Pat Hopson

Pat Hopson was 12 years old when her mother took up the game. It wasn't long before Hopson became addicted and went to the golf course every opportunity she had. She learned the game mostly on her own with only a few lessons here and there.

At her high school there was no girls golf team so Hopson practiced and played with the boy's team and competed as a single in the sectional girls high school meets. Hopson won and qualified for the State High School Girls Tournament and began playing in all competitions she could find, including the State AM. In 1970, Hopson graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Psychology. She was a member of the first golf team at the university.

Hopson began her golf career on her hometown course where she first learned the game. She worked in the pro shop and learned about club making from a master clubmaker. From there Hopson moved to Elmwood Country Club at nearby Marshalltown, Iowa and began to learn the art of teaching golf from head professional, Jerry Johnson. Hopson worked there in the summers and taught and worked in the proshop at Riverbend Country Club, Houston, Texas during the winter months.

In 1989, Hopson was hired as the head teaching professional at Woodbridge Country Club in Montclair, Virginia by Dr. Betsy Clark, director of education for the LPGA. Under her guidance Hopson developed more fully as a golf instructor. From 1992 to 1994, Hopson taught for Lorraine Klippel, LPGA Master Professional at her facility, Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. During her time in Pennsylvania Hopson also taught at many clinics sponsored by Mazda for executive business women. In 1994, Hopson became the head teaching professional at Sun Air Country Club, Haines City, Florida and held that position until 1998, when she began teaching for Ben Sutton Golf School.

Hopson also serves as a Section Advisor for the LPGA to mentor other women who were going through the process of becoming LPGA members. During the years Hopson has played in many tournaments. In 1997 she won the LPGA Southeast Section Senior Championship.

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