Her Story
About Katie
Katie Bakken is a golf instructor based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with 25 years of experience in the golf industry. She provides private, group, and on-course lessons and has developed junior and women's programs at the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe as well as adult programs at Brookview Golf Academy. Bakken earned a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Minnesota in 2001, where she played on the golf team. She became LPGA certified in 2011 and PGA of America certified in 2015, and maintains memberships in the LPGA Teaching Professionals and the PGA of America. Bakken contributes to the LPGA USA World's Golf Program and PGA Hope. She attributes her success to her father, Bill Bakken, a PGA member who introduced her to the game, along with many supportive people throughout her career. Her professional mentors include her father and Dr. Greg Rose of the Titleist Performance Institute. Bakken values being kind to others and honoring God, and she advises young women entering the male-dominant golf industry to persevere because women are needed and excel in the field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katie
01What do you attribute your success to?
My dad for getting me into golf and a lot of supportive people along the way. I grew up around it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I go to the Albert Einstein quote that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a change is the definition of insanity.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It is male-dominant, but women do a great job and are needed. So just keep at it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges would be life work balance. Opportunities are the amount of female golfers is rapidly growing, so that's a great thing.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being kind to others and honoring God.
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