‘I think it’ll be hard for Orillia to come up with another player of his calibre in our lifetime,’ says Hawk Ridge member of Spencer Shropshire

For Spencer Shropshire, leaving for the University of Michigan means saying goodbye to more than just his home golf course. It means leaving behind the people who helped shape him.

Hawk Ridge Golf Club hosted a send-off for the Team Canada NextGen member Wednesday evening before the Orillia-area golfer departs Aug. 17 to begin his freshman season with the NCAA Division I Wolverines.

“I’ll just miss the people,” said Shropshire who was named Orillia’s Athlete of the Year for 2025. “I have a lot of buddies here and people I look up to. I’m so used to seeing everyone here. I’ll miss all the interactions, sitting on the deck, having coffee with the guys. I’ll miss the fun aspects.”

Shropshire has been a member at Hawk Ridge for seven years, but his golfing journey began even earlier.

“I started when I was about 10,” he said.

His father introduced him to the game, and Hawk Ridge soon became a second home.

As a youngster, he spent countless hours in the club’s junior program under longtime teaching professional Terry Smith before eventually progressing to provincial, national and international competition.

Smith said it didn’t take long to notice Shropshire possessed something that couldn’t be taught.

“You could see that he just had a real love for it and a real desire to play,” Smith said.

He recalled one rainy-day junior camp that has stayed with him ever since.

“Two of the kids came out. Spencer was one of them,” he said. “The other kids weren’t even going to consider coming because of the rain, but Spencer was there. You could see that desire building.”

Smith, now retired, believes that passion has been just as important as Shropshire’s natural ability.

“Obviously he’s skilled,” he said. “You have that desire, and then you have success, and you just want to keep doing it. The more you want to do it when you’re skilled, you’re going to get better.”

Now regarded as one of Canada’s top junior golfers, Shropshire admits he feels more excitement than nerves as he prepares for college golf.

“I’m not really nervous,” he said. “I’m more excited to get going.”

He hopes to contribute as a freshman while continuing to develop alongside some of the country’s top collegiate players.

“Obviously the expectation is to go there and learn,” he said. “Hopefully I get to play a bunch, but mostly I just want to get better and learn from the other guys on the team.”

Shropshire arrives in Ann Arbor after accomplishing nearly every goal he set for himself as a junior golfer. After making Team Ontario, he earned a spot on Team Canada NextGen and now heads to one of the premier golf programs in the United States.

“It feels good to accomplish those goals,” he said. “It means a lot. I’ve represented Canada a couple of times now, and when you’re at international tournaments with a lot of American flags, it’s nice to see your Canadian flag.”

His long-term dream remains playing professional golf, but he also recognizes the importance of the education he’ll receive.

“Down the road, playing professionally, that’s the ultimate goal,” he said. “But if I get a good degree, get a good job and still play golf on the side, that’d still be pretty sweet. I just want to keep enjoying the sport.”

Men’s league captain Jim Cotton believes Hawk Ridge members have enjoyed a front-row seat to one of the best junior golf careers the region has ever seen.

“He’s just amazing,” Cotton said. “His skill level is unbelievable. I think it’ll be hard for Orillia to come up with another player of his calibre in our lifetime.”

While Shropshire’s list of accomplishments continues to grow, Smith hopes younger golfers remember his desire to learn during those early years. 

“The sky’s the limit,” Smith said. “He’s got a great future ahead of him.”

For Shropshire, though, the memories he’ll carry to Michigan have little to do with trophies or scorecards.

“They’ve always welcomed me with open arms,” he said of the Hawk Ridge membership. “They taught me a lot of etiquette, and everyone has helped me along the way. I’m really thankful for that.”