Testimonials

Trusted by Players and Coaches at the Highest Level

Rich Marik has been much more than a mentor to me — he’s been a trusted friend and an essential part of my journey, from grinding on the mini tours to becoming a two-time PGA TOUR winner. His deep understanding of the golf swing and course management is second to none, but what truly sets Rich apart from other elite coaches is his ability to strengthen the mental game. Rich has a rare gift for helping players turn mental challenges into sources of confidence and performance. He creates an environment where I feel comfortable opening up about the parts of my game that make me feel vulnerable. His empathy and insight have consistently helped me break through barriers and become the best version of myself — both on and off the course.

James Hahn, PGA TOUR Professional

Two-time PGA TOUR winner

“

Rich is not just a mental coach. He looks at each player individually and determines a plan both mentally and physically for making them the best player that they can be. He brings a wealth of experience to his coaching. Whether you are just beginning your journey to playing better golf or a seasoned professional, Rich can help you reach your goals.

Kris Tschetter

LPGA TOUR winner and U.S. Women’s Open Championship runner-up

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Working with Rich was very different for me as I’ve never worked with a mental coach, but it helped me gain a new perspective on the game of golf. Rich is a fantastic metal coach, but more than that he offers advice around practice and tournament strategy. I believe my practices became much more productive with Rich which resulted in higher quality golf. I’d highly recommend Rich to anyone!

Mason Greene

PGA TOUR Americas Winner • UCLA

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Rich Marik has been a lifelong friend, dating back to our early days competing in junior golf. Throughout his career, he has exemplified excellence — first as a U.S. Junior Amateur Champion, then as a standout at Stanford, a professional golfer, and now a trusted coach. With decades of experience and expertise, he would be an invaluable partner in helping you achieve your goals.

Eric Meeks

U.S. Amateur Champion and former tour player

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I worked with Rich for over a year and he helped me immensely. We focused on a bunch of different mental techniques that helped me elevate my game. He has a vast amount of knowledge about the game and how to compete at the highest level. He is a great teacher and an even better person, and I really enjoyed my time working with him.

Derek Bard

Korn Ferry Tour professional; U.S. Amateur runner-up (2015)

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I’m very grateful for my time working with Rich. His experience with both the mental and physical parts of the game helped me approach getting the most out of myself to compete. He takes the time to listen and understands what’s needed for the best performance on and off the course. The skills I learned will continue to benefit me going forward.

Jing Yan

LPGA TOUR professional

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I have known Rich for over 15 years, and he is one of the most qualified performance coaches in the industry. His willingness to keep learning new and innovative coaching techniques and his global experience make him unique. The bottom line is that he helps athletes win.

Dave Phillips

Co-Founder, TPI (Titleist Performance Institute); longtime coach of Jon Rahm, former World No. 1, and other major champions

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Rich represents the modern golf coach — integrating the technical, physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the game at a high level. Very few coaches can truly connect all of those dots. Players work with him for one reason: they make real, measurable progress.

Greg Rose

Co-Founder, Titleist Performance Institute

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Having worked with Rich alongside multiple players on the PGA TOUR, I very much appreciated his approach coming from an excellent golfing background. He has the incredible ability to deliver simple and powerful messages that help players handle pressure, improve their preparation, and elevate their performance.

Justin Parsons

Sea Island Golf Performance Center · Coach to Major Champions & PGA TOUR Winners

“

I’ve been around great teachers and coaches my entire career, and Rich Marik stands out among the very best. What separates him is his ability to integrate every dimension of performance — technical, physical, mental, and strategic — into one cohesive approach. Very few coaches in the game connect all of those elements at a high level. Rich prepares competitors completely, and that preparation shows in the way his players develop and compete.

Bob Dolan

PGA Hall of Fame

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I had the privilege of coaching Rich as a junior player and watched him grow into a fierce competitor, culminating in his victory at the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Even then, Rich was an inquisitive student of the game. His curiosity extended far beyond the golf swing — he learned how to handle competitive pressure, how to prepare properly, and how to carry himself as a top player. That curiosity continues today in his teaching and coaching. In fact, I believe he is even more passionate about the game now than he was then — and that says something.

Rich has become the complete golf instructor and coach who can guide a player through the steps required to reach success in this game. I am as proud of him now as I was then — perhaps even more so.

It is said that a good coach can change a season, but a great coach can change a life. Rich Marik is that kind of coach.

Tom Sargent

PGA Hall of Fame; PGA Professional of the Year; four-time Southern California PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year

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I recruited Rich to Stanford because I saw something special in him. Watching him evolve from an elite player into one of the most complete performance coaches in golf has been remarkable. His competitive experience, psychological depth, and care for players set him apart.

Tim Schaaf

Former Head Coach, Stanford University Men’s Golf

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I’ve known Rich Marik for over 20 years, and he has consistently produced strong results with players of all ages and levels. His combination of technical coaching and holistic development produces not only strong players, but strong leaders and great people.

Kevin Rhodes

Head Coach, Harvard University Men’s Golf; Director of Instruction, The Country Club (Brookline)

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What I admire most about Rich is his genuine desire to help players excel and his thirst for knowledge. That combination creates a coach who deeply cares for the athlete and always has the right tools — mentally and physically — to help them grow.

Walter Chung

Former Head Coach, University of California, Berkeley Men’s Golf, Pac-12 Coach of the Year

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Rich sees athletes through a complete lens — technical, physical, and mental — all at once. Very few coaches can integrate those domains at a high level, and every player I’ve collaborated with him on has made real, measurable progress.

Lance Gill

TPI Faculty; Founder, Lance Gill Performance

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What makes Rich exceptional is his ability to coach beyond the swing. He understands psychology, purposeful practice, and personal growth. Rich develops complete golfers — technically, mentally, emotionally, and personally — and that level of holistic development is rare.

Rob Oosterhuis, PGA, CCM, CCE

General Manager & COO, Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club

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As a kid, I was fortunate to learn from Rich, who was widely recognized as one of the top golf instructors in Northern California. Our lessons went far beyond the physical side of the game — Rich placed just as much emphasis on the mental and emotional aspects. He deeply understands the psychological side of both golf and life, and he played a major role in my development and success.

Emily Childs

Professional golfer; UC Berkeley Women’s Golf — most career collegiate wins in program history

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Rich was my coach during my formative years in golf and played a significant role in preparing me for collegiate competition. He helped me develop both technically and mentally — providing structured, effective drills while consistently pushing me to strengthen my competitive mindset.

What stood out most was how invested he was in my success. I remember calling him in a panic after suddenly losing confidence in my bunker play — he spent a full hour with me in the sand until it was fully resolved. That level of commitment and care made a lasting impact on my development.

Bonnie Hu

Ivy League Champion, Harvard Women’s Golf

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Rich taught me the skills I needed to make technical changes in my golf swing and short game, but what truly set him apart was how much he cared about me as a person. He helped me navigate being a competitive junior golfer not just technically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Rich genuinely cares about you as his student, and that made all the difference.

Sara Ovadia

Ivy League Champion; Columbia University Women’s Golf

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It is difficult to relay just how instrumental Rich Marik was for my golf career. I met Rich when I was 13 and worked with him until I was 22, and he made me immeasurably better.

What’s unique about Rich is his creative approach to working on the mental side of golf, combined with his unbeatable knowledge of the game in general. As a kid who was often very in my own head (and my own way), he helped me become more present and focused. His style of teaching was both passionate and patient, two qualities that are so important with golf. He dramatically improved the fundamentals of my swing, my short game, and the way I approached course strategy. To this day when I try to visualize something, I think of Rich.

He was also just a joy to work with. He made golf fun and feel more creative.

Mia Kabasakalis

Former Captain, Harvard Women’s Golf Team

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Rich coached me in high school and throughout my collegiate career and shaped my development more than any coach I ever had. He guided me to becoming a conference champion and record-setter, always asking about me as a person, not just a golfer. Twenty years later, he remains a mentor and inspiration.

Elaine Harris

Indiana University Conference Champion; international golf instructor

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Rich and I grew up playing junior golf together, so I’ve known his competitive spirit for a long time. When he helped me prepare for the U.S. Senior Amateur, his insight into tournament strategy, mental preparation, and emotional control made a meaningful difference. Rich sees the game — and the player — at a deeper level than anyone I’ve worked with.

Jeff Wright

U.S. Senior Amateur and U.S. Senior Open competitor

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Most mental/mindset coaches have either a psychology background or an athletic-performance background. Rich brings both. Alongside his lifetime of top-tier golf training and coaching, Rich has engaged in substantial depth-psychology study and formal clinical training — including a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, a psychotherapy practicum with weekly supervision, and over a decade of deep psychological work with a senior Stanford psychologist.

This integration makes Rich a unique and invaluable coach. He can unlock potential beyond technique alone, working with the whole athlete. Achievement becomes not just about improving scores, but about removing internal obstacles such as anxiety and self-criticism through deeper self-understanding — allowing passion, confidence, and meaning in the sport to return.

David Hayes, LPCC, LMFT

Senior Psychoanalytic Candidate, L.A.I.S.P.S. · Transformational Faculty, Mobius Executive Leadership

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I have supervised and trained over forty psychotherapists, and I have known Rich for over 20 years. He is an exceptionally deep-thinking, compassionate individual who approaches his work with devotion and sensitivity. His combination of warmth, intellect, and critical thinking makes him an outstanding coach.