Excellence by Design: Culture and Development with Eric Shoemaker скачать в хорошем качестве

Excellence by Design: Culture and Development with Eric Shoemaker

Book a Strategy Call: https://www.bloomgolfpartners.com/boo... Summary In this episode of Leadership on the Links, Tyler Bloom is joined by Eric Shoemaker, Director of Golf Course and Grounds at Wade Hampton, for a deep conversation on intentional leadership, culture building, and professional development in golf course management. Eric reflects on a nearly 40-year career that began with summer work at Linville Golf Club and evolved through formative experiences at Penn State, Augusta National, and alongside influential mentors like Marsh Benson. Throughout the episode, Eric shares how those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy—one rooted in trust, standards, presence, and people-first decision-making. The conversation explores how Eric has intentionally built a high-performing team culture at Wade Hampton by empowering assistants, creating space for open dialogue, and prioritizing professional development. From daily “bullpen” meetings and manager-of-the-week rotations to leadership value exercises and mentorship through members, Eric outlines practical systems that help young turf professionals grow into confident leaders. Beyond operations and agronomy, this episode offers a candid look at the human side of leadership—handling mistakes, managing pressure, building credibility, and developing the next generation while maintaining perspective, humility, and balance. ________________________________________ What You’ll Learn • How Eric Shoemaker’s early exposure to agriculture and golf shaped his passion for turf and people leadership • Why mentorship from leaders like Marsh Benson and Monty Melton had a lasting impact on Eric’s leadership style • How to create a culture of trust, accountability, and open communication within a golf course maintenance team • Why setting standards—not perfection—helps teams learn, recover from mistakes, and grow • Practical ways to develop assistant superintendents through responsibility, discomfort, and ownership • How daily huddles, manager-of-the-week programs, and value-based leadership tools strengthen team engagement • Why professional development must be intentional—and how investing in people pays long-term dividends • How Eric balances operational excellence with mentorship, patience, and long-term career development ________________________________________ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Eric Shoemaker and leadership philosophy 01:35 – Eric’s career beginnings and early influences in golf course management 04:10 – Discovering turf as a long-term career and developing passion for people 06:10 – Agriculture, family influence, and the next generation in turf 08:25 – Penn State, influential professors, and formative education 10:00 – Learning to think critically and challenge assistants to grow 11:40 – Trust, ownership, and empowering assistants to make decisions 13:20 – Competitive mindset, leadership maturity, and learning from mistakes 15:45 – Lessons from mentor Marsh Benson and thoughtful leadership 18:00 – Relationship-building as the foundation of successful leadership 19:45 – Professional development initiatives at Wade Hampton 21:15 – Leadership value exercises and understanding what motivates team members 23:10 – Manager-of-the-week programs and daily bullpen meetings 25:30 – Creating a safe environment for accountability and learning 29:50 – Building a diverse, high-performing assistant team 33:55 – What interns and young professionals can expect at Wade Hampton 37:50 – Preparing assistants for the next step in their careers 41:10 – The importance of investing in people and culture 45:20 – Chip shots: favorite foursome, courses, and halfway house food 47:30 – Leadership book recommendations 48:25 – Where to find and connect with Eric Shoemaker 50:00 – Closing thoughts and reflections on leadership ________________________________________ Links Mentioned Bloom Golf Partners Website: https://www.bloomgolfpartners.com Book a Strategy Call: https://www.bloomgolfpartners.com/boo... Eric Shoemaker – Director of Golf Course & Grounds, Wade Hampton (Referenced throughout episode and at closing)