherin always ends by hitting wedge shots. These concerted efforts have rewarded her with a very reliable tee shot. “I typically hit the ball straight with decent length and can usually count on a right to left ball flight,” notes Mulherin. Her favorite shot to play is a bump and run; her home courses seem to encourage it, and she enjoys testing the percentages.

Fairway bunker shots may give Mulherin slight pause, however, especially if the ball is resting on soft sand, very close to the lip. The hardest shot Mulherin has ever had to play wasn’t in the sand, though – it was off the tee, for the second time. “I missed my drive only to find the ball had been ticked and dropped back down on the ground right next to the tee,” recalls Mulherin. “The reason it was sooooo difficult was that, with everyone watching, I had to go back to my bag and get my 3-wood out, compose myself, and hit the ball, all the time being totally embarrassed by my miss.” Even as that scene unfolded, you can bet Mulherin didn’t let it get her down. Whenever she runs into trouble on the course, Mulherin just tells herself that golf is a game and not a life and death situation.

“I try to give myself perspective and recognize that I am so privileged to have the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful business,” says Mulherin, who has lived in Syracuse, New York most of her life and gives lessons in the winter at the Golfer's Dome. Motivated by high quality teachers like Charlie Sorrell, Brad Redding and Peter Krausse, Mulherin is inspired to give her best on the course or the lesson tee whenever possible. “Those teachers are successful and are still very grounded,” notes Mulherin, who also admires the swings of many of the women on Tour. “Their tempo is magnificent,” she says.

Mulherin’s favorite course to play is Glens Falls Country Club in Glens Falls, New York. If she had to take a golf vacation, she’d hop a plane to Myrtle Beach. You’d catch her there wearing mostly blues or corals and marking her putts with a Canadian “toonie.” Mulherin always signifies her golf ball with a red dot in the upper right hand corner of the logo before teeing it up for a round. When she’s not on the lesson tee or out enjoying 18, you’ll find Mulherin running, walking or pumping iron. She also enjoys a good book and spending time with her husband, Robert, and son, Adam (18). You can learn more about lessons with Mulherin by e-mailing her at lsm4pga@aol.com. Thanks for sharing, Linda!