Catching Up with USNDP Coach Tiffany Joh

Few people in golf can say they’ve experienced nearly every stage of the game –  from discovering the game through First Tee to winning multiple USGA titles, to competing professionally on the LPGA Tour, and now shaping the next generation of elite American golfers through the U.S. National Development Program.

Tiffany Joh is one of those people.

A two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion (2006, 2008), Joh’s second victory came at Erin Hills, the same venue that will host the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally. Her playing career includes over a decade on the LPGA Tour as well as representing her country in the Curtis Cup Match and Women’s World Amateur Team Championship and earning All-American honors at UCLA.

Now serving as an assistant coach for the United States National Development Program (USNDP), Joh brings not just technical knowledge, but perspective, humor and an emphasis on human connection to her role. We caught up with Coach Tiff to reflect on her journey, her memories of Erin Hills, and the work she’s doing to shape young lives through golf and beyond.

Q: What were your thoughts when you first heard about the opportunity to work with the USGA and the USNDP?

Tiffany Joh: My connection really came through Coach [Chris] Zambri. I was at USC at the time, coaching with the women’s team, and our head coach (Justin Silverstein) used to be Zambri’s assistant [with the men’s team]. I didn’t know him well, but I had heard enough stories to know I already loved him.

The USGA has always felt like family to me. I tried qualifying for my first U.S. Girls’ Junior when I was 14 or 15, had the chance to play on the Curtis Cup and World Amateur teams, and even picked up a club because I saw Se Ri Pak win the [1998] U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run [in Wisconsin]. So, when the USGA called, I was basically like, “Where do I sign?”

Q: Has your experience with the USNDP lived up to your expectations so far?

Tiffany Joh: It’s completely exceeded them. I knew the USGA had high standards, but what Heather [Daly-Donofrio] and the team have built with this program goes so far beyond just financial support or tournament exemptions. It’s not just, “Let’s cut you a check.” It’s about access – to development tools, to coaching, to opportunity.

And the way it’s all woven together – state teams, grants, national teams, AJGA exemptions – it’s a whole infrastructure that wasn’t there when I was playing. We were just kind of stumbling from one event to the next, learning things through friends and parents. This gives young players a real blueprint, and I think it’s going to make a massive impact on American golf long term.

Q: What do you think sets the USNDP apart from other national development programs?

Tiffany Joh: It’s how holistic it is. My parents immigrated from South Korea, and I know how intense the development systems can be there: long training camps, early mornings, running 10 miles together. That’s not our style.

I love how Dr. Beth [Brown] structured the THRIVE Blueprint – not just performance, but health, relationships, values, and self-awareness. That’s the stuff that keeps you on tour.

I’ve seen players who were technically brilliant but struggled with communication or well-being. The USNDP is addressing that. We’re not just developing athletes, we’re developing people. That’s what makes it special.

Q: Let’s rewind, what was your journey like as a junior and professional golfer? Any pivotal moments that helped shape your path to coaching?

Tiffany Joh: I started late, around 12, through a First Tee program in San Diego. My parents didn’t know anything about golf; it was free babysitting for them. But that environment taught me more than just golf. It built character.

We didn’t know the system. We just followed relationships: friends telling us, “Hey, have you heard of this tournament?” Then came local wins, then USGA qualifiers, then UCLA. And that’s where the seed for coaching was planted. I had an amazing college experience under Coach Carrie Forsyth and [assistant coach] Alicia Um Holmes. I saw firsthand how much great coaching shapes lives.

Even during my pro career –10 years on the LPGA – I always had coaching in the back of my mind. COVID kind of accelerated that decision. Suddenly, I realized what I missed wasn’t just the game, but the community. That’s when I started looking seriously at coaching.

Q: What’s your coaching philosophy? How do you try to bring out the best in the players you work with?

Tiffany Joh: I always try to start with empathy. Golf is hard, and these kids make it look easy. But sometimes I force myself to go out and play just to remember how hard it really is.

It’s also about helping athletes protect what makes them unique. Zambri’s big on testing, not just to improve weaknesses, but to protect strengths. If you’re a great ball striker, don’t let someone mess with that. Own it.

And communication is everything. I once had a coach try metaphors about race cars and chess that didn’t resonate at all. Then he used surfing – something I love – and it clicked instantly. That moment stuck with me: coaches have to speak the athlete’s language, not their own.

Q: You've spoken a lot about relationships. How central are they to your coaching philosophy?

Tiffany Joh: They’re everything. Golf was the vehicle, but what’s stayed with me – and what honestly kept me on tour longer than I might’ve lasted – were the people. The community. The sense of belonging.

Now, coaching with the USNDP, it’s the same thing. I had a player recently tell me, “I’d seen her at tournaments, but I never really talked to her. Now we’re best friends.” That’s what makes a difference. That’s why I love what we’re doing with the National Teams, it creates space for connection. You don’t feel like you’re doing this all alone.

I hope my impact isn’t just technical advice or swing thoughts. I hope it’s helping these players feel supported, seen, understood. That’s what I value most.

Q: How do you talk to players about finding balance and outlets outside of golf?

Tiffany Joh: I try to come at it with empathy. These kids are trying to get scholarships. They’re trying to prove themselves. I get that. I specialized super early. I didn’t do any other sports because I thought it would “mess up my golf muscles.” I’ve been there.

But by the end of my first year on tour, I was already pretty burnt out. I’d played thirteen weeks in a row. No one should do that. Around that time, I found surfing. It became my outlet – my escape – and it honestly probably extended my career by another eight years.

Now, I try to help players find their own version of that. Something that fills their tank instead of draining it. Because if golf is your everything, it can crush you. You need perspective. You need balance. And you definitely need joy.

Q: What makes Erin Hills such a meaningful place for you, and what makes it a great championship venue?

Tiffany Joh: Winning at Erin Hills in 2008 was one of the highlights of my career. That course was still brand new at the time, and I had a high school caddie named Spencer on the bag. I don’t remember every shot or hole, but I remember the feeling –  how massive and beautiful it was, how special it felt just to be there.

As a venue, it’s challenging in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s wide open – very links-style with fescue everywhere – and it plays firm and fast. The greens have some sneaky movement and elevation, and when they get rolling, they’re tough. But what I really remember is the relationships. I played Sydnee Michaels in the semis – we ended up teammates at UCLA – and our moms were literally fencing with umbrellas in the fescue during our match. I won, but I cried because I didn’t want her to lose. That kind of connection … it sticks with you.

Now, to see the U.S. Women’s Open heading back there, it’s something I haven’t thought about too much but cool to see. I might even go back and do a little homework so I can help if any of our players end up there.

Q: What kind of legacy do you hope to leave in coaching and at the USNDP?

Tiffany Joh: I don’t have a big master plan. I’m more of a “surround myself with good people and see where it goes” type. But if I can help every player, I come across grow –  whether that’s on the course or in life – I’ve done my job. Golf is just the vehicle. It’s the people that matter most.