Matt grew up in Osseo and was introduced as a 10 year old to the game by his Dad and Grandpa. After graduating from St. Cloud State Matt followed his dream and moved to Arizona and got his PGA Class A Card. A short stint in Colorado and Florida led Matt to landing a job back home in '08 for LifeTime Fitness as the Director of Golf and started focusing on Golf Fitness. Following a successful 4 years at LifeTime Matt pivoted to a 7 year office and leadership position in golf adminstratoin with Ramsey County Golf Courses and then the Minneapolis Park Board as a Director of Golf Operations. Now, entering the 5th year at Shamrock, Matt's current role is more of a traditional head professional focused on customer service, golf leagues, golf lessons and pro shop sales/oversight.

Competitive Playing Highlights

• 1 PRO win was at the 1st annual Nike Golf Pro-Am - Top Professional - (68)
• Played in the Minnesota State Open a few times. Broke 80 once.
• Had a top 25 finish at the Minnesota PGA Championship. Big pay check of $450 :-)
• Advanced to the Quarterfinals at the Minnesota PGA Bracket Match Play
• Played in a number of the old Tapemark Pro-Am's. Great memories!
• Failed the PAT twice. On the third attempt ending up winning it with a 142 (73,69)

Teaching Highlights

• Watching beginners have that moment of understanding
• Helped high school kids pursue college playing opportunities.
• Got a job for ESPN golf schools as a traveling instructor. Learned from some great teachers.
• Enjoys helping beginners gain confidence.
• Matt has seen and cured the yips, shanks and snap hooks.
• Fixed thousands of slices. Usually takes 2 minutes to diagnose and 1 min to fix.
• Taught handicap golfers *blind, wheelchair and various injuries.
• Helped senior golfers regain distance (or) told them to focus on something else.

Why a golf career?

• Very humbling to help someone with golf because it is a very hard game.
• There are NEVER 2 lessons that are the same.
• A driving range is a great office!
• In all honesty, I get to use my God-given ability.

Wild and real little known facts

• Champion junior golfer at Sundance Golf & Bowl when I was 10 years old.
• Ditched baseball senior year of high school and won first ever hs golf match at Benilde with only 4 clubs in his bag. Could'nt afford a full set!
• First love was/is hockey, played QB for the football teams ... basically never gave golf a thought as a career unitl watching Tiger at the US Open in 2000. Golf was considered something nerds and accountant types took seriously.
• Moved to Arizona and proceeded to meet Tiger and Phil while working at TPC Scottsdale in 2001 durning the Phoenix Open.
• Promoted to an assistant pro at TPC Scottsdale after 6 months working there.
• Hired as the first ever interim director postition for The First Tee of Phoenix.
• Lived on the beach in Florida while working at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.
• Invented and hosted a junior golf summit at LifeTime Fitness with over 200 kids with help from the MN Gopher golf team. First son was born on the same day as the summit.
• Played probably 75 rounds of golf with Dan Cole. And Common only beat him once!
• Started the Ramsey County First Tee Program at Keller Golf Club with Cooper Simpson's Dad.
• Started Women's Golf Day for the Minneapolis Golf Courses over 700 gals took a free lesson that day.
• As the Director of Golf for Minneapolis; Matt hired the 1st ever female golf manager in Park Board History for historic Theo Wirth Golf Club.
• Shot even par once while sharing a cart with Willie Roberterson from Duck Dynasty.
• Had a clean scorecard (bogey free) on a Saturday morning in Grand Rapids with his best pal from High School.
• Birdied the first hole in tryouts in College at St. Cloud. Did NOT make the team.
• Defeated a former tour player in the MN PGA Match Play. #1 golf moment. I had my "A" game he had his "C" game that day.
• Had a hole in one while using a ProV1 and the ball literally had the word ACE imprinted on the side. Cant make it up.
• Predicting Jordan (the kid pictured below) will start beating his Dad in 2 years.

Best golf advice I could give....

• Beginners should dial in golf etiquette and understand what pace of play means. This will give confidence and that confdence will help you play and learn the game faster.