The old adage that says, “if you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life” might well have been coined for those with careers in golf. I’m often asked about the most important criteria for pursuing a golf career, and my answer is always the same: A passion for the game—and its traditions.
Millions of people love getting out on the links, of course, and a significant number of them are able to translate that passion into a meaningful career in the golf industry.
But loving the game and having a low handicap is only part of the equation when it comes to a career in golf. Do you have what it takes to turn your passion for golf into your life’s work? Consider the other skills integral to becoming a successful golf professional include:
People skills. Golf is a people-person business. You’ll be dealing with people all day long, so it’s critical to enjoy interacting with the public on a variety of levels. Part of this is knowing how to communicate with people with tact and skill about everything from a misunderstanding about a tee time to the status of lost clubs to disputes about course etiquette. Golf professionals should be outgoing and willing to talk with people about their games as well as anything else going on in their lives.
Time-management skills. So much can be going on in any given day in the golf environment that it is critical to set a list each morning and prioritize the list with estimated time necessary to complete the task. It may sound like a no-brainer, but if you aren’t skilled in time management, your day will simply fly by. Speaking of time, golf is also a day-time sport—a game with players who start very early in the morning and can’t continue after dark. For this reason, most golf professionals are early risers.
Problem-solving skills. Issues will crop up every day, whether you are in the public or private sector, and it’s essential to be able to detach from the emotions surrounding an issue, and simply solve the problem. No matter which career track a golf professional is on, he or she will need a basic knowledge in a range of subjects, from equipment to course architecture to inventory management of the golf shop.
Obtaining an entry-level summer position at the range is obviously fairly simple, but a college degree is a requirement today before embarking on a more long-term and viable career as a golf professional, be it a degree in business or hospitality administration from a four-year university.
An aspiring golf professional today is also well-advised to complete the PGA’s Professional Golf Management (PGM) program, a 41/2- to 5-year college curriculum that provides students the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree at 18 participating colleges or universities. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills for success in the golf industry through extensive classroom studies, internship experience and player development. Upon completing the PGM program each student is required to pass a Playing Ability Test (PAT) in order to become a PGA member.
After becoming a PGA member, PGA Professionals have a broad range of careers to choose from. Among those are head golf professional, director of golf, teaching professional, executive manager or general manager of golf facilities, college golf coach, director of instruction, golf retail, golf course development or maintenance, tournament director, rules official or golf equipment specialist.
No matter which vocational path you chose, the education process never ends. In order to stay on the cusp and maintain the top skills and knowledge of the changing dynamics of the golf industry professionals are required to regularly take additional courses and training. In addition, PGA Professionals also have the opportunity to further their education and hone their skills similar to comprehensive specialty training and education programs in corporate America, by pursuing the PGA Certified Professional Program to achieve PGA Certified or PGA Master Professional status.
Regardless of what path you take, as long as you have a passion for the game and its traditions, you are guaranteed to have a challenging, fulfilling and dynamic career in the golf industry.
Jim Manthis was the 2006 PGA Professional of the Year, and has been a PGA Professional since 1965.