By Matt Keller, PGA Master Professional
Golf offers the unique opportunity to play and improve throughout your entire life. I was first influenced by this mentality while participating in a church tournament when I was 12 years old. An older gentleman, 81 at the time, shared with our group of juniors that he was 81 and shot his age. That moment stuck with me, and the idea of excelling at something throughout your life fascinated me.
It’s incredible to think about how Vijay Singh reached the peak of his career and became the #1 ranked player in the world at age 41. Tom Brady, considered one of the greatest NFL players and athletes of all time, retired at 45 – an anomaly in almost every sport where most players retire before their 40th birthday. These examples have shaped my perspective on longevity and excellence.
I turned professional in 1998 when I enrolled in the Penn State Professional Golf Management Program. Along the way, I’ve faced numerous setbacks, including clubs closing, job losses and several failed attempts at passing the Playing Ability Test (PAT). It wasn’t until my final opportunity that I passed it, and the same goes for my Golf Professional Training Program (GPTP) Level 3, which I passed at the second-to-last available checkpoint. Had I missed either of those chances, I would have been reset to Level 1, and who knows where I’d be today.
In 2019, the business I founded in 2017 was recognized by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) as a Top 50 Stand-Alone Facility. I was also honored by the GRAA as a Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2024, I earned PGA of America Master Professional status with a designation in Teaching and Coaching. Looking back to 1998, I never could have imagined the journey that would lead me to where I am today.
Golf is undoubtedly one of the most challenging sports, and I truly enjoy pinpointing problems and developing effective solutions. One of the lessons I teach my golfers is to develop process goals. If my goal is to shoot par, then if I hit a high number of greens in regulation, eliminate 3-putts and avoid double bogeys or worse, the score will essentially take care of itself.
I recently began working with a student who has had a shoulder replacement, a rotator cuff injury in the other shoulder, four hip replacements and a knee injury. This student will never hit the ball like a Tour player, but I’ve developed the skills to understand his limitations and help him turn a severe slice into a controlled, repeatable shot. While others may dream of turning pro, playing in college or winning a club championship, this student simply wants to enjoy the game, hit respectable shots and play with his wife. I’m proud to be part of his journey and to help him enjoy the game more. If I make a personal commitment to get better everyday, then I will have the opportunity to help more people improve and enjoy the game more.
While the awards are gratifying, what truly matters is the confirmation of our commitment to providing exceptional golf experiences for our golfers and customers. There is never a moment of complacency. My journey is far from over, and I’m excited to see where I’ll be in three, five or even 20 years. We often set limiting beliefs for ourselves, but when we eliminate those barriers, we become unstoppable in pursuit of our goals. None of this would be possible without the dedicated team who shares my same mission and my family, including my parents, wife and son.
Matt Keller is a PGA of America Master Professional and the owner of White Rose Golf & Training Center, with three location in York, Lancaster and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is a four-time GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and his facilities have been recognized as GRAA Top 50 Stand-Alone Facilities.
