By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Bill Scott has amassed a list of awards and accolades that are proof to the industry of his accomplishments and expertise. For his students, however, the proof is in the pudding. After more than two decades at Don Law Golf Academy, Scott, a Quarter Century PGA of America Member, has helped golfers play better and have more fun doing it.
Scott is a long-time Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and has been an elite member of that list for three years running. I spoke with him recently, as he took a few minutes from his busy teaching schedule, and we discussed his background in the game, his role at Don Law Golf Academy and what the future might hold for him in golf. Here’s this month’s edition of Five Questions…with Bill Scott, PGA.
Golf Range Magazine: When and where did you get your start in golf? How old were you and who got you into the game?
Scott: I grew up in Northern Virginia and have been playing golf since the age of nine, when my older brother, Danny, first took me to play at our local golf course. I played most of my junior golf at Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, Virginia and participated in their summer camps throughout my youth. Although I played Little League Baseball at a very young age, it was all about golf from the age of 10, and by 14 or 15, I was hooked. However, the majority of my competitive play wouldn’t come until high school.
Golf Range Magazine: Please tell me about playing in high school and when you knew you wanted to be a PGA of America Golf Professional.
Scott: I played four years of high school golf and turned pro at 18 years old, playing Middle Atlantic PGA Section tournaments. I knew I wanted to be a PGA of America Golf Professional later in my high school years and got started in the industry working in the bag room at Mount Vernon Country Club and eventually became an assistant professional in the pro shop while in the PGA’s apprentice program. I saw the business of golf through the PGA of America Golf Professionals working at our facility and learned a lot from Pete Van Pelt, now a PGA of America Life Member.
Golf Range Magazine: What’s trending in your programming and instruction at Don Law Golf Academy?
Scott: Don Law Golf Academy offers adult and junior programming, with the highest trending programming being our High Performance Academy (for elite tournament-playing juniors), which is not only reaching juniors and teen golfers in South Florida but also around the United States and the world.
As the PGA of America Director of Instruction, I teach in our High Performance Academy, Get Golf Ready and PGA Jr. League programs. My student roster includes juniors, adults and senior golfers, players of all abilities and experience.
Golf Range Magazine: What is your favorite part of the game of golf? The business of golf?
Scott: My favorite aspect of the game AND business of golf are the friends that you meet through playing, and in my case teaching the game. Relationships and communication in golf are as vital to professional career advancement as they are to the enjoyment recreational golfers have every time they hit the links.
Golf Range Magazine: What does the future hold in golf for you? What’s on the horizon in teaching and mentorship as a proven leader in golf coaching and instruction?
Scott: The future of golf for me is continuing to grow my independent online teaching programming. This is a program I started in the winter of 2019, even before COVID-19, as a goal at the annual Teacher of the Year conference. With the changes we did see through the pandemic, this has continued to grow. I would love to start offering an online coaching video series with memberships.
