Matthew Montecucco

Please indicate past awards won/recognitions:
Other (Indicate specific awards below in 3-a)

Other awards won:
2023 National #GameChanger Coach Award | 2023 National Top 25 Largest Program Award | 2022 WW Chapter Youth Player Development Award

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 219
Female: 100
Junior: 281

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
346

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, Chambers Bay has actively launched and expanded several Growth of the Game initiatives designed to bring new players into the sport and make golf accessible, enjoyable, and a family activity. Our flagship programs include PGA Family Golf and the newly developed PGA Professional Family Golf events.

PGA Family Golf is an all-ages event series that encourages kids and their families to play together in a relaxed and friendly competition format. This year, we hosted 15 of these events, culminating in our Winter Freeze championship, which is scheduled just before Christmas. Each event follows a scramble format with teams of 2-4 players, including four contests per event for Closest to the Pin (2) and Long Drive (2), which add points to our Family Cup standings. Teams accumulate points throughout the season, and those with the most points earn free entry into the Winter Freeze, reinforcing engagement and encouraging friendly family competition.

We also introduced PGA Professional Family Golf, which specifically brings together PGA professionals with their families in team events. This new initiative is geared toward fostering family bonding within the professional community, promoting inter-generational learning, and demonstrating that golf can be a shared experience for all ages. Both programs serve as cornerstone events for Chambers Bay and have been embraced by families and players of all skill levels, growing our golf community and inspiring new players to get involved.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
To keep students and families engaged year-round, I’ve developed a range of programs catering to diverse interests and skill levels at Chambers Bay. As the Lead Coach of the PGA Junior League, PGA Family Golf, and Junior Stroke Play Series, I take immense pride in overseeing programs that have grown into some of the largest and most engaging in our region, creating a supportive, inclusive, and fun environment for our community.

Our PGA Junior League is our flagship youth engagement program and has expanded significantly under my direction. We’ve grown from 190 participants in 2023 to 308 in 2024, making us the 10th largest program in the Nation. This growth reflects the vibrant, competitive, and family-friendly atmosphere I’ve worked to create. I led the restructuring of the league to offer Spring and Fall recreational sessions and a competitive Summer All-Star season, meeting the diverse needs of our players.

Our PGA Family Golf program is a cornerstone of our community, now the largest in our Chapter with 16 events this year. I designed each event to bring families together for fun and low-pressure team play, with formats like scrambles, closest-to-the-pin contests, and long-drive challenges. This program’s season culminates in the Winter Freeze championship, creating excitement and engagement all year. My role as Lead Coach lets me ensure each event is both enjoyable and educational, keeping families coming back and building positive memories together on the course. Each event has awards and medals to mark the occasion for those families that want to participate in the competitive division.

I also introduced PGA Professional Family Golf, which specifically brings together PGA professionals with their families in team events. This new initiative is geared toward fostering family bonding within the professional community, promoting inter-generational learning, and demonstrating that golf can be a shared experience for all ages. This is something that hasn’t been done before in my PGA Chapter and Section and I want to change that.

Additionally, I launched the Junior Stroke Play Series, an 8-round series offering young golfers a structured, competitive format. This series provides a pathway for players to work toward personal goals and recognition, with top performers awarded points each round and the opportunity to qualify for a junior championship. By offering competitive and recreational options, we support a broad spectrum of players and provide a consistent, year-round experience that fosters growth, dedication, and a passion for the game.

Through these programs, we have created a close-knit and engaged community, and I’m proud to be the driving force behind their success, personally ensuring that each initiative meets the needs of our players and families.