2005
Prototypes
Over 15 years ago, Luke Donald and his coach Pat Goss began using a makeshift putting plane board to train. Pat emphasized the importance of keeping the putter "on plane" for a consistent stroke. This training helped Luke become one of the best putters in modern golf.
2020
Enhancements
Pat Goss and Sam McKenney developed an improved putting board to assist golfers of all levels. Through observation and research, they crafted a versatile training aid. Pat’s short-game philosophy emphasizes "neutrality," guiding players to maintain proper lie, loft, face angle, path, length, and acceleration for consistent strokes.
2024
Inspiring The Next Gen
Pat Goss and Sam McKenney first created The Putting Board for their students and the Northwestern teams. The immediate success with youth athletes showed how powerful this tool was for developing consistent putting skills. Junior golfers, alongside pros, have used it to refine their game. Pat and Sam focused on perfecting the board, ensuring it would inspire and elevate players of all levels. The result? A training tool that helps young athletes build strong, repeatable strokes for future success.
Team
Meet Our Team
Combining years of industry experience to craft the ultimate golf training aid.
Sam McKenney
Director of Player Development for the Wildcat Golf Academy Junior & Adult Academies
Under his guidance more than 15 WGA alumni are playing or will play Division I Golf and 9 are competing at the Division III level. Division I institutions include: Northwestern, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Marquette, Colgate, Creighton, Dartmouth, Fairfield, Santa Clara, Villanova & Virginia
Among those list of students are the 2016 Illinois Women’s State Amateur champion, 2016 Western Women’s Open champion, 2015 Illinois State Junior Am champion, 2015 Chick Evans champion, & the 2014 Midwest Junior Golf Association POY
Volunteer assistant for the women’s golf teams at Northwestern University; the Wildcat Women’s Team was the 2017 National Runner Up
Teaching Professional with over 18 years of experience who has instructed professionals, top high school and amateur players both locally and internationally
Certified as a Master Golf Fitness Instructor through Greg Rose, the co-founder of the Titleist Performance Institute and as a certified C.H.E.K. Golf Biomechanic
Influences in teaching are — Pat Goss, Mike Bender, Robert Baker, Mike Adams, and Robert Powers
IPGA Tournament Champion
Patrick Goss
Golf Magazine “Top 100 Teachers in America” alumnus
Coach to Luke Donald since 1997, the #1 ranked player in the world by the Official World Golf ranking for 56 weeks in 2011-12
Director of Golf at Northwestern University overseeing both the men’s and women’s programs. In his 28th season coaching at Northwestern including as an assistant coach, head men’s coach and director of golf.
Since taking over as Director of Golf, the NU women’s team finished as the NCAA Runner Up in 2017 and was an NCAA quarter-finalist in 2018.
As Head Coach of the men’s team lead teams to NCAA finishes of 3rd, 7th and 8th.
2012 Illinois PGA Teacher of the Year
Short game coach to Webb Simpson since 2015. Webb finished 1st in scrambling in 2018 and 4th in 2017.
Has done short game and putting with PGA Tour players Trevor Immelman, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson, Patrick Cantlay, and Nick Watney as well as multiple Korn Ferry Tour players
Golfweek Magazine’s National Coach of the Year in 1997 and four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year
Former players have won on the PGA Tour, European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Asian Tour, MacKenzie Tour, and PGA Tour China