how to get a career in golf

Getting a job related to the golf industry

• Top 5 Tips to Find a Job in a Golf Industry. Golfing is considered the most relaxing and high-class sport there is. A...
• Become an Intern. Internships are a go-to for any high-class job. It is the perfect way to gain valuable and actual...
• Become a Volunteer. This is another way to gain experience in golf. While an internship is...

Full Answer

How to get a job in the golf industry?

Work with the Head Golf Professional or General Manager to manage and maintain the golf range and instruction area. Ensure consistency of quality service in lessons and work to generate maximum revenue in lessons, club fitting and program equipment sales. Golf Clinicians Golf Clinicians are individuals who make a living doing golf shows or clinics.

How do I become a pro golfer?

Apr 28, 2021 · A good first step for anyone looking to begin a career in the golf industry is to call one of the 21 Career Consultants who serve the 41 PGA Sections across the United States. Kelly Gilley used the...

What skills do you need to work on a golf course?

Feb 11, 2020 · In order to become a PGA Teaching Professional, golfers will need at least a high school diploma or be 18. They also need to be working fulltime in an eligible job. Additionally, a golfer must then pass a Player Ability Test (PAT). After that, they can be enrolled in …

How do I get a job as a golf course architect?

Apr 12, 2022 · Short of touring pro, one of the most desired careers in the golf industry is to become a club or head professional at a quality golf club. A modern golf club or country club revolves around the leadership of the head professional. The tone and quality of service provided by the club professional will resonate through the entire operation.

Can I have a career in golf?

There are 28,000 PGA Professionals who work in the $84 billion golf industry. A good first step for anyone looking to begin a career in the golf industry is to call one of the 21 Career Consultants who serve the 41 PGA Sections across the United States.Apr 28, 2021

Do golf jobs pay well?

Importantly, San Mateo, CA has a moderately active Golf Industry job market with only a few companies currently hiring for this type of role....What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Golf Industry Jobs.CityBerkeley, CAAnnual Salary$59,936Monthly Pay$4,995Weekly Pay$1,153Hourly Wage$28.829 more columns

What jobs can I get in golf?

What are Some Great Careers in the Golf Industry?Director of Golf. As a golf director, your responsibilities will be to oversee all of the golf operations at a golf club or country club. ... Club Professional. ... Teaching Professional. ... College of High School Coach. ... General Manager. ... Golf Writer. ... Golf Retailer. ... Clubmaker and Repairer.More items...

Is it too late to start a golf career?

The good news from the research is players can still turn professional even in their early 30s. It was also found that the best years for a golf professional is between 30 and 35, although plenty of tour players have shown they can still win tournaments in their 40s.

How do you play golf for a living?

How to Make Money Playing GolfGet a Job as a Golf Pro. If you generally enjoy the game of golf and think you could handle a career in the industry, becoming a golf pro is a great choice. ... Play in Golf Tournaments. ... Place Friendly Bets with Your Friends. ... Become a Mystery Shopper. ... Get Sponsorships/Become an Influencer.

How do you break into the golf industry?

1:368:10How to get a job in the golf industry....? Dear Rick #EP68YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo yes the golf world is a golf club that's where you'd work at even there's roles at a golf clubMoreSo yes the golf world is a golf club that's where you'd work at even there's roles at a golf club now there's like business development managers there's directors of golf.

Is it fun to work at a golf course?

Working for a golf course is a lot of fun. You get to be outside, pretty much get a workout during your whole shift. The pay isn't great but the work is so easy, just a lot of moving around.

What skills do you need to work at a golf course?

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Good communication skills.Good interpersonal skills.Organizational skills.Customer service experience.Positive attitude and willingness to work in a team.Knowledge of the game of golf.

Is the golf industry growing?

Golf Industry Stats and Growth Projections in 2022 441 million rounds of golf were played in 2019. 24.3 million people played on-course golf in 2019. 41 percent of Americans supported their states allowing the reopening of golf courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.Feb 15, 2022

What is the best age to start golf?

So, the best answer to this question is: it depends on your child. If you believe they are mature enough to understand the rules at the age of 3, then that's the appropriate age for your child to start golfing, if not don't be afraid to wait a couple more years.Mar 8, 2019

Can you become a pro golfer at any age?

Can You Become a Pro Golfer at Any Age? There are no age restrictions on becoming a pro golfer, but the standards required to play at professional level are so high that you need to amass a great deal of experience before you decide to go pro.

At what age Tiger Woods started playing golf?

He grew up in Cypress, California. He took an interest in golf at age 6 months, watching as his father hit golf balls into a net and imitating his swing. He appeared on The Mike Douglas Show at age 2, putting with Bob Hope. He shot 48 for nine holes at age 3 and was featured in Golf Digest at age 5.

What do golf coaches do?

What you’d do: Golf coaches are often involved with more than skills coaching; they can also be responsible for recruiting athletes, maintaining a positive and educational team environment, and coordinating team practices and match days.

What do pro golfers do?

What you’d do: Obviously, pro golfers compete against other each other in various tournaments, but they might also work at courses and country clubs as a coach, manager, or purchaser of merchandise, among other duties.

How many people played golf in 2016?

But for others, golf is a way of life. Good news if you’re one of them: The golf industry in the U.S. is in the green. “A total of 2.2 million people took up the game last year, approaching the record of 2.4 million,” Pete Bevacqua, CEO of the PGA of America, told Forbes in 2016. That means there are lots of jobs related to golf available ...

What do golf cart attendants do?

Golf cart attendants are responsible for cleaning equipment, refueling carts, loading clubs on and off the cart, reporting mechanical issues to clubhouse staff, and more.

What do landscape architects do?

They work with the natural features of the land to design every inch of the perfect course, one that’s both breathtakingly beautiful and athletically challenging.

What does it mean to be a golf sales associate?

Working as a golf sales associate, you’ll keep a store stocked, provide passionate customer service, and ring up fellow golf aficionados. You might also get hired by a brand to help sell their clubs, footwear, and apparel to retail stores. What you’d need: Retail experience is preferred, but not always required.

What is a golf course maintenance worker?

That’s where golf course maintenance workers come in. From mowing lawns and pruning plant life to repairing equipment and clearing debris, the job keeps you working on and around the course all day.

How old was Chris Kulinski when he started golfing?

Chris Kulinski knew as a 16-year-old caddie that he wanted a career in the golf industry. When he worked the bag room at Transit Valley Country Club in East Amherst, New York, Kulinski dreamed of owning his own golf shop. By age 26, he was a head professional.

Do private golf courses have social media?

As Kulinski notes, most private courses now have a social media manager role as it’s important to keep the club’s social channels relevant and updated. There are also numerous social media positions at the major tours (PGA Tour, LPGA) and associations (USGA, PGA of America) as well as at golf manufacturing companies like Callaway and Titleist.

How to become a golfer?

The most popular is a PGA Teaching Professional. In order to become a PGA Teaching Professional, golfers will need at least a high school diploma or be 18. They also need to be working fulltime in an eligible job. Additionally, a golfer must then pass a Player Ability Test (PAT). After that, they can be enrolled in the PGA program. This program has 3 levels and at the end, a golfer is awarded PGA Membership. Teaching Professionals can make a living working at courses, teaching lessons, selling golf equipment, and more. It is a good path for those interested in a career in teaching golf.

How difficult is it to become a PGA player?

It is very difficult to become a PGA Tour player. In order to reach this elite status, a player must play in the PGA Qualifying Tour. If the player is lucky enough to advance then they must play on the Web.com Tour and win three events in a single season to be awarded PGA Tour Status. Once someone makes the Tour, it can then be extremely difficult to stay on Tour. Yet if you are the elite of the elite, you can make an extremely good living off of Tour earnings.

Is golf a sales associate?

Golf Sales Associate is an excellent entry-level position. Usually, no college education is required to be a sales associate. Golf experience will definitely be recommended. If you’re unsure whether you want to pursue a career in golf then try out being a sale associate. These positions usually do not pay especially well but are an entry point into higher-paying positions.

What is the career of a golf pro?

Short of touring pro, one of the most desired careers in the golf industry is to become a club or head professional at a quality golf club. A modern golf club or country club revolves around the leadership of the head professional. The tone and quality of service provided by the club professional will resonate through the entire operation. As a head professional, your responsibilities will depend on various factors such as the size of the club itself.

What is the job of a golf director?

As a golf director , your responsibilities will be to oversee all of the golf operations at a golf club or country club. This scope of responsibility includes the operation of the staff, clubhouse, golf course maintenance, overseeing food service operations and other areas on the grounds.

Why do golf clubs need marketing?

Like all businesses, golf clubs and courses always need talented sales and marketing professionals to bring in new members, attract sponsors and generate revenue. Golf manufacturers also employ a large number of salespeople and marketers throughout their organization.

What is golf retail?

Golf Retailer. Golf is largely driven by the marketing dollars of major equipment and apparel manufacturers. The front lines of their business is the retail floor of golf shops, pro shops and big box stores across the country. As a golf retailer, you will be called upon to merchandise golf equipment in the most appealing fashion possible, ...

What is the role of a golf coach?

Golf coaches at educational institutions are often tasked with responsibilities beyond their coaching duties such as teaching and publishing. However, at larger institutions and more successful golf teams, the bulk of the coaches’ time is spent recruiting, supervising, training and coaching the golf squad.

What is the college of high school coaching?

College of High School Coach. Coaching and teaching is a skill set that not everyone possesses. Becoming a golf coach for a college or high school team is a rewarding position that allows you to combine your coaching skill and golf experience in one.

How much is the golf industry worth?

Worldwide, the golf economy is estimated to come in around $176 billion. While overall revenues are down slightly, participation in golf tournaments has been on a steady increase. There are almost 2 million jobs created by the golf industry.

Different Golf Jobs Available

There are many different avenues you can choose as a profession in the field of golf.

PGM Program (Professional Golf Management)

The Professional Golf Management Program is a series of classes and tests that individuals go through to become PGA members. What is a PGA member? A Professional Golf Association Member is an individual who is highly knowledgeable about the game and who can hold prestigious job positions in the field of golf.

Perks of Membership

Acquiring the PGA membership by completing the PGM program will allow you lucrative management positions and perks only available to golf professionals.

Is This Career For You?

Know that you know how to get started for a career in golf, is this path right for you? If you are frustrated by being inside all day or never moving up the corporate ladder, working at a golf course may be a good choice! Don’t get me wrong, working at a golf course is a lot of hard work and sometimes requires 55+ hour weeks.

Alternative Jobs

What if you don’t want a “career” in golf but rather a sweet summer job? Golf courses offer a wide variety of seasonal employment that you can look in to. This is a great way to get the golf course experience without having to work as many hours. Here is a list of potential jobs you can apply for:

Conclusion

Having a career in golf is hard work but can be worth all of the effort! Every day is new and exciting when you are organizing different golf events and meeting many different people. Remember, do your research using the links listed above on the PGA.org so you can gather more information about your potential career.

What do golfers do on a daily basis?

what they do on a daily basis: run pro shops, run practice ranges, in charge of setting up, planning, and running lessons. In charge of many club events. Expected to speak at many or all golf events at their place of work.

What is an assistant golfer?

According to PGA.com, “an assistant golf professional refers to an individual who is primarily employed at a PGA Recognized Golf Facility and spends at least 50% of the time working on club repair, merchandising, handicapping records, inventory control, bookkeeping and tournament operations.”

What is a GM in golf?

Large golf clubs, especially private ones, often have GM’s who are in charge of running all sorts of operations, such as: maintenance, pro shop, food/beverage, membership. They are typically in charge of overseeing many employees and making sure the club is in good financial health. They make sure all members and customers are treated correctly and that all employees are doing exceptional work around the club.

Who said a good caddy is more than a mere assistant?

Henry Longhurst once said “A good caddie is more than a mere assistant. He is a guide, philosopher, and friend.” Nearly all caddies are exceptional golfers in their own rights, or at least have had so much experience caddying that they have made it their career. You’ll be in a lot of lime light, but you don’t have to deal with all of the pressures and stresses of the golfer. Instead, you will have your own stresses to worry about! For 10% of the income of the pro golfer, you’ll have to weight the pros and cons to determine if this is something that you could make a living on.

Do you need to be a professional golf caddy?

requirements: there is no formal training for professional caddies. They just need to have great golf etiquette, an excellent golf understanding and background, typically experience in the golf industry in some way, an analytical and intuitive mind, a great network among pro golfers and other caddies.

Do large golf clubs have members?

At large golf clubs, there will always be someone in charge of memberships. Often time, they will be in charge of the club’s marketing efforts as well. Large clubs can have hundreds of members. Making sure they are charged correctly, and making sure they pay (more importantly), is no easy task.

Do golf products sell themselves?

Brands and products don’t always sell themselves. And even when they do, they still need salesmen to make contacts with courses and other companies that could benefit from their product. For that reason, salesmen are always needed. If you are likable and knowledgeable about your golf product, you can make your company a lot of money, while taking a decent cut of the proceeds for your self. When it comes to earning potential, this is about as high as it gets.

What is a golf management degree?

A golf management degree will give you a leg up on your competition. It gives you differentiation in a crowded market. Experience is important, but a degree shows employers you possess certain skills they desire. First, completing the degree itself shows you are serious about the industry, have perseverance and patience, ...

What do you gain from a business degree?

You also gain critical thinking, leadership and communication skills.

How to learn management?

You’ll learn a lot by evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and thinking about how you would handle the situations they face. It’s a simple way to learn different methods ...

Why is education important?

Get on the Job Experience. Education is important because it sets the table for long term growth. Experience is equally important as it puts you in real world situations so you can learn to apply your skills. Entry-level jobs at golf courses, ranges, and clubs are invaluable.

Do you have to work at a golf course to get experience?

You don’t necessarily have to work at a golf course to get experience. Golf is part the recreation and hospitality industry, so any experience you gain at resorts, tourism companies, other sports, or travel companies is highly applicable to the golf industry. If you can’t find something in golf, broaden your scope.

Is golf a good career?

For many people in the golf industry, it is a great career, but like all industries, you need to prepare your education, experience and networking skills to build toward that successful career. Here are some tips to get into a golf course management career and make it flourish.