Born and raised in Missoula, Montana, Veroulis now splits his residence and teaching practice between Missoula and La Quinta, California. He is a PGA Professional at the University of Montana Golf Course and at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California. Despite all the fun-filled distractions Veroulis encountered growing up on his home course,  Veroulis managed to play a pretty good game starting at age 10. He went on to tee it up for four years at Capital High School in Helena and furthered his skills at the college level for the University of Montana. “Golf was an individual sport in which I could excel regardless of my small size as a kid,” notes Veroulis. “It was a sport where I got some individual recognition early.”

Veroulis was the 1980 Montana Junior State Championship Runner-up and a participant in the 1980 America's Junior Cup. Riding those successful performances and numerous others, Veroulis turned professional and began sharing his knowledge of and enthusiasm for the game with students. Voted 1991 Pacific Northwest PGA Section Teacher of the Year, Veroulis obviously had a knack for helping golfers of all abilities improve. “I enjoy helping people strive to obtain goals they set out to accomplish,” says Veroulis.

“During my lessons, I like helping people develop a passion for the game which has given me endless hours of enjoyment,” adds Veroulis. Typically, new students come to Veroulis wondering if he will change their swings or make them start over. They want him to help them be more consistent. Veroulis answers by identifying specific areas needing work and sharing just enough information to keep them focused on the task at hand. “I don’t want to overload them,” says Veroulis. “I only want them to make changes they need to make.”

With beginners, Veroulis spends time developing an understanding of the relationship between the club face and the intended target line. He uses short game skills to best demonstrate this concept. “Working this process through the short game is the quickest way to see improvement,” says Veroulis. Intermediate level players need to develop a short game arsenal. Veroulis works with these students on the different types of shots that they will encounter around the green.

Veroulis’ advanced students are encouraged to develop a better routine from the time they set foot on the golf facility grounds. “They need more precise practice habits,” says Veroulis. Their practice routines include executing drills for mechanics and good habits – habits that will follow them to the golf course. “I show them what all the great tour players do that the average amateur or teacher may not have noticed,” adds Veroulis.

With all of his students, Veroulis first attempts to set the record straight. “I want to ‘de-brainwash’ them of the garbage that has been handed down generation after generation concerning the golf move and the mechanics that make it good or bad,” says Veroulis. “I want to make them understand that what great players have said or written about over the past 50 years is not what they in fact do. I explain that most golf books and articles are ghost written, watered down and inaccurate.” With that out of the way, students get a fresh start with Veroulis, and he is able to keep things simple and relaxed by focusing on one key point at a time.

“I enjoy interacting with people and seeing the smiles on their faces when they combine the information I’ve given with their body motion to produce a consistent golf move,” says Veroulis, who recently began working with Fred Burger, a golfer in his late 50's. Fred has had back problems off and on and also had a hip replaced. When he first joined Veroulis’ club, he shot a 123. Fred was told by three different golf professionals that he would never learn to hook the ball, that he should just learn how to play his slice. Veroulis told Fred that he could help him hook the ball with consistency within a month. “After one year, he has one of the best looking moves at our club, and now is breaking 90,” smiles Veroulis. “This year we are dedicating ourselves to teaching him at least four different shots around the green that he will become proficient at.”

Veroulis is constantly working on skills and drills that could improve his students’ level of play. Even as he practices his own game, he does so with his pupils in mind. Veroulis will spend a lot of time on the range between lessons hitting one-handed, left-handed wedges. “I practice drills that I want my students to execute to train a particular body motion,” says Veroulis, whose favorite shot to hit is a high, soft lob. Driving accuracy is the best part of his game, but don’t rule out his 6-iron – or his putter. During the 1994 Lake City Open, Veroulis was battling Tour Player Lon Hinkle for the final day lead. On the 16th hole, Veroulis drove his tee shot right, leaving a difficult shot over a layer of tall pine trees from 160 yards out. His only option was to hit a lofted 6-iron over the trees with enough carry to reach the green. Veroulis made it to the green, then drained a 30-foot putt to take the lead in the tournament.

Whenever things get a little rocky during a round, Veroulis just tells himself, “This is God's little way of testing me. Each time he is presenting me with challenge to test my strength.” Veroulis naturally carries on and does his best to pass each test. Tour Players that inspire Veroulis are Jack Nicklaus, Jesper Parnevik and ViJay Singh. He adds, “I am impressed with Tiger’s passion.” Veroulis claims no superstitions affect his game, but he does admit to using exclusively a 50 cent piece to mark his ball during his high school and college tournaments.

Living in the Palm Springs area affords Veroulis many a splendid opportunity for golf, but his favorite course of all time is back in Montana: Eagle Bend Golf Club in Bigfork. This course was ranked the #2 new public golf course in the nation in 1990. The USGA Publinks Championship was held there when Veroulis was the Head PGA Professional in 1994. Carved out of the woods of northwest Montana and just off of Flathead Lake, Eagle Bend boasts plenty of wildlife on the golf course and in the surrounding areas. “The views of the various mountain ranges, Flathead River and Lake are a living Ansel Adams,” says Veroulis.

Now in his 5^th year of splitting time between California and Montana, Veroulis shares his home with wife, Debra Lee and two children, Paul (18) and Margaret (16). When he’s not on the lesson tee working out another great drill, you’ll find Veroulis tossing the football around or dribbling up and down a nearby court. He also enjoys fishing. You can learn more about lessons with Veroulis by e-mailing him at vagofca@aol.com. Thanks, Robert!