Meet The Pro – Scott Chambers -Webster Golf Club

Meet the Pro with Go Golf U.S.
Seeing as this is our FIRST edition of the “Meet the Pro” section of our blog, we’ll take a few minutes to explain it. As a goal of Go Golf U.S. is to build a personal connection in the game of golf again, we want to help players get to know the courses, golf shop staff and pros. When we see familiar faces and can add a gracious smile and hello it makes a better experience for all. To gather content for these blogs, I (Alan Liwush) put the pros on the hot seat in an interview to dig down into WHY they got started in the golf business, what they are passionate about, some tips/tricks for readers on the course and some fun questions to get to know their personalities. Stay tuned as we will be featuring your courses pro at some point!
Scott Chambers of Webster Golf Course
Many of you have probably been into Webster Golf Club before and seen an 80 pound blue pit sitting on a bar stool with his head on the bar waiting for a pet on the head (This is not a figment of your imagination or because you had that 5th beer on the front 9). This beauty of a dog is “Vegas” (Scott”s only son and fur baby). The fun loving personality of Scott’s dog comes directly from him. For those who don’t know Scott and his story, it’s a real treat and we will dig in below. Side note, before we get started, be sure to give Vegas a pet when you see him. He is harmless and a big baby! (Vegas shown below)
Background
Scott got into golf like many of us, with a love for the game derived from a passion of his father. Not getting into golf “early” in life, Scott focused much of his younger years on other sports which in turn helped his athletic abilities for golf. Growing up in Webster, NY (Where life is worth living), the course was a big part of his early career in golf. Just after 9th grade, Scott decided to join the golf team and WGC would be his home course. Soon after that, Scott began working at WGC in ’98 as a dishwasher in his Sophomore year of high school and would spend COUNTLESS Spring/Summer/Fall days at the course between practice and work.
After high school, Scott continued his golf journey at Clemson University in the PGA Golf Management school. (GO TIGERS). With Golf Management as a major, he decided to minor in business. His favorite part about the school and the PGA program was in fact not golf at all, but the football games. I have to say I agree with him, it doesn’t get much better than ACC football! During his time at Clemson, he took a Summer internship at the Country Club of Rochester and then at Wade Hampton Golf Club (sister club of Augusta National) in Cashiers, NC in 2003/2004 respectfully. After returning home and continuing to work at WGC, Scott had the opportunity to become head pro/director of golf in 2007. Talk about a true come up story from the bottom to the top, Scott has now been at the course for 17 years to be in the position he is today from starting as a dishwasher.
One question you will hear in many of these interviews moving forward is, “Why golf”?. Scott’s response to this question was, “I love the individualistic aspect, discipline and life skills that come along with it. I grew up playing team sports and loved the comradery, but I liked having no one else to blame but myself with golf. The part I love about the game the most is that it is different EVERY time you step on the course. You can play the same course two days in a row and never hit the same exact shot and mother nature’s conditions will always be different. Finally, I love the self policing aspect of the game, not many other sports does the other player get to be the judge and player.”
PHOTO ABOVE IS OF SCOTT WITH MEMBERS AT PINEHURST.
Rapid Fire Questions and Answers
Q: What’s one thing you offer in your golf shop that you think EVERY golfer needs – has to be $99 and under.
A: “Every golfer needs everything in my golf shop.” This of course was a joke as many of you know that the pros run the golf shop merchandise business. His real answer was simple, “A divot repair tool, ANY divot repair tool.” The reason why, because “NO ONE fixes there ball marks on the green.” He then informed us that not only do they need the tool, but the knowledge on how to properly fix the ball mark is crucial as well. After hearing that, I decided to add this video for better instruction below. This video is SUPER old and you may be seeing an updated one soon by Go Golf U.S.
Scott’s concern was that, “Most people don’t know when on they are on the green as in if they actually hit a green in regulation and leave a ball mark, which many don’t. But when you do, you don’t go to your ball first, you go to where your ball hit and fix the mark. It’s not just an epidemic at public courses, I have been to plenty private courses that are bad and it’s just out of laziness and it effects EVERYONE.” Issues listed when people do repair them, are they get too aggressive and they get in and pull up and pull up dirt, the whole goal is to leave it as the ball hit before. (see the video above for more details on proper form.
Q: Name 3 things you need in the golf bag – CANNOT be a club.
A: 1. Koozie – “Because golf isn’t golf without a cold beer and laughs” Scott’s recommendation is the Yeti Vacuum Insulated Rambler Colster shown below. “Keeps beers super cold. Have to have a can on the course. Glass is a sin unless in the club house.”
2. Torch Lighter – “Always have to be prepared for a cigar, especially when playing with Mike Maynard” Scott’s recommendation is the Bugatti Windproof Double Flame Lighter (shown below), as it is a “good lasting brand and holds up well against the wind.”
3. Speaker – “Not to be used in every round, but it’s nice to have when you are having a relaxing match with the boys.” Scott’s Recommendation is Beats Pill by Beats for the “great sound quality and long lasting battery.’
Q: What are your views on technology and golf? Two meanings, equipment and mobile/electronic based.
A: In regards to equipment, Scott’s responded with “engineers are engineers. The USGA can change rules as much as they want but they are going to find a way to out develop the rules. There has been a lot of talk about going to one ball and the ball being the technology that stays the same. A lot of it has to do with merchandising, promo and marketing that companies do.”
I’m on staff with Taylormade and they say every time I pick up a new driver, I should add another 10-15 yards. If that were the case, by now I should be hitting it 450 yards, and I’m not, so I don’t get into all the hype
Scott Chambers