Scott Shapin, PGA,Director of Instruction,Pine Lake Country Club,Orchard Lake, Michigan
When a golf course closes for renovation, it can feel like a disruption to member routines and engagement. At Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake, Michigan, PGA of America Director of Instruction Scott Shapin saw it differently – as an opportunity.
With the club’s course undergoing a full renovation from the summer of 2023 through summer 2024, Shapin leaned into travel as a way to keep members connected to the game and each other.
“A year without a golf course is actually a great chance for members to try new places,” Shapin says. “You can turn it into something really positive.”
Planning was without doubt the key. With as much as 18 months of lead time required for some trips, Shapin built a full calendar of travel experiences designed to engage every segment of the membership. In total, he organized six trips in 2023, with additional outings extending into 2024 and 2025 – including dedicated experiences for couples, women and men.
“One of the most rewarding examples was a women’s trip to Arcadia (Michigan) Bluffs Golf Club,” Shapin notes. “Many of those players had just started in our 3-holers program a year or two earlier. They moved into a 9-hole league, and then they were going on a three-day golf trip together.”
That kind of progression highlights a larger truth: Travel can be a powerful extension of player development, he adds. It creates shared experiences, builds confidence and deepens relationships.
The business impact follows naturally. Members prepare for travel by investing in lessons, apparel and equipment, creating a ripple effect across the entire operation. “It’s not just the trip itself,” Shapin says. “It’s everything that leads up to it and everything that comes after.”
The post-trip momentum is real. Shapin explains that participants immediately begin asking about the next destination, while those who did not attend look for ways to get involved. That demand creates a cycle of engagement that has greatly benefited Pine Lake Country Club.
For PGA of America Professionals facing similar renovation windows – or simply looking to expand their programming – the takeaway is clear: Downtime doesn’t have to mean disengagement.
