Shawn Cox, the 2018 PGA Southern California Section Golf Professional of the Year, the Section’s 2016 Horton Smith Award Recipient, and a Past President of the Section’s San Diego Chapter, is the PGA Director of Golf at the Grand Golf Club at The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, in San Diego, California.

Shawn Cox on the importance of hosting a podcast:
As leaders and “the experts” in the game of golf, it is important for us to display our expertise, make a name for ourselves, and continue to grow the game, in new and innovative ways. In the San Diego area, we are a tight-knit golf community, home to some of the most well-known names in golf equipment manufacturing and sales, and also to several PGA Tour Professionals. At the Grand Golf Club, we might see Phil Mickelson on the course one day and welcome John Rahm out there the next – and teaching Taylor Made CEO, David Abeles’ son in our youth golf program is another example of what golf means in our area. With one of the premier events on the PGA Tour schedule played at Torrey Pines each January, we have become a destination for golfers from around the world. On a daily basis, our course is busy and practice area bustling with activity. To keep up with the love of golf that fills our facility, I have partnered with Peter Ripa, the Farmers Insurance Open Tournament Director, on a new golf podcast. With several episodes under our belts, we have discussed such topics as the move of PGA of America headquarters, the PGA Merchandise Show, the resurgence of Taylor Made as a major player in golf clubs AND now balls as well, and of course The Match between Tiger and Phil. We are not controversial or loud. We discuss these topics and others within the business of golf. We have guests like the aforementioned CEO of Taylor Made Golf, as well as the swing coach for recent Sentry Tournament of Champions winner, Xander Schauffele, his father. It’s a great advantage to have access to such high-level PGA Tour Professionals, as well as executives from companies such as Callaway, Taylor Made, Adidas, Cobra, and even Titleist, which has a western hub in the San Diego area as well. We discuss how they’re growing their businesses, as well as their effect on the game of golf.

Shawn Cox on the business impact of hosting a podcast:
Many of our local members have provided some wonderfully-positive feedback about our podcast. They love the topics, the tone, and the team we’ve put together. Interviewing industry leaders and conversing with Peter each show has helped hone my public speaking skills. Having recently been honored with our section’s Golf Professional of the Year award, I was more comfortable giving my acceptance speech, speaking from the heart without my next line necessarily prescribed in my head. This form of communication flows better, providing a more professional discourse. And as we all know, verbal communication in our business is vital to being an effective golf professional. The podcast, which is called Golf Biz Straight Talk with Peter & Shawn, is a new way for me to not only display my knowledge and expertise, but to get my name out there for members to share with friends, and for potential resort guests to discover online, providing another reason why they should stay with us at The Fairmont Grand Del Mar.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email Shawn.Cox@fairmont.com