Excellence by Design: Culture and Development with Eric Shoemaker

Описание: 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.
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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
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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
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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)