Scott Shapin

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:
2011 Southwest PGA Assistant of the Year, 2017 Middle Atlantic PGA Assistant of the Year

Total number of individual lessons given per year:
Male: 550
Female: 550
Junior: 300

Total number of individual clinics given per year:
40

Please indicate any Growth of the Game initiatives your facility/academy has launched over the past year (please give specifics on such programs):
One of my most successful initiatives for growing the game has been our Ladies 3-Holer Beginner Golf Program. This program combines weekly clinics with three holes of on-course instruction, providing a welcoming, low-pressure introduction to the game. This was our biggest year yet, with 30 participants in session one, 40 in session two, and 52 unique participants overall. Beyond instruction, those 52 women generated a significant financial impact for the club, accounting for $65,000 in golf shop revenue ($76,000 including cart fees). The long-term goal is to graduate these women into our strong 9-hole league, further expanding the ladies’ program while lowering the barrier to entry for new golfers. Just as importantly, the program has fostered new friendships and stronger member connections, ensuring these women remain engaged, confident, and active participants in our golf community.

This year we added significantly more fitting days with product vendors to our schedule to enhance the fitting experience for our members. As a TaylorMade staffer I made it a priority to be at the fitting events with my students. The feed back we have received has been tremendous. Members appreciate having me there to work with them and the fitter when building their new set thus generating more sales during the fitting days. This year our TaylorMade club sales exceeded $100,000.

Please share any programming you have made to keep your customers & students engaged:
This season, my teaching program has had a significant and measurable impact on our facility’s overall success. I am on pace to deliver more than 1,400 lessons this year, providing consistent, personalized instruction that directly contributes to improved player performance and deeper member engagement. Every student in the club’s top 10 most improved handicaps has been part of my lesson program, demonstrating the effectiveness of my approach. In addition to private instruction, I’ve led over 40 hours of clinics, fostering skill development, camaraderie, and community among members.

One of my favorite programs I’ve created is Junior Compete, an off-season training initiative designed to bring together competitive middle and high school golfers in a fun, engaging, and developmental environment. Unlike traditional instruction that focuses primarily on swing mechanics, this program emphasizes game strategy, course management, decision-making, and continued skill development.
Junior Compete was designed to keep juniors connected to the game during the off-season while also challenging them to think critically about how they play. Through on-course scenarios, strategy sessions, and competitive practice formats, participants not only sharpen their skills but also develop a deeper understanding of how to manage their games under pressure. The results have been remarkable: 14 participants competed on varsity or JV high school golf teams this year, six qualified for their state high school championship, and one participant went on to play at the collegiate level this year, showcasing the program’s success in preparing players for competition. Additionally, the program’s impact extended beyond our facility. It directly led to a partnership with a local high school, where I now work with their team as part of their ongoing player development efforts.

Our member travel program continues to grow year over year. This year I lead trips to Manistee National, Grand Traverse Resort, and Scotland plus several travel pro-ams. Our trips are diverse, we host guys trips, ladies trips, and couples trips. Not only do these trips generate a significant impact to the travel industry but it also generates golf shop sales and lessons. Most of our travelers are students. I prioritize playing with as many different members as possible on the trips. Something that is unique to our program is we open our trips to the entire membership, it allows members from so many different friend groups to get to know each other and stay connected to the game and the club.

Travel Impact by Numbers
Manistee National guys trip: 19 participants, $13,300
Grand Traverse Resort ladies trip: 23 participants, $24,000
Scotland couples trip: 18 participants, $162,000
Two travel pro-ams: 7 participants, $23,100

**The numbers represented above were the base prices of the trip. This does not include airfare or additional spending while at these destinations.

Next year I already have trips planned to Omni PGA Frisco, Garland Resort, and the Greenbrier.

Last year I made it a priority to play more golf with members, I was able to continue this in 2025. Though travel, local pro-ams, and golf at the club I have played with nearly 50 different members.