OUR TEAM

Chris Koch, PGA

Owner - Director of Instruction

Chris is a PNW native, born and raised in Lacey, WA. After graduating from Western Washington University with a Bachelors degree in Recreation, he spent 5 years living in Oahu, Hawaii. He gained invaluable experience working at one of Hawaii's best golf courses, Ko Olina Golf Club. Starting there as an Assistant Golf Professional, he worked his way through the Professional Golf Management program and achieved Class A membership with the PGA of America. During this time, Chris also developed his passion and expertise for golf instruction. He provided countless individual golf lessons to locals and tourists, while also leading a junior golf program for underprivileged youth.

Chris returned home to Olympia in 2011 to open Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, WA. During his 10 years at Salish Cliffs, Chris helped them achieve Top 100 Public Course accolades and worked as Head Golf Professional for the last 3 years of his time there. His proudest accomplishments include developing a junior golf program for Tribal youth, mentoring new PGA professionals, winning Merchandiser of the Year, running numerous events to support Tribal entities, and developing close relationships within the golf community. In the Fall of 2021, Chris seized the opportunity to create and open The Golf Loft, allowing him to pursue his passion for sharing and teaching the game of golf!

In his free time, you can find Chris doing house projects, restoring cars, and helping his wife chase after their 3 young kids. He is excited to be a new small business owner and connect with the Tumwater community!

Teaching Philosophy
Chris has provided golf instruction for over 16 years. He has learned teaching techniques from renowned golf instructors including Jim Flick, Stan Utley, putting guru Marius Filmalter, and PGA of America’s 2011 Teacher of the Year, Mike Malaska. Through incorporation of your existing knowledge and skills, Chris will help you achieve your goals. He regards his teaching style as "keeping it simple" with a goal for learners to walk away from a lesson knowing cause and effect. He intends for you to be able to work on your own swing and continue to see improvement in your golf game. Through use of state-of-the-art technology and Chris's expertise in golf instruction, he hopes that you will learn, grow confidence, and have fun as you play!

Playing Accomplishments

Career Low – 63 at The Home Course
Top 35 2016 PNW PGA Section Championship at Astoria G&CC
Qualified for 2015 PGA Professional National Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club
Top 10 2014 PNW PGA Section Championship at Salish Cliffs Golf Club
Top 25 2013 PNW PGA Section Championship at Meadow Springs CC
1st Place 2013 WWCPGA Patriot Day Event at Eagles Pride Golf Course
2012-13 WWC Assistant’s Match Play Champion

Tyler Fitchett, PGA Associate

Golf Coach

Originally from Yakima, WA, Tyler graduated from Saint Martin’s University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. While there, he played on the men’s golf team and served as Team Captain for two years. After college, he began coaching as an assistant at Pacific Lutheran University, working with both the men’s and women’s golf teams to develop practice plans, fine-tune course strategies, and prepare players for competition.

Chasing his dream of professional golf, Tyler moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where he competed on mini tours and in state opens for two years. He later transitioned into teaching and joined GOLFTEC in Las Vegas, where he became a PGA Associate and taught over 500 lessons. Tyler jumped at the opportunity to return to the Pacific Northwest to join The Golf Loft and a community he valued deeply during his college years.

Outside of golf, Tyler enjoys hiking for great views and staying active through pickup basketball—his first athletic love.

Teaching Philosophy

Tyler’s philosophy centers on adaptability and education. He believes every golfer is unique, and he tailors his coaching to each student’s goals. For beginners, that may mean focusing on fundamentals and body mechanics, while for juniors and competitive players, he emphasizes course management and scoring strategies. Most importantly, his lessons are built around helping golfers understand their swing, so they can make confident adjustments on the course when challenges arise.

Playing Accomplishments

2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Champion
2020–21 GNAC Men’s Golf Player of the Year
Named to 2021 Ping All-West Region Team
Current Course Record Holder at Druids Glen Golf Course (65)
Saint Martin’s program record for 54-hole tournament score (207)
2nd in SMU history in individual wins (3)
3rd Place – 2024 Columbia Point Open
5th Place – 2023 Gallatin Valley Open
Highest Golfstat National Ranking of 76th in the Nation