Scott Wilson’s Love for Teaching Youth in Traverse City Garners Awards and Personal Satisfaction
Note: story originally published in the GAM Michigan Links Magazine
By John Retzer
Scott Wilson is helping to turn Traverse City — the Cherry Capital of the World — into Michigan’s Junior Golf Capital.
As a PGA professional at Bay Meadows Family Golf Course in Traverse City, Wilson has dedicated his career to youth golf.
“We try to introduce the game of golf to as many kids as we possibly can through a variety of different programs based on age and ability levels to make them comfortable playing the game,” Wilson says.
The youngest kids — the “Little Juniors,” ages 5 to 8 — assemble a few times a month to get acclimated to the golf course while playing with plastic clubs and tennis balls.
“We get them out there to introduce them to what a golf course looks like and how it can be fun; we have a lot of parent interaction with that program,” Wilson says. “From there, if they’re interested, we have summer and fall camps.”
Wilson also has pushed golf into Traverse City area public schools. “Traverse City is a great golf community. We have a ton of help and support from the community, and it really shows with how we have been able to grow the game,” Wilson says.
As Wilson’s players progress, they are encouraged to join league play. After that, players can advance into tournament play with the Traverse City Junior Golf Association.
“We have events here in Traverse City all summer long so they can get playing experience and hopefully be ready for high school golf. They will have valuable experience and good fundamentals and from there hopefully will go all the way through high school golf and into college,” Wilson says.
Over the years, Wilson’s charges have earned nine Michigan High School Athletic Association state individual medals; 32 All-State honors; and the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Miss Golf awards. Dozens of his players have gone on to collegiate programs.
Still, Wilson says, it is really about growing the game.
“Our mission statement is to inspire a lifelong love for the game one shot at a time,” he says.
Wilson’s efforts have garnered national attention. In 2019, he was awarded the PGA of America’s Youth Player Development Award for “extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of youth player development.”
The national award was the capstone to a score of others, including multiple Michigan Section and Northern Michigan PGA Youth Player Development Awards. Wilson also has been recognized four times on the Golf Digest “Best Teachers in Your State” list.
A golf lifer, Wilson learned to play as a kid at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck. During the summer, Wilson says, “I pretty much spent all day at the course.”
Golf also gave Wilson his first job.
“When I got old enough, I started picking range balls,” Wilson says. “Then I got a little older and started washing carts and doing backroom stuff. I continued to play golf and compete in tournaments, and by the time I was in high school, they moved me into the golf shop.”
Wilson graduated from Ferris State University and went right to work as a golf professional.
“I sold shoes at J.C. Penney for a couple of winters on the weekends when I was at Ferris, and it is the only job I have had outside of golf. But that is also where I met my wife, so it worked out pretty well.”
After more than 20 years as director of instruction at Crystal Mountain resort, Wilson moved to Bay Meadows Family Golf Course. He has been there since 2016.
Bay Meadows is five minutes from downtown Traverse City. Owned by longtime PGA professional Mike Husby, the facility offers a nine-hole regulation course, a nine-hole par 3, a driving range, and practice areas. It also is home to the Bay Meadows Learning Center.
