Chelsea Soda

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
Golf Digest Best Young Teachers in America 2025-26

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 275
Female: 200
Junior: 200

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
90

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
Some initiatives our facility incorporated this year was the implementation of PGA Jr League, and custom group programs. PGA Jr League was by far the most energizing program we introduced in the last several years. There was a new buzz in the air surrounding junior golf this summer, especially from younger kids who participated in Operation36. Since this was the first year of PGA Jr League, I invited 16 kids to join the team, ranging in ages 9-13. The Operation36 kids would see the PGA team wearing their jerseys and doing practices and drills and got really interested in how they could join the team in the future. The PGA Jr League participants also got some experience with competition golf, and 13 out of 16 team members ended up registering for tournaments outside of Echo Valley for the first time. The dynamic of our junior program has completely shifted, and all the kids now have goals to work towards and a solid program to progress through at Echo Valley Country Club. Revenue for our junior golf programs increased by 22% from 2023 to 2024, and increased 50% from 2022 without increasing prices.

Another opportunity I offered this year was custom group classes. It seemed as though groups of friends were more interested in learning golf together, rather than signing up as individuals for group programs. I had a package that I offered to custom groups, for a 4-week series, meeting for 60 minutes each week. The first class was putting and chipping, the second class was pitching and irons, the third class was driving and specialty shots, the last class was on the golf course. This was great for all experience levels, and allowed participants to gain confidence to play golf. The majority of classes were to groups of female friends.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
I am fortunate to have an indoor studio to teach in during the winter months in the Midwest, this allows me to continue programming for students all year round. In the studio we have 2 Uneekor simulators, a GC Quad bay, and a putting surface. I have released 2 winter sessions for Operation36, PGA Jr League, and High School Competitive Program. In January I will incorporate a speed and fitness program for members using a combination of BodiTrak, Stack System, Mach3 Speed Training tools, Golf Forever, and TPI.

In the studio I run a “wedge challenge” and have a whiteboard where I have split up age divisions and gender (Juniors under 12, 13-16, 17+, over 60), they’re all competing for a “prize pack” from Callaway. The person with the highest score by the course’s opening day will win the package. This was a big hit last winter, and I would often have students ask me if they could come in to just practice and work on improving their wedge score.

During the summer I have a newsletter where I highlight student accomplishments, ranging from shooting their best Operation36 score, to making it into the final 32 for the US Amateur Matchplay. This has been great for the students, and also it lets people know that there are different pathways for success.

In addition to being the Director of Instruction and Player Development at Echo Valley Country Club, I also teach golf clinics for the Waukee Park District where I am able to impact over 160 kids throughout the year. These clinics allow me to teach and share love and excitement for the game of golf to kids and families who may not be able to join a private club. I’m very passionate about growing the game of golf in my community.