Lessons

Christine “Chris” Newton is an accomplished golfer and PGA Professional with over 30 years of experience in both competitive golf and teaching. A Whitefish native, Chris began her career in the junior golf program under the guidance of Mike Dowaliby, PGA Professional. Her impressive resume includes numerous accomplishments, such as being a runner-up in the Montana State Amateur Championship in 1981 (at age 15), 1984, and 1986, and winning the title in 1985.

Chris continued her golfing career as the number-one golfer and team captain at Weber State College, where she was named MVP for two years. During her time at Weber State, the Wildcats won the Division II National Championship in 1985, and Chris earned recognition as a National Golf Coaches Association Division II All-American. She also competed on several professional tours, including the Women’s Professional Golf Tour, the Futures Golf Tour, the Player’s West Tour, and the Cactus Tour. A highlight of her career was participating in the 1989 US Women’s Open Championship.

In addition to her competitive career, Chris has made a significant impact as a teacher and mentor. She has served as the Director of Instruction and Player Development at Whitefish Lake Golf Club for over two decades. Under her leadership, the club’s Junior Academy has flourished, and she has developed a wide range of programs for golfers of all ages and skill levels. Chris’s dedication to teaching and player development has earned her multiple prestigious awards from the Western Montana Chapter of the PGA, including:

• 2020 Western Montana Chapter Teacher of the Year
• 2019 Western Montana Chapter Golf Professional of the Year
• 2019 Western Montana Chapter Player Development Award
• 2006 Western Montana Chapter Teacher of the Year
• 2006 Western Montana Chapter Junior Golf Leader

Chris was inducted into the Montana State Women’s Golf Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Whitefish Lake Golf Club Hall of Fame in 2018 in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the sport and the club.
As a passionate educator and advocate for the game, Chris continues to inspire golfers of all levels at Whitefish Lake Golf Club, where she combines her extensive competitive experience with her dedication to developing players.

Lyndsie played competitive golf for Whitefish High School and at Division 1 level Montana State University. She is an accomplished teacher and has been honored by her peers with PGA awards as Teacher of the Year, Junior Golf Leader of the Year and Player Development Leader of the Year. Lyndsie has over 20 years of experience in the golf business as a PGA Assistant Golf Professional and Instructor with stints at Riverside Country Club in Bozeman, Montana and Hayden Lake County Club in Hayden, Idaho. Lyndsie teaches all ages and levels of golfer as well as running a successful Junior Academy and programming for adult group lessons. Technology used includes Flightscope, Blast Golf and Sportsbox Ai 3D Video analysis. Lyndise has been recognized for many awards within the Western Montana PGA Chapter, as well as within the Pacific Northwest PGA Section including:

• 2025 Pacific Northwest Section Player Development Award
• 2025 Western Montana Chapter Player Development Award
• 2025 Western Montana Chapter Teacher of the Year Award
• 2020 Western Montana Chapter Player Development Award
• 2019 Western Montana Chapter Teacher of the Year Award
• 2018 Western Montana Chapter Youth Player Development Award

LPGA Teaching Professional

Shelby DeVore is entering her fourth summer working at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. Shelby learned how to swing a club from her Dad at a very young age and then started playing competitively around the age 10. She played collegiate golf at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX where she was named SCAC Freshman of the Year and received All Conference awards three years in row. After graduating, she was the Director of Marketing and Operations at the Spirit Golf Association. She is currently the Women’s Golf Coach at her alma mater and serves as the Tournament Director for The Spirit International that takes place at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, TX. She has been a member of the LPGA since 2022 and became a Class A member in the Fall of 2024. She has worked several junior camps in Texas and assisted with the Junior Academy. Shelby is great for beginners all the way to competitive golfers looking for more successful finishes in tournaments! Shelby will be back and ready to teach June 1st!