Shelton is a South County native. Before his graduation in 2009, he played golf for four years at Mehlville High School, which is where he says he finally went “all in” with the sport. But his interest in golf started earlier — he jokes it was “brainwashed” into him by his father and grandfather, who also enjoyed playing golf.
His high school years were some of the peak years of Tiger Woods’ career, Shelton says. Shelton thought about playing golf in college, but eventually went to the University of Missouri-Columbia; later, he discovered a PGA General Management program at the University of Central Oklahoma, and he transferred there.
“I started getting more and more into golf,” Shelton said. “Ever since then, I’ve been pretty hooked on it.”
At the time, 18 schools across the country had similar programs. Through this course of study, Shelton received a business management degree with an emphasis in golf, as well as a PGA membership.
After that, Shelton moved back to St. Louis. In March 2016, he got a job at Sunset Country Club, where he has been ever since. He started as an Assistant Professional, where he designed junior programs at the club, and he now works as a Teaching Professional. His work has entailed leading group clinics for the young and old alike, as well as leading one-on-one golf lessons.
Shelton remains at Sunset Country Club — with the addition of Lutheran South’s team to his plate, he says it’s going to be “a busy spring.”
Around 25 Lutheran South students tried out for the golf team, with a handful of upperclassmen and a larger group of freshmen and sophomores. Shelton hopes to keep the team between 18 and 20 students and says he isn’t thrilled to make cuts in his first year.
“I definitely have some talent,” Shelton said. “There’s also definitely some kids with great potential. With some good coaching, good work and a good attitude, I think I can get a lot of these kids to improve quite a bit.”
Through tryouts and the beginning of practices, Shelton says he’s been impressed with the Lutheran South athletes; he called them polite, receptive and positive.
“Overall, they’re just a good group of young men,” Shelton said. “A lot of the kids that I deal with at the club, it’s a fun thing. They’re there to see their friends and have a good time. These kids, you can tell they’re a little more serious about the game and want to get better, which has been really cool.”
As for his dreams for the program, Shelton hopes that at least one athlete will qualify for state this year — he says that there are a few students he thinks could make it. Beyond that, Shelton just hopes to foster a good, growing culture in the Lutheran South golf team.
“I want it to be a good culture for learning, development and learning to love the game,” Shelton said. “It’s such a good tool for life, and it’s going to help you in your overall wellbeing along the way, as you become an adult.”
