"The wheels had fallen off of Maryanne’s swing," recalls Conte, who runs the Academy with her husband, Stephen, a PGA Professional. "She couldn’t even get the ball airborne and went from a 20 handicap to a 30 before coming to see me." Even though Maryanne had been around the game most of her life, Conte approached lessons with her like she would with any first-time student, and as usual, it worked. Maryanne went from a 30 to a 12 in less than two years and will be the defending champ at her club championship this year.

"We fixed everything from her set-up to her back swing to her follow through, chipping, pitching, sand play and putting," notes Conte, who begins most lessons by focusing on a good solid set-up. She then provides a clear understanding of the cause and effect of the student’s swing problem. Once key areas have been identified, Conte develops a practice routine with drills and notes to help the student improve. "Maryanne and I have worked on her swing once a week for the last year in a half, and she has improved tremendously," adds Conte.

Conte enjoys helping others learn the game. A past five-year participant on her boys’ high school golf team at Zion Lutheran Christian School, Conte didn’t let anything get her way when it came to playing golf. Her approach to improving the game for others shows the same spirit and commitment. "I love to see my students leave my lessons tee happy and confident," says Conte. Conte was also a standout in college, this time for the women’s team at the College of Boca Raton, winning the National NAIA Title. Later, she would qualify for the 89^th U.S. Women’s Championship and then turn professional, earning her LPGA credentials as a member of the Teaching and Club Professional Division. Conte continues to compete in Sectional and National LPGA T&CP events.

"I’ve played golf my whole life and was always around golf," says Conte. "I wanted to focus on teaching it because I really enjoy helping others improve." Conte’s students appreciate her vast knowledge of the game and her excellent communication skills. She is easy to understand, friendly and sincere. This relaxed but supportive attitude helps her successfully get her message across to students of all ages and abilities. "What I like most about teaching is being able to create a swing for a beginner and fix all the problems that come along with this wonderful game," adds Conte.

Beginners working with Conte are assured of a good understanding of the set-up from the get-go. They will likely need a few lessons to gain confidence in the corrections they are making, and they will be encouraged to spend some quality time with their clubs outside the lesson. "I ALWAYS suggest practice," says Conte. "This game takes a lot of dedication to get good, and practice is the key!" Intermediate level players will get a lot of short game advice from Conte; improvements in this area can lead to lower scores for the average player. Conte often uses playing lessons with her advanced students to identify their weaknesses. She then takes the problem to the lesson tee and works through it together with the student to find the best solution.

While Conte recommends practice for all her students, finding time and energy to practice her own game is not always easy. When she does manage to squeeze in a few swings, however, her routine typically consists of hitting 15 balls each with either the even or the odd numbered clubs all the way up to her driver. She starts and ends with her sand wedge. Conte will then practice shots out of the sand, chips and pitches, wrapping up her session with attention to putting. "Usually, I practice short game one day and driving range the next," says Conte, "and then I’ll go play a few holes."

Conte’s favorite club to hit is the driver; it’s also the best club in her bag. Shots that challenge Conte are those found on mountain courses with very uneven lies. "Florida it is very flat," says Conte of her home state where she’s been playing golf since the age of three. "So I don't get a lot of practice off of those uneven lies." She does, however, do well out of the beach. Take the 13th hole at Chateau Elan in Georgia, for instance. Conte was competing in the LPGA T&CP National Tournament and had buried her ball in the greenside bunker on 13. "I couldn't even see the ball," remembers Conte. Her husband was caddying for her. "Before I hit it, I asked Stephen if he was sure that the ball wouldn’t go in deeper when I hit it. He said it wouldn’t, so I hit it." Stephen was right – and she executed the shot perfectly, landing it safely on the green.

As tense as those moments can be – facing unknown challenges and trusting your game – Conte rarely lets it get to her when things don’t go as well. "There are always more holes left," smiles Conte. "You can never give up trying because amazing things can happen on the course if you put your mind to it." Conte has seen this happen not only for herself, but for her peers and the talented Tour players she enjoys watching most – Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods. For added inspiration, Conte always marks her ball with a smiley face that has a cross for a nose, reminding her that no matter how she plays, God is smiling down on her.