Timo was considered one of Finland’s most promising junior players in the early 1990s.
However, as a national team player, he discovered a growing interest in coaching. His coaching career began with numerous domestic training programs, but he also sought expertise from top professionals worldwide, including Chuck Cook (#2 Golf Digest) and Europe’s putting guru, Harold Swash. He graduated as a PGA coach at the age of 22 and was immediately appointed as the National Junior Team Coach.

From that point on, he has played a key role in the development of Finnish golf.
Timo was one of the first coaches of the age-group national teams and led Finland to its first major championship medal in 1998 — a bronze in the Under-21 European Championships. Building on the same team, Finland placed fifth in the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship in Chile.

In 2000, the Finnish Golf Union hired Timo as the full-time Head Coach for Youth.
The girls’ team earned a European Championship bronze, completing a full sweep — Finland had now won medals in every category, from juniors to adults.

After thirteen years with the same organization, it was time for a new challenge.
The head coaching position in Guatemala offered exactly that. During his one-and-a-half-year tenure, Guatemala won the Central American Championship in every possible category, and the professional team qualified for the World Cup in China.

Due to the country’s unstable situation, Timo decided to return to Europe. A few weeks later, his student, Riikka Hakkarainen, claimed her first victory on the Ladies European Tour.

After a few years working as a club coach, his passion drew him back to competitive golf.
In 2011, Timo took on the role of Head Coach for Switzerland, facing new challenges. The men’s team won silver at the European Championships in his very first year, followed by success with the girls’ and women’s teams.

His four-year stint in Switzerland proved that the coaching system in place was one of the best in Europe.

In 2020, Sami Välimäki achieved his first European Tour victory in just his fifth start.
Sami was named Rookie of the Year on the tour. He became the second player coached by Timo to go from junior golf all the way to a tour victory.

Timo’s coaching philosophy is based on individualized goal setting. As a coach, he creates personalized training programs to maximize each player’s unique playing style. He utilizes the latest technology and statistical methods in his coaching approach.

Timo was named Coach of the Year in Finland in both 2019 and 2020.