STATE COLLEGE, PA. — Bloom Golf Partners hosted the inaugural Leadership on the Links Summit on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Toftrees Resort, drawing 100 attendees from across the United States. The group included golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, industry professionals, and students and faculty from Penn State University.
The full-day program focused on the leadership and personal development skills that determine success in golf course management. It featured a personal branding session with AJ Vaden, co-founder of Brand Builders Group and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Wealthy and Well-Known; a fireside chat with Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson; interactive roundtables; and an industry leaders panel with Justin Sims of The Alotian Club, Scott Pavalko of Castle Pines Golf Club, and Alex Bonini of Merion Golf Club. Attendees earned GCSAA education points.
“Our industry spends a great deal of time developing turf and very little time developing the people who manage it,” said Tyler Bloom, founder of Bloom Golf Partners. “This Summit was built to change that. Seeing 100 people, from students to championship-level superintendents, in the same room working on leadership tells me this industry is ready for it.”
Shaffer Named First Legacy of Excellence Recipient
Pictured from left: Duane Schell, Matthew Shaffer, and Jason Harrison. Photo credit: Golf Club Visuals.
The Summit also marked the presentation of the first Leadership on the Links Legacy of Excellence Award to Matthew Shaffer. The award honors a career of sustained excellence in agronomy, leadership, and developing the next generation.
Shaffer’s career includes Hershey Country Club, The Country Club in Pepper Pike, Ohio, and Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. As director of grounds at Merion, he prepared the course for the 2005 U.S. Amateur, the 2009 Walker Cup, and the 2013 U.S. Open, which returned the national championship to Merion for the first time in 32 years. He is known throughout the profession as a mentor and innovator in golf course maintenance.
“I was caught off guard – honored, humbled, and surprised,” Shaffer said after receiving the recognition. “I was fortunate to work with some unbelievable people who have gone on to do great things.”
Bloom Golf Partners will continue its Leadership on the Links education and event program in March 2027 in Philadelphia. Details will follow at bloomgolfpartners.com.
About Bloom Golf Partners
Bloom Golf Partners is an executive search and business advisory firm serving the golf and private club industry. The firm has placed more than 400 professionals at premier golf and private clubs across the United States through three service lines: Executive Search & Recruitment, Agronomy Operations & Business Consulting, and Professional & Leadership Development. Bloom Golf Partners also produces the Leadership on the Links podcast and original workforce research. Learn more at bloomgolfpartners.com.