LPGA Professionals member recognized for embodying the spirit of Nancy Lopez
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 2, 2025) The LPGA Professionals proudly announce Karen Palacios-Jansen, LPGA Master Teaching Professional, as the 2025 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award recipient.
Established in 2007, the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award recognizes an LPGA Professional who exemplifies leadership, passion, generosity, and approachability; values that define the legacy of Nancy Lopez, a 48-time LPGA Tour winner, 9-time major champion, and World Golf Hall of Fame member.
Palacios-Jansen found her first role model in Lopez, whose Latina heritage and infectious smile resonated deeply. “Watching Nancy dominate the LPGA Tour made me believe I belonged in golf,” she stated. This connection fuels her mission to make golf inclusive, especially for underrepresented communities.
“Congratulations to Karen Jansen-Palacios, an inspiring leader whose passion for golf and fitness shines through her innovative Cardio Golf program,” expressed Nancy Lopez, LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member. “I am thrilled to see her honored for her remarkable contributions to the LPGA and her dedication to empowering her students.”
Over three decades, Palacios-Jansen has blended her passion for teaching, fitness, and mentorship to inspire golfers of all levels as Director of Instruction at CardioGolf, a golf-specific fitness system she developed to enhance swing mechanics, flexibility, and endurance. At her CardioGolf Groove Indoor Golf Studio in North Carolina, she leads 15 weekly group classes and 30 hours of individual lessons while engaging over 900 global members through her online platform.
A lifelong learner, Palacios-Jansen has earned certifications across numerous disciplines, complementing her Master’s Degree in Journalism from Columbia College. This expertise underpins CardioGolf and her transformative teaching, honed at prestigious institutions like the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Jim McLean Golf School, and Nick Faldo Golf Institute.
Palacios-Jansen champions young girls as a Site Director for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, an instructor for LPGA Leadership Academies, and a member of the Girls Golf Growth Committee. Her 2014 “Teaching Her” curriculum revolutionized women’s golf instruction, boosting participation and retention. She also co-developed a senior-specific fitness program to enhance mobility and well-being for older players.
Since becoming an LPGA Professionals member in 1994 and earning Master Professional status in 2016, Palacios-Jansen has earned accolades, including the 2008 LPGA Professionals National Teacher of the Year and Southeast Section Teacher of the Year. She was consistently named among Golf Digest’s “Top 50 Teachers” and “America’s 50 Best Women Teachers” from 1997 to 2013. In 2025, Golf Digest recognized her as the only LPGA Professional among America’s Top 50 Golf-Fitness Professionals.
A prolific writer, Palacios-Jansen has authored over 1,200 blog posts on CardioGolf.com, sold over 100,000 copies of her Golf Fitness book, and built a social media following exceeding 50,000 with 500,000+ video views. Her appearances on The Golf Channel and contributions to Golf Digest’s “Fitness Friday” column have cemented her industry influence.
Mirroring Lopez’s generosity, Palacios-Jansen has held leadership roles, including LPGA Professional National Vice President and LPGA Foundation Board Member (2016–2019), and is currently President of the LPGA Southeast Section. She has certified over 25 professionals in CardioGolf, offered free certifications to LPGA instructors during the pandemic, and is training to become a Lead Instructor for Level 1 Certification on the LPGA Global Education Team to help shape the next generation of LPGA Professionals.
Her approachable demeanor, echoing Lopez’s warmth, fosters connection. Whether teaching, mentoring, or speaking at conferences, she makes everyone feel valued and included.
Palacios-Jansen’s joins an elite group of women who have shaped golf’s future. Past recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award include Debbie O’Connell (2007), Troy Beck (2008), Patti Benson (2009), Lynn Stellman (2010), Malia Folquet (2011), Suzy Whaley (2012), Marvol Barnard (2013), Angela Aulenti (2014), Teresa Zamboni (2015), Donna White (2016), Sandy LaBauve (2017), Lynn Marriott (2018), Louise Ball (2019), Dana Rader (2020), Cindy Miller (2021), Tina Tombs (2022), Deb Vangellow (2023), and Sue Powers (2024).
The LPGA Professionals will honor Palacios-Jansen at a ceremony in Orlando during the 2026 PGA Show, celebrating her contributions and embodiment of Nancy Lopez’s enduring legacy. For more information about Karen Palacios-Jansen and CardioGolf, visit CardioGolf.com.
About the LPGA Professionals
The LPGA Professionals, the largest membership of women golf professionals in the world, are certified through a comprehensive curriculum designed to meet the dynamic needs of the golfing public and go on to serve as educators, business leaders, and game changers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone. Rising to nearly 1,900 members since its founding in 1959, LPGA Professionals are dedicated to the advancement of golf and serve throughout the industry in a variety of roles, such as supporting the LPGA’s various grassroots programs aimed at increasing women and youth engagement in golf. For more information, visit www.lpga.com/professionals.
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