Patrick Coyner started playing golf when he was 10 years old. With his dad in the Army, he and his family moved a lot during his childhood. After relocating to Williamsburg, Virginia, Coyner’s father joined Williamsburg Country Club and introduced Patrick to the game. Coyner says he played all of the major sports, but quickly developed a passion for golf. He credits his parents for giving him many opportunities to practice, play and compete.
“We moved again when I was 14, this time to Timonium, Maryland, which is about 20 miles outside of Baltimore,” Coyner recalls. “This is when I started taking lessons from Ted Sheftic, PGA. Ted had the biggest influence on developing me as a player, and to this day remains a huge influence on how I teach the game.”
Coyner decided to stay close to home for college, having received a golf scholarship at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He had two close friends from the area also on the team, so UMBC was a nice fit.
He took his shot at the mini tours after college, but quickly realized that there were many good golfers on the circuit. He moved back to Maryland and took his first job at Hunt Valley Golf Club under Greg Jones, PGA.
“My big break happened when I accepted an assistant golf pro position at Woodholme Country Club,” he says. “Woodholme was known for its high-level instruction, and I was able to shadow and learn from two guys who ultimately would become close friends and PGA of America mentors, Wayne DeFrancesco and Bernie Najar. Bernie was recently named the 2026 PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year.”
After a couple of seasons, Coyner transitioned into a full-time teaching pro. Along the way, he met Sean Foley, who has had the biggest influence on his development as an instructor and coach.
“Sean is not only one of my closest friends, but has been an incredible resource when it comes to continuous learning,” Coyner tells us. “Things would come full circle a few years later when I accepted the Director of Instruction position at Baltimore Country Club, working again for my original friend and mentor, Greg Jones. My 10 seasons at BCC provided me the platform to get to where I am today.”
Coyner is the PGA of America Director of Instruction at Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colorado. He started at Cherry Hills in February of 2025, and says that it’s been “an incredible experience.”
“The history and tradition surrounding Cherry Hills is extraordinary, and I'm fortunate to be part of such a wonderful facility,” he boasts. “Our programing is all-encompassing, as we provide skill development and game improvement opportunities for all demographics of our membership. We continue to add new technology and innovative concepts to our coaching programs, which provides each student the best environment to learn and improve.”
Coyner says their current technology includes Trackman, Swing Catalyst, SwingSense3D and Onform.
He says the number of success stories they have produced is incredible, but the opportunity of a lifetime happened last fall when he met two-time U.S. Open Champion and Cherry Hills member, Wyndham Clark.
“Wyndham asked for my help one day on the range and the relationship grew from there. I now serve as his full-time swing coach on the PGA Tour.”
With a T5 in the recent Travelers Championship, Clark continues to play great golf with two wins, including the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and several top 10s in 2026 to date.
Back to the business side of the game, Coyner says the trends in golf will continue to evolve, but he’s seeing a greater emphasis being placed on practice ranges, par 3 courses, 9-hole and even 6-hole rounds.
“People seem to have less free time that they used to, so players are trying to fit golf into their day as best they can,” he opines. “I think we will continue to see more simulator play and activities that can be completed in a two-hour timeframe. Of course, I hope the traditional 18-hole round is always prominent in our game, but we have to embrace the opportunity to make the game accessible and enjoyable for those who don't have the time for that full-round experience.”