JASON EPSTEIN – PGA MERCHANDISER OF THE YEAR (PRIVATE FACILITIES)
The Club at Las Campanas – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Aug 04, 2015 – Jason Epstein, PGA Director of Golf at The Club at Las Campanas, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the recipient of the 2015 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities. Epstein is in his fifth year at Las Campanas. Winner of the past three Sun County PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year-Private Facilities Awards, Epstein manages a 2,000-square-foot golf shop that is open year-round and is composed of an eight-member internal staff. Under Epstein’s management, the golf shop has undergone major changes in product mix, fashion and quality of displays, which Epstein believes presents a more professional presentation that helps speak to the club’s “credibility, integrity and attention to detail.” With constant alterations in display appearances and the elimination of excessive inventory, Las Campanas has seen increased sales each year that Epstein has worked at the facility. Epstein has been able to effectively mentor his staff, while ensuring that his entire team is involved in the retail process from beginning to end. Moreover, to ensure that members continue to feel at home at Las Campanas’ golf shop, Epstein has developed a buying plan and attends numerous merchandise shows annually, including the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, PGA Fall Expo and local Sun County PGA Section Shows. Prior to joining Las Campanas in 2011, Epstein was PGA Director of Golf at Tucker’s Point Club from 2008-2011, in Bermuda and PGA Head Professional at Pawley’s Plantation in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, from 2007-2008. He began his career as PGA Head Professional at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami in 1995. Under his employment at all four clubs, six of his assistants have gone on to become PGA Head Professionals. Epstein fully embraces mentoring, as 12 assistants have achieved PGA membership status while working at Las Campanas. Similarly, Epstein is a strong advocate of PGA internship programs, with 40 interns assisting with the operation over the past five seasons.
SOURCE: PGA