Billy Sampson

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
PGA Section Teacher of the Year, GRAA Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Golf Digest Best in State

Other awards won (if provided):
Awarded East Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame – 2024 Awarded Low Country Golf Hall of Fame – 2023 Awarded Top 100 Growth of the Game coaches PGA Magazine – 2019 – 2024 Awarded Carolinas PGA Teacher of the year – 2016 Awarded HHIPGA Teacher of the year – 2015 Elizabethton High School Hall of Fame – 2013 Named Titleist Difference Maker – 2016 Awarded Carolinas PGA Golf Professional of the year – 2011 Ranked #8 Teacher for South Carolina by Golf Digest – 2011 Named TPI national instructor of the week Dec. – 2010 Awarded Carolinas PGA Presidents Plaque – 2010 Awarded HHIPGA Golf Professional of the Year – 2007, 2010 & 2013 Awarded Carolinas PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award – 2007 Ranked #2 teacher in South Carolina by Golf Digest – 2007, 2008 & 2009 Leadership Advisory Staff Titleist -1996 – Present

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 575
Female: 650
Junior: 180

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
36

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
Over the past year, Old Tabby Links has continued to expand its commitment to player development and the growth of the game through a variety of programs designed to engage members, juniors, and new golfers.
The Old Tabby Performance Center has seen a steady increase in lessons each month since its opening. We have continued staff training with advanced technology including TrackMan, Smart2Move, and Mach 3, elevating the instructional experience for all skill levels.
We’ve enhanced our Performance Center Fitness Bay, adding comfort features and expanding our fitness and performance team to include a licensed Physical Therapist. Our entire instructional team is TPI Certified, and I am TPI Level 3, allowing us to provide TPI evaluations and personalized golf fitness programs. This integrated approach connects instruction, performance, and wellness—helping players move better, play better, and enjoy the game longer.
We’ve increased club and putter fittings by over 60% this summer compared to 2024, helping players enjoy the game through properly fitted equipment. Despite frequent rainfall, we only canceled six lessons, maintaining consistent engagement and learning opportunities for our members.
Our team continues to host junior development sessions, ladies’ clinics, and new member orientation programs to help all players feel welcome and confident. We’ve expanded on-course playing lessons and introduced short-game challenge sessions, which have become very popular among players of all abilities.
A highlight this year was welcoming guest instructors Jennifer Hudson and Mike Shannon to Old Tabby Links. Their sessions on putting, performance, and player development brought world-class expertise to our members and staff, reinforcing our culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
A particularly meaningful part of our Growth of the Game initiative has been our work with adaptive golfers—including individuals with Parkinson’s disease and a young double amputee golfer who recently won her division in the USGA adaptive open. Through customized coaching, adaptive equipment, and collaboration with medical and family support networks, we’ve helped these players develop the confidence and ability to play the game they love. This has inspired others to see golf as truly inclusive and adaptable for everyone.
Beyond the facility, I have continued to support the Folds of Honor Golf Marathon, which has now raised over $1.5 million, helping to grow awareness of golf’s power to make a difference beyond the course.
These collective efforts have strengthened our golf culture at Old Tabby Links, making the game more enjoyable, inclusive, and engaging for every member of our community.
From a business perspective, these programs have directly contributed to the continued growth in lesson revenue, club fittings, and student retention. Fittings have increased by over 60% year-over-year, and lesson participation continues to rise monthly. By connecting performance improvement with wellness, equipment, and community purpose, we have built a model that not only grows the game but sustains long-term engagement and financial health for the facility.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
Over the past year, Old Tabby Links has continued to build a vibrant, year-round learning environment through a variety of programs designed to keep golfers of all skill levels active, inspired, and connected to the game.

Performance Center Development: Continued growth in lessons and fittings utilizing TrackMan and Smart2Move technology. Students set measurable goals and receive follow-up video analysis to track progress and stay motivated.
Ladies’ and Men’s Programs: Expanded small-group instruction focused on short game, on-course strategy, and confidence-building in a fun, social setting.
Monthly Skills Challenges: Introduced interactive contests and short-game competitions to keep learning fresh and engaging throughout the year.
Junior Golf Programs: Seasonal clinics and summer camps emphasize fun, teamwork, and skill progression. Juniors are encouraged to compete in local and state events, with their achievements recognized and celebrated at the club.
Player Support & Accessibility: Offered free post-fitting tune-ups and club checks to ensure players continue improving. Donated golf clubs to the First Tee and provided free lessons to juniors who could not otherwise afford instruction—helping to make golf more accessible for all.
Adaptive Golf Coaching: Continued work with golfers facing physical challenges—including Parkinson’s patients and a double amputee college golfer—demonstrating the inclusive and transformative power of the game.
Community Engagement: The annual Folds of Honor Golf Marathon unites members, students, and staff to support military families while celebrating the spirit of giving through golf.
These initiatives have strengthened student commitment, increased lesson participation, and built a strong culture of learning, inclusion, and community at Old Tabby Links.