GOLF STAFF
KANDI COMER | DIRECTOR OF GOLF
Kandi Comer has been mentoring players of all skill levels for more than 25 years by providing them with a firm knowledge of the basic fundamentals of the game. Kandi is recognized as one of the top instructors in Virginia by Golf Digest and as a US Kids Top 50 Junior Instructor. She is ranked by Golf Digest as Top 100 National Clubfitter. Kandi has been recognized four straight years as a National Top 50 Teaching Professional by Golf For Women, and nominated several times for Golf Magazine’s National Top 100. Kandi was inducted into the Virginia State Golf Hall of Fame in 2021 for her playing and teaching excellence.
She was the instructor of the LPGA Tour star Dottie Pepper, winner of 17 tour events including two majors, and coached several other professional golfers as they successfully earned their tour credentials.
Kandi continues to give her attention to developing up-and-coming talent. Kandi has sent 60+ juniors on to play college golf. She has had players compete in the US Juniors, US Amateur, US Mid-Amateur, and the US Open. Kandi has developed players to win junior championships, college championships, amateur championships, and professional championships.
Kandi was selected as the 2005 PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year and named the 2014 Public Golf Leader by the National Golf Course Owners Association. In 2005, she was selected to serve as a member of the PGA President’s Council on Growing the Game. Kandi received the 2019 VSGA Grow the Game Award for her proven success with developing talent at all ages. Thanks to her outstanding record of success, she is now known as one of the finest teachers in the game.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kandi Kessler-Comer was a fine player herself. She competed alongside Dottie Pepper in the 1986 Curtis Cup Matches against Great Britain & Ireland. She won five Virginia State junior and amateur championships (becoming the youngest to win the Junior Girls (14) and the first to hold the State Junior title, State Match Play title, and State Stroke Play title at the same time), made it to the quarter finals of the 1985 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, claimed several collegiate trophies, competed in five U.S. Women’s Open Championships as a professional golfer, finishing 14th in 1987 at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey, and winning two professional championships. In 1985, Kandi was recognized as one of the top 10 amateur women golfers in United States by Golf Digest. In 2002, she was named one of the Top 50 female golfers in ACC history.
Kandi’s mentors and biggest influencers include the late Davis Love, Jr., her instructor as a player, and Dr. Bob Rotella, who helped her turn her B.A. in Psychology into success in mental golf coaching.
Kandi is a certified Redcord and K-Vest instructor. She is a PGA Member and a Staff Professional with Ping Golf.