Growing up in Burnaby, TJ Atley’s path to golf excellence was forged on the fairways of Burnaby Mountain Golf Course. It was there, amidst the challenge of the tree-lined municipal layout, that her passion took root. Her game truly ascended upon gaining membership at the prestigious Vancouver Golf Club in grade 11, where she diligently honed her skills to become a scratch golfer.

1978 marked her breakthrough on the competitive stage: she secured a spot on Team BC, placing third at the Alberta Junior in Edmonton, and was selected for the Inaugural America’s Cup—a historic team that earned a Bronze Medal, a feat rarely matched in the decades since. TJ’s pioneering spirit led her to the University of Washington on a full scholarship from 1980 to 1984. A standout collegiate athlete, she served as team captain for three years and claimed victory in four individual tournaments, cementing her legacy as a true trailblazer in women’s golf.

After College

Following her collegiate success, Coach TJ took her talents to Chicago, serving as Head Teaching Professional while honing her competitive game on the mini tours during the winter months. This dedicated grind paved the way for her qualification for the 1986 U.S. Women’s Open. Craving a return to her roots, she moved back to Vancouver in 1987 with her daughter.

Back home in 1988, she spent time at Quilchena GCC and collaborated with Jennifer Wyatt. The pair famously traveled together to Portland for a U.S. Open qualifier. The road trip back was defined by their shared resilience and joy, and they turned it into a fun-filled, karaoke-style road trip. 

Ever the innovator, in 1990, TJ changed the game for golfers in Canada by opening the very first indoor training studio. She was way ahead of her time, equipping the space with the country's first launch monitor and a high-tech four-camera video system right across the street from where she teaches today.

Coach TJ played in three more majors in the early 1990’s, before directing her full focus on her passion to teach golf, particularly to pave the way for the next generation of young golfers. 

Award Winning Coach

Coach TJ has been nominated 3 times and was awarded and won each time for the Junior Leader of the Year, by the LPGA Western Section, consisting of 11 countries, 7 U.S. states, 2 Canadian Provinces.

Training Future Coaches

Coach TJ Atley’s track record of developing elite golfers is extensive. Her former students hold prominent positions across the industry, including:

Mike Haraguichi: Director of Golf, Capilano Golf & Country Club.

Neil Bidewell: Director of Golf, Qualicum Beach Memorial GC (formerly Head Professional at King’s Links).

Kelvin Ko: Owner, Progress Golf at Musqueam GC.

Scott Masse: Golf Industry Guru (GUG).

Gord German: G & G Golf – was Coach TJ’s original club fitter and club maker in 1990. 

Jai Ideson: Certified GTS Coach with Zone Golf Academy, with a background of eight collegiate victories and eight years on the U.S. mini tours.

Marion Hernandez – University of Mary’s Head Women’s Golf Coach (Div.2) 

Micky Hernandez – PGA of Canada and PGA of Ireland.

Shayain Gustavsp: LPGA Coach, You-Tuber/Influencer.

Nathan Leonhardt: Owner of TDA Academy, held at Savage Creek. 

TJ also played a pivotal role in the career of Nathan Leonhardt, guiding him to secure full-ride scholarships in the U.S. not once, but twice—demonstrating her unwavering commitment to her students’ long-term success. She was also there to be the first one to support him on his travel to PGA of China Tour. Coach TJ has trained more than 45 players who have turned professional. 

Team BC and Canada Players

Coach TJ made 5 BC Teams in the 70’s and 80’s. In 1983, Coach TJ was recognized and played on Team Canada (2 players) with her friend Dawn Coe-Jones. They travelled to Cali, Colombia, South America and placed 6^th in the World Team Championship. 

In 1994 Coach TJ travelled to the Little People’s Pepsi World Championship with then an inspiring junior boy, Jai Ideson. He played in 3 competitions in the mid-west that year. Jai Ideson represented Team BC in the Eddie Hogan Team Matches, where he was the only player in the field who was undefeated.

Notables

Rachel Shi - Ranked #1 CJGA, 2013   Graduated from Academic All-American Columbia University in 2017.  She won the BC Summer Games. 

Alex Park – Ranked #1 CJGA, 2015 Graduated UC Berkeley, 2019.  Won the prestigious St. Georges’ “Athlete of the Year,” (for all grades), while he was in grade 10. This was and still is a very rare feat. 

Marie Donnici  - Ranked #2 CJGA, 2014  Graduated U Richmond in 2018. 

Jessica Wu - Runner Up BC Summer Games 2016.  On the NYU squad, winners of the 2019 NCAA National Championship and placed 9^th overall. Academic All-American TISCH

Mary Parsons  - Ranked #1 in Golf Canada, 2016  named on Canada’s National Junior/Development Squad for 2017 Graduated with her master’s from Indiana U in 2022 As an amateur, represented Canada as a member of Golf Canada's National Amateur Squad from 2019 to 2021 in major international competitions, including the 2019 Pan American Games (where she helped the team win a bronze medal) and the 2019 Astor Trophy. Won on the Epson Tour, 2024 and currently competing on the Epson Tour. 

Matthew Kettleson – Academic All-American 2018 Wilmington U.

Vanessa Zhang – Team Canada (NextGen/Junior), 2023  Represented Canada at the 2023 World Junior Girls Golf Championship, where she helped the team secure their first-ever gold medal, shooting 68 on the last round. Team Canada, 2024 - announced she would be on the women’s amateur squad.  Set multiple brand-new records at Harvard University as a freshman, including winning the Ivy League Championship at -11 in 2025.

Training Academic All Stars – Cum Laude and above + 

1996- Bree Sharatt, who played for Academic All-American Colorado State University from 1996-2000. She then graduated with a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 2006.

2006 – Domi Pytlewski – U Colorado. Now a Medical Doctor (Cardiologist) 

2011 – Tyler Friesen – Chartered Accountant (CA)

2012 - Ali Harandi – Graduated from Stanford University

2012 – Tony Elliott – Chartered Accountant (CA) Dickinson U

2013 – Zo Gustavsp – Computer Science – Dickinson U

2015 – Marcel Ptylewski – called to the Bar (Lawyer). 

2016 – Eric Wan, played at Brown U and completed his master’s from Columbia U in 2021. 

2016 – Ashley Tsoi – NYU Stern Business and then her master’s at U Chicago. 

2017 - Julie Lym graduated from Brown U in Electrical Engineering. 

2017 - Colin Wang – Graduated from Wharton Business school at U Penn and his post-grad from Oxford in 2024. 

2019 – Sophia Bian – NYU and then completed her masters in Sports Management at Brown University. 

2021 - Jhunam Sidhu graduated from Academic All-American Whitman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She graduated from SFU with her masters in 2024 and is currently working on her PHD through UBC. 

2022 - Tommy Sze graduated from Brown U.

2024 Pavita Sidhu graduated from Academic All-American Whitman College.  She is currently working on her master’s at UBC.  Beyond her time on the golf course, Pavita was an English major and was featured in the college's "Our Whitman, My Story" series, where she discussed her experience as a student-athlete and her work as a writer and gallery assistant. On Apple podcast: Our Whitman, My Story: Pavita Sidhu "This podcast episode features Pavita Sidhu sharing her personal journey as a student and golf team captain at Whitman College.

Author - 8 Books

Coach TJ is the author of 8 books. 3 children's books in the Ruby and Pals series featuring twin pandas growing up in Vancouver and learning golf.

She has also published several instructional books including: Guide for a New Golfer; Guide for a Novice Golfer; Guide for an Intermediate Golfer, Guide for a Recreational Golfer, Master Pitch and Putt and the Future U Pathway Workbook.

Educational Games

Coach TJ has designed, invented and manufactured 3 board games and 3 different sets of flash cards for juniors and adults alike to understand the game of golf and especially the rules and definitions. Ruby and Stella are 2 head covers that are available online.