Meet your local PGA pros: Scott Barla
We have a very talented group of PGA Professionals located right here in our neck of the woods:players, teachers, administrators, rules officials, merchandisers and industry professionals . Our latest segment features an outstanding “jack of all trades” and a great friend to the Swan Lake Resort and the Golf Academy, Scott Barla from Carmel, Indiana:
JE: Scott, tell us about yourself: where were you raised and what is your current position in the golf business?
I was born in Grosse Pointe, MI back in 1972. My parents attended Denby Detroit City High School on the North East Side of Downtown Detroit. My parents graduated in Spring of 1972 and was born September of that year. So yes..I had young parents. My parents worked in the grocery store industry…dad worked at Chatham Super Markets and my mom at Kroger’s. We moved when I was in 6th grade to Mt. Clemens, MI. Attended Chippewa Valley High School and graduated Spring 1990. Attended Ferris State University PGM program Fall of 1990. Graduated Dec. 1994 with a B.S. in Pro Golf Management and Marketing Major. Elected to PGA Membership December 1996. Worked for Marriott Seaview and Desert Springs Resorts professional golf staffs. Worked at Ivanhoe Club, Glen View Club and Shoreacres in Chicago from 1995 to 2000 as First Assistant and Pro Shop Managers. 2001 to 2004 I worked for the PGA Of America Merchanise Department. Program Manager for Corporate Merchandise at the 2001 and 2001 PGA Championships. Also, 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills. I was also the 2005 National Sales Manager for Stonehouse Publishing Panoramic Golf Artworks. Since 2009 I have been an Independent Sales Rep for Adams Golf, Club Glove and SeeMore Putters for IL and IN. Previous I was the MacGregor Sales Rep for WI, IL and IN in 2007 and 2008. In 2006 I was the Golf Galaxy Store Manager and PGA Pro of the Skokie, IL. Currently, I am the Director of Instruction at Balmoral Golf and Learning Center in Fishers Indiana. Owner of Scott Barla Independent Golf Enterprises LLC, based in Carmel as well as the Assistant Boys Golf Coach for Cathedral High School and an Operation36 iGrow Golf Certified Instructor.
JE: Scott, how have your goals and past experience meshed with your current endeavors?
Scott:Teaching and helping all skill levels-ages in golf has been my goal. My skills have been in personal communications. Whether in management, marketing, sales and golf teaching. I look forward to expand into coaching the Cathedral Boys team in Spring. They have not been to IN IHSAA State Final since 2012. We have started the first ever Winter Indoor Competitive Golf Skills program for Cathedral Boys last month. 11 week program on Tuesday nights from 4pm to 6pm. Currently 17 boys are participating in the program. One of them is 8th Grader at Fishers Junior High. So Cathedral has a large alumni base and solid reputation for educating college prep students. Over 45 Millions in scholarships were awarded to 2016 Seniors of Cathedral.
JE: How old were you when you started to play golf and how did it become your career? Tell us your story, please.
Scott: I started golf at age four years old. My mom’s father was the only golfer on either side of my immediate family. Joseph Sostock was an Ohio Coal Miner’s son near Wheeling, West Virginia. My grandfather caddied as a child and once was a caddy for Sam Snead as a youth? Grandpa “Jack” then migrated to Detroit, MI. He was a Tool & Die shop crib boss. Handing tools out of the crib to the plant workers. He was was also an entrepreneur selling donuts and coffee before the work day started. Jack’s hobby was to play golf with the workers in the plant. He won the company golf outing several times. So when I visited his house in East Detroit he planted a bent grass lawn. He had a hole cutter and made golf holes in the backyard. Took cottage cheese cup and made a white hole liners. Then I learned to putt and chip at age four. As I grew up I hit plastic golf balls in the back yard of the ranch house. Until I started hitting the windows. Grandpa Jack would pick me up in the summer and take me to Patridge Creek 54 hole golf course. We would pay for nine holes…sneek out for 2nd nine…ball hunt in the woods. Then sell the found balls at local golf course parking lots for cash!
JE: Can you give us a rundown of the people that influenced your teaching methods and philosophy?
Scott: When I was at Ferris State we would have Dr. Gary Wiren, Mike Hebron, Conrad Railing and host of other world class instructors speak to the students for teaching seminars. When I worked for Marriott Golf I was introduce to John Jacobs Golf Schools. I learned the most from watching John Jacobs instructors teach at Seaview and Desert Springs Resorts. John Jacobs was a practical way to teach. No cookie cutter method for all swing types. Then in Chicago I got to learn from Dr. Suttie, Jon Reese and Todd Sones. These guys opened my eyes to how Top 100 teachers teach. Also, a local instructor PGA Member Chuck Lynch taught me the art of making your teaching unique and fun. I have meet Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, Jim McLean and Michael Breed. But the local grass roots teachers are the foot soldiers for the average person to learn and have fun for life on the course.
Scott is a great guy and a fine instructor who is very involved in his community and volunteers at his children’s school every Monday. Recently, Scott received his 20 year service pin from the Indiana Section of the PGA of America. He certainly has a lot going on in his life and I can assure you he will make time for more. Last year Scott, really helped us out of a bind when at the last minute a group needed an addition instructor and we were occupied at the time with other client. But Scott, jumped in his car, despite the poor weather, was here ready to assist. He has a passion.
Finally, I was told once by a wise man that “you can tell a man’s character by the books he reads and the company he keeps.” Scott is well read and keeps up with the latest finding about his craft and is constantly learning more to help his students. The company he keeps is of very high quality: Scott participated in one of the first PGA Hope program that use golf to help our wounded warriors overcome their physical and emotion scars of war. Fellow PGA Professionals around the country are now following Scott’s lead and reaching out to help those in need with golf!
If you are out and about, look Scott up and say hello!
Director of Instruction-Scott Barla
Balmoral Golf and Learning Center
10101 Hamilton Hills Lane
Fishers, IN 46038
cell#248-635-4183
sbarla69@gmail.com
Operation 36- iGrow Golf Certified Instructor
SeeMore SPi Certified Fitter-Instructor
PGA Professional- Member 1996
Ferris State PGM- Alumni 1994
