Shane Prante is the new Lead Golf Instructor at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. He began his new role at the course on January 3, 2018. He will oversee the facility's lessons, clinics, and junior programs, which are held throughout the year.
Shane had a stellar playing career as an amateur. Playing on the Black Hills High School golf team in Olympia, Wash., he was AAA District Champion once and AA Champion twice.
Attending Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Wash., he was a three-time All-American while winning several high profile tournaments, including the 2006 University of Washington Winter Championship, the Western Washington University Invitational (three times - 2004, '05, '06), the 2006 NCAA West Regional Championship, and was the No. 1-ranked NCAA Division II player from 2004-2006. He was a semifinalist in the 2006 PNGA Men's Amateur and qualified for the 2006 U.S. Amateur.
"Saint Martin's was a good school for me," said Shane, who attended there on a golf scholarship. "I knew I could compete with the big guns of the larger schools, and my coach let me play as much as I could."
He turned professional in 2007, and things got even better. He has seven regional titles to his name, and in 2017 won the Northwest Open Invitational (for the second time) and the Washington State Assistants Championship. In 2016, Shane was named the Western Washington Chapter PGA Player of the Year.
We're saying the guy can play.
Prante spent the past three years working as a teaching pro at Pierce County-owned courses Fort Steilacoom and Lake Spanaway.
At The Home Course, Shane will replace John Cassidy, who has moved to Oregon. "John and I are cut from the same cloth," Shane said. "We basically grew up in the same area, have similar playing abilities, and we both love teaching the game."
Shane was paired with Cassidy in a tournament when John found out he would be moving to Oregon. Things started to fall into place for Shane to come to The Home Course.
"When I was a kid, my parents knew Justin's dad," he said. Justin Gravatt is the PGA director of golf at The Home Course. "Growing up, I spent a lot of time at Justin's house. I've known him a long time. He's a big reason why it was an easy decision for me, when Justin asked me about coming on board."
After spending so much of his life in the area, Shane feels this is a great fit, and is looking forward to creating a great instruction program at The Home Course.
"I grew up in Tumwater, just 15 minutes down the freeway from the course," he said. His wife Kristyn works for the Tacoma School District, and they have two sons, Isaac (4) and Luke (2). "This area has been home to us for a long time, and now it's getting even better."
Click here to learn more about booking a lesson with Shane Prante.
