Kristi Roach, the Golf Coach: A Social Sensation

Kristi Roach, the Golf Coach: A Social Sensation

Written By: Skylar Jardine, Communications, Marketing, and Event Management Coordinator, PGA of Canada Atlantic

5-minute read

When Kristi Roach first started posting on Instagram, she had no idea it would grow into what it is today—a thriving community of over 11K aspiring golfers. But how did she get there? 

Let’s rewind to the year 2020, when the world shut down and Kristi was the Executive Director for The Pampered Chef. With a team of 400 waiting for her guidance on how to navigate the digital landscape, she had no choice but to throw herself into the deep end. Stepping into the unknown is not a daunting idea for this golf professional. After being a middle school teacher for over a decade, then transitioning into a role as Executive Director, and now a full-time PGA Golf Professional, a common theme is present throughout these roles: her love for motivating and inspiring those around her. 

As her journey on social media continued, she realized her true passion was fostering a community for the average golfer. She found that her audience "was looking for a connection with another woman, or professional, that they can see, hear, and rely on." The ability to interact with not only a real human but also a PGA Professional who listens and engages has been the cornerstone of her success. 

Success does not come without its challenges; it's about making a commitment to your followers while also setting boundaries for yourself. Understanding what people are looking for, what they truly want to see, yet not letting it consume all of your time.  

Kristi’s best practices are:  

  1. Creating boundaries, whether it’s allocating an entire day or setting a timer for 30 minutes.  

  1. Listening to your followers; the biggest source of inspiration is sometimes right in front of you (i.e., in your comments, DMs). 

  1. Not being scared to show up and share your journey. Be transparent with your followers; sometimes it’s better to show the losses and not only the wins. 

  1. Finding a balance between educating and entertaining— "edutainment." 

  1. Asking yourself, "Why do you want to show up?" 

As PGA Professionals, it can be easy to forget what it feels like to be a beginner and the struggles that extend beyond technical skills. Kristi shared that recently her audience has been interested in understanding various aspects of golf, such as where you’re allowed to drive the golf cart, what golf balls you should use, and how many clubs you should start with.  

Connecting with other members of the PGA of Canada Atlantic, like Sebastien Tremblay, at Mountain Woods Golf Club, is a vital part of her process. Through these relationships, they uncover “things we assume people know, but they don’t know.” Golf has its own language that not everyone is fluent in, and if you’re like Kristi who started playing as a kid with her dad at Gowan Brae, it’s easy to forget the challenges of starting out. 

If you’re in the beginning stages of your social media journey or looking to grow your community, remember to “have a healthy relationship with social media; if you’re a golfer and you’re just starting out... get out there take a couple videos then throw that phone in your golf bag.” 

If there’s anything Kristi understands, it’s maintaining balance. She juggles being a mom, a golf professional, a social media influencer, and was selected to be on the ‘Women in Coaching Program’ with the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada. She’s a lifelong learner with no plans to slow down.  

 

 

If you're interested in getting to know more about Kristi Roach, please check out the resources below: 

  • Founder of DriveHer Golf, " Our goal is to nurture a community where every woman is embraced, appreciated, and motivated to achieve her utmost not only in golf, but in life"
  • Director of Instruction, Hampton Golf Club, Hampton, NB
  • PGA Atlantic Professional information