To learn more about how PGA of America Golf Professionals are making the most of mentoring, PGA Magazine talked with leaders who are helping nurture the next generation. Here’s what they had to say about the role mentoring plays in their careers.
Director of Golf,Plainfield Country Club,Edison, New Jersey
When it comes to mentoring, the writing is on the wall at New Jersey’s Plainfield Country Club. Literally. That’s where the Alumni Wall holds the name of the 20-plus former club professionals who have gone on to jobs elsewhere as golf industry professionals under the tutelage of the club’s longtime PGA of America Director of Golf, Scott Paris.
“The Alumni Wall keeps growing,” says Paris, the 2025 PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year. “It includes head professionals, teaching professionals, superintendents, general managers, executive chefs, accountants, sales executives and others who used Plainfield Country Club (PCC) as a springboard for their careers. PCC is a better place for their contributions, and I’ve learned tremendously from them.
“We are only as good as our team, so we make their development and work experience a priority.”
In his 28 years at Plainfield, Paris has evolved his mentoring style to be formal and hands-on. It starts with an honest conversation with new golf staff members and continues through a variety of learning experiences.
“I look our team members in the eye and ask them who they want to be, where they want to go and what we can do to help,” Paris says. “For those who engage, we’ll help them map out a plan to accomplish their goals. That might include candid feedback about specific skills, like their golf game or public speaking ability, and it could lead to engaging with members or experts outside of the club.
“This creates a culture where we can be candid and respective with each other, and it makes each team member – and the club itself – better as a result.”
Paris also believes in giving his younger staff members increasing levels of responsibility, but not without guidance and accountability. For example, an assistant professional may want to handle pre-tournament announcements as a way of raising their profile with members and guests. Paris will discuss the announcements with the assistant, going over what they need to accomplish before rehearsing and taking video of a practice session to review.
Paris is also involved with the New Jersey PGA Section’s new mentoring program, developed by David Reasoner, the longtime PGA of America Head Professional at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus. The program matches experienced PGA of America Members with newer members looking for guidance in specific areas of the golf business.
“David has made this program a huge priority, and it’s off to a great start,” Paris says. “Last year I was paired with a mentee who was interested in getting a job at a bigger facility, and with a bigger role than he’d had in previous positions. We had a number of phone calls and meetings, and he got the job he wanted. I’d like to think I was helpful in the process.
“If the phone rings and a PGA of America Golf Professional wants to chat about their career and goals, I answer it and enjoy it.”
And for mentors like Paris, working with younger golf professionals is its own form of lifelong learning.
“One thing I know is that I don’t know it all,” Paris says. “I learn from my mentees every day, every week. I’ve gotten much better at how my messages are delivered and how they land thanks to their feedback, and gotten much better at using technology, as well. Plus, understanding what drives a younger generation helps me better understand our younger staff and members, too. It’s not my golf operation, it’s our golf operation, and it all works better when their ideas are part of the process.”