In this episode, host Spencer Clouatre interviews James “JR” Pond, who shares his unique journey from serving as a head golf professional to becoming the program director for the Professional Golf Management degree at PennWest California. JR discusses the challenges and accomplishments of his diverse career, the importance of service, and his passion for mentoring the next generation of golf professionals. The conversation also delves into JR’s core values of service to others, family, and love, emphasizing the holistic benefits of the game of golf for physical and mental well-being.

Learn more about Donald Ross— https://donaldross.com/

Show Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:50 JR’s Early Life and Introduction to Golf
03:46 High School and College Golf Journey
06:21 Transition to Professional Life and Challenges
09:29 Academic Pursuits and Career Shift
26:32 Core Values and Guiding Principles
42:29 Embracing Failure in Player Development
43:33 Student Leadership and Renewed Excitement
45:24 Challenges of the PAT Exam
48:00 Teaching Mindfulness and Staying Present
52:52 Evolution of Golf Technology and AI
55:48 Balancing Work and Life in the Golf Industry
01:00:32 Building Effective Systems for Success
01:06:31 Core Values: Family and Love
01:11:35 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

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Link to Podcast Episode

The Player Development Leadership Council serves as the capstone leadership project within this portfolio. Its primary objective is to improve student performance on the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Playing Ability Test (PAT) while increasing engagement and motivation in player development activities. As project manager, I transitioned from a faculty-driven model to a student-led framework, granting the Leadership Council increased autonomy in designing programming. The initiative incorporates technology from TrackMan and Foresight GCQuad Max to provide data-informed insights into individual performance, enabling personalized development strategies. While a democratic and laissez-faire leadership style initially supported my goal of fostering autonomy and purpose, a temporary shift to an autocratic approach was necessary to clarify expectations and reestablish structure. This experience underscored the importance of emotional intelligence, relationship-building, and adaptive leadership. The initiative aligns with my core values and aims to establish structured practice as a cultural norm rather than a requirement. A post-project debrief and analysis of PAT outcomes will serve as critical metrics for success and future improvement.

Keywords: PGA, leadership, player development, golf instruction, student engagement, performance assessment

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Keywords: professional golf management, player development, leadership council, golf performance, golf instruction, PGA, leadership development, sports education, mentorship, golf professional training