what people in golf make

How much money do professional golf players make?

Two of the most prominent are the National Golf Association (NGA) Pro Golf Tour and the eGolf Professional Tour. Brandon Brown led 349 NGA money-winners in 2011, earning $150,864, while Austin Bowen was last at $600.

How many people work in the golf industry?

Behind the scenes, usually off the greens, there are two million people employed in golf. It accounts for $55.6 billion in annual wages, from highly-compensated executives to minimum-wage greenskeepers. Golf Digest studied U.S. golf careers to see how various salaries ranked in the industry.

How to get a job in the golf industry?

how to get the job: Start it yourself! Drone technology and golf course mapping software are both entering the golf industry with the goal to create more efficient and attractive courses. If you are interested in these types of services, this a great way to tie your interests with golf.

What do professional golfers do all day?

They practice all the time: on the range, on the short game practice green, on the putting green, on the course, etc. Most of them today hit the gym to work on golf specific exercises. They might meet with their instructors to work on something. Their day is filled with practice, playing, eating, and repeating.

What is a golf players salary?

According to pgatour.com, the average PGA Tour player earned just under $1.5 million in 2021. That number spans from that year's money leader, Jon Rahm, who earned a cool $7,705,933 million, to the PGA Tour's 250th place earner, Parker McLachlin, who earned $6,090.

Do golfers earn a lot?

All sources of income considered, professional golfers are among the world's highest paid athletes. Sports Illustrated magazine reported that golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were the top two highest earning athletes on the publication's 2011 list, The Fortunate 50.

How do golf players earn money?

Golfers get paid so much because of sponsorships and tournament funds that are allocated to the tournament purse. Because of the attention to professional golf and the participation of brands and fans, there is quite a bit of money to give to the top players.

What is the lowest paid PGA player?

What about the lowest-paid players? The lowest-ranked PGA Championship contestant generally takes home around $19,000 for the tour, although the most recent last place Championship finisher, David Muttitt, received just a $3,000 payout.

How much do caddies get paid?

A caddie on the PGA Tour receives a base salary — usually around $1,000 to $2,000 — to cover travel expenses. He will earn 5% of the winnings if his golfer finishes outside of the top 10 and 7% of the winnings for a top-10 finish. The caddie earns 10% of winnings when his golfer wins a tournament.

Do golfers pay for travel?

Yes, they do. And it can be pretty expensive. Some estimates place the annual expenditures on travel (including room and board) at upwards of $200,000 for a golfer who plays in events worldwide. In addition, pro golfers also have to pay their caddies each week.

How expensive is golf as a hobby?

For people who know that golf is going to be a long-term commitment, clubs, shoes, and apparel will be the three significant costs in the beginning. The pricing on a decent set plus some accessories is probably going to cost you at least $700 to get more involved.

Who is the highest paid golfer?

The World's Highest-Paid GolfersTiger Woods: $73.5 million. ... Rory McIlroy: $38.4 million. ... Phil Mickelson: $37.1 million. ... Jordan Spieth: $32.4 million. ... Patrick Cantlay: $28.3 million. ... Justin Thomas: $26.4 million. ... Jon Rahm: $24.9 million. ... Dustin Johnson: $23.9 million.More items...•

How do touring pros make money?

The difference between the tour and a standard trade association is that whereas realtors and farmers establish and run independent businesses, touring pros make money primarily by playing in tournaments that the PGA Tour organizes, sanctions and in some cases directly administers.

How much does Roger Goodell make?

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's base annual pay is roughly $20 million, with incentives that in a good year can double his take-home total. NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently negotiated a contract extension through the 2023-'24 season.

How much does Gary Bettman make?

Even longtime NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reportedly earns nearly $4 million more than what Finchem, and now Monahan, makes.

Is the LPGA a nonprofit?

But he has little of McIlroy's and other celebrity players' off-course earnings potential. The LPGA is also a sports league organized as a nonprofit, albeit on a smaller financial scale, which explains LPGA commissioner Mike Whan's proportionally smaller salary.

1. The commish, compared

Shriveled old crypt-keeper himself, Tim Finchem, who stepped down as Commissioner of the PGA Tour at the end of 2016, pocketed $5.6 million bones for his services last year. The man replacing him, Jay Monahan, is due to earn just $2.1 million.

2. The Uihlein family golf fortune

A top earner on Golf Digest’s list, Wally Uihlein, President and CEO of Acushnet (which owns Titleist and FootJoy) earned $4,978,638 (includes base salary of $995,200, plus bonus and other incentive pay) in 2016.

3. PGA vs. USGA executive pay

You’ve probably been losing sleep, staring at the ceiling night after night wondering how executive compensation compares at the two main governing bodies in U.S. golf. Well, here’s the answer. Mike Davis, Executive Director of the USGA: $854,803. Pete Bevacqua, CEO, PGA of America: $1,444,331. So there you have it. Rest easy.

4. Sorry, pro

Long hours, thankless environment, but hey free golf (if you ever have time to play/the job hasn’t inspired within you a deep hatred for the game you once loved). Such is the lot of the golf pro. That, and folding shirts.

5. The bottom of the barrel

Here are some interesting number from the opposite end of the spectrum of the Finchems and Uihleins of the world. The lowly peons who really make things run at your local courses and clubs don’t make much more than a fast food worker.

Who is the highest paid LPGA golfer?

The highest paid LPGA golfer is Lydia Ko with $2.8 million. The “typical” salaries in the table are based on medians. The median is just the salary where half of all golfers make more and half make less. It makes a lot more sense that average pro golfer salary because averages get skewed by the highest earners.

How much money did Jordan Spieth make in 2015?

Looking at that list, Jordan Spieth is tops with $12 million. That’s the most official money earned by any PGA star in 2015. Jordan Spieth was born in 1992 and has already earned $149 million. It would take 50 typical Americans working their entire lives to make that kind of money.

How much did Phil Spieth make in 2015?

Even in PGA money only, Spieth is lord of the links with $12.03 million official dollars in 2015. So far the golf gender gap is abysmal.

Do golfers make as much money as doctors?

They don’t make quite as much as doctors but some of them make a lot more and most do pretty well. That said, without endorsement deals, golfers don’t stack up well compared to other sports stars. The table below shows that typical pro golfers come in dead last compared to players in the top four leagues.

How much does the lowest ranked golfer get paid?

The lowest-ranked PGA Championship contestant generally takes home around $19,000 for the tour, although the most recent last place Championship finisher, David Muttitt, received just a $3,000 payout.

How much does a PGA commissioner make?

PGA commissioner: About $2.1 to $5.6 million.

How much does Jordan Spieth make?

Jordan Spieth is second at $12.4 million, followed by Dustin Johnson at $10.2 million, Hideki Matsuyama at $8.9 million, and Jon Rahm at $7.1 million. In the other top-20 PGA spots are golfers whose PGA earnings alone are still far ahead of the average pro golf salary of $628,000.

What is the PGA?

The PGA maintains a directory of information for people interested in golf careers. Although many executive-level jobs require college degrees, the PGA points out that a love for golf and good communication skills are all that’s required for many jobs in the industry.

How much money does Tiger Woods make?

Golf’s highest-paid player was Tiger Woods for 12 years, but that changed in 2017 when he made a mere $37 million.

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 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.

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.”

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.

Do golf stores need workers?

Golf retail stores need lots of workers to stock shelves, help customers with selections, and check customers out at the register. If you love being around golf equipment, see if your local golf stores are hiring. You can help customers pick the best items for them personally, considering their skill level and budget.

How much do assistant golfers make?

In contrast, assistants who are apprentices made a median of $28,000, with a range of $18,000 to $43,000 per year. Golfweeks' Adam Woodard breaks down the results from the match.

Who made the most money on the golf course in 2011?

Great Britain's Luke Donald earned more money on the golf course than any other pro in 2011. A golf professional's earnings cover a very wide spectrum, based on the golfer’s ability, whether he plays on a pro tour and whether he endorses any products.

What happens if a golfer loses his PGA card?

If a PGA Tour player is injured or has an off-year and loses his Tour card, his income will likely fall precipitously the following year. Club pros generally enjoy more stable, though much lower, annual incomes.

How much did Steven Alker make on the Midpoint?

Steven Alker, the midpoint money winner at No. 153, earned $16,904. Tour regulars must pay a variety of expenses out of those earnings – including travel, lodging and food – while traveling from event to event.

How much did Phil Mickelson make in 2011?

Phil Mickelson earned almost $61.2 million in 2011, including $57 million off the course. Woods and Mickelson also topped the "Golf Digest" list of golf's top 50 earners in 2011, but the third-place finisher was Arnold Palmer.

How much did Tiger Woods make in 2011?

For example, a "Sport Illustrated" list of the highest-earning American athletes in 2011 was led by two golf pros. Tiger Woods earned almost $63.3 million on the year, $60 million of which came from endorsements, according to the magazine’s calculations. Phil Mickelson earned almost $61.2 million in 2011, including $57 million off the course.

Who won the 2011 Egolf Tour?

Corey Nagy topped the eGolf Tour money list in 2011, earning $89,607, and Karim El Hali was last at No. 316, taking in $750. Ivo Giner, the midpoint earner at No. 158, won $4,250.

How much does a female golfer make?

However, there are professional lady golf players who are earning a decent living and have a luxurious life from golf. A salary of $1 million or more is what most top female golfers take home. Others take part in various endorsements earning them extra dollars.

Who is the best female golfer?

Christie Kerr. Kerr is among the top-earning women golf players currently accumulated winnings worth $15.1 million. Her hard work and dedication has earned her a lot of tournament prizes and made her rank among the best female golf players worldwide.

Who is the highest paid LPGA player?

Anika Sorenstam is currently the highest-earning LPGA player. Her golf career has made her about $20 million in tournament prize money. The famous golf player also makes money from sponsorships.

Who is the youngest lady golfer?

Yani Tseng. Tseng is the youngest lady golfer to win a major championship. She is listed among the top 100 most influential people in the world and has golf winnings of up to $ 9.4 million under her name.

How much money did the Women's Open purse make in 2019?

In 2019 the U.S. Women’s Open had a purse of $5.5 million, $500,000 increase from last year. Of all women’s golf, this is the largest purse. The winner will take home a $1 million check for the first time.

The Commish, Compared

The Uihlein Family Golf Fortune

PGA vs. USGA Executive Pay

Sorry, Pro

The Bottom of The Barrel