Florence Weiss grew up in Bern, worked as a secretary after completing business school — and then decided that a life behind a desk wasn't for her. Today, she lives with her family in Au-Wädenswil and looks back on a career that has taken her from junior golf in the Bernese Oberland to the Ladies European Tour and beyond.

A Spark Lit on Holiday

Weiss's first contact with golf came during a family holiday course — a casual introduction that quickly became something more. As a junior, she played at Golf Club Interlaken and Blumisberg, steadily developing her game in two of Switzerland's most scenic golfing landscapes.

But it was during her time working as a secretary, after graduating from business school in La Neuveville, that a pivotal realisation took shape: she wanted a career that would take her outdoors, one built around movement and sport rather than office routines. Golf, the game she had grown up with, offered exactly that. She enrolled in the Swiss PGA education programme — and never looked back.

From Teaching Pro to Tour Player

The Swiss PGA education proved to be more than just a professional qualification. It became a turning point. As part of the programme, Weiss was required to compete in tournaments and deliver results, which meant serious, dedicated practice. What began as an obligation quickly turned into a passion.

"I discovered my love for practise and tournament golf during that time," she recalls. The competitive spark led her to sign up for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School — marking the beginning of a playing career that ran alongside her work as a teaching professional. It's a dual path that few manage, but one that gave Weiss a rare depth of perspective: she knows what it means to compete under pressure and what it takes to help others improve.

Patient, Calm, Considered

Ask Florence to describe her teaching style and the answer comes in three words: patient, calm, considered. It's an approach rooted in empathy. For her, the most important thing is to meet students where they are — to understand their level, their goals and their limitations before jumping into technical corrections.

Rather than overwhelming a student with information from the start, she focuses on building understanding step by step. It's a philosophy shaped not only by her training but by her own experience as a player who had to find her way through different stages of the game.

A Mentor Who Left a Mark

Every golfer has someone who shaped their journey, and for Weiss that person is Christophe Bovet — her coach and mentor at Golf Club Vuissens during the early years of her career. Bovet, himself an accomplished player and coach, impressed her with both his swing and his calm demeanour. His quiet, composed approach to the game clearly left its mark: it echoes in the way Weiss teaches today.

Life Beyond the Course

When she's not on the golf course, Weiss is usually active with her family — her husband and son, whom she affectionately refers to as "my boys." Mountain biking, hiking, fitness training, skiing and snowboarding fill the seasons, along with time spent with friends. It's a life shaped by movement and the outdoors — the very things that once drew her away from the office and into golf.

Looking Ahead

Weiss sees the next chapter of her career as one of balance. In five years, she envisions teaching two days a week, continuing to lead golf travel experiences, and taking on a second small role to add variety to her routine. It's not a step back — it's a deliberate, thoughtful design for a life that blends golf, family and new challenges in equal measure.