Careers in Golf

[snowmangolf]

I’ve been bitten by the bug…. hard. Obsessed with the game, the equipment and everything in between. I have a background in sales (high end auto dealership, mortgage industry, energy efficiency) and would love to work in the field. 

 

Any recommendations or advice to find something within the industry that pays pretty well? I would be willing to take some sort of course or certification if necessary. 

 

Do any of you work in the field currently? If so, what do you do and what do you like/dislike about it? 

[Abh159]

7 hours ago, snowmangolf said:

Any recommendations or advice to find something within the industry that pays pretty well?

 

Unfortunately, you'll find very, very few jobs in the golf industry pay well.

 

FWIW the vast majority of people who work in the golf industry play very little golf. Not because they don't want to, but because they don't have time to.

 

If you like to actually play golf... get a job doing anything else. 

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

Having worked in the golf industry, I'd say if you like playing golf, work outside the industry.

 

Thanks to all those who do keep our courses running.

[MtlJeff]

Are you looking to work in Golf marketing and sales? Like working for an equipment OEM in a sales role? That sort of thing?

 

are you looking to work for a club as like a general manager?

 

Or you mention certifications--are you looking to be a golf pro?

 

Pays pretty well is also in the eye of the beholder!

[LoopySwing13]

FWIW I went through the PGM (pro golf management program which fits in the 4 year degree program) and dropped after 1 year due to long hours, low pay, and not much play time. The reality (as others have said), the only jobs that pay a lot, allow you to play, and have good balance are EXTREMELY hard to get. My college Roomate stuck it out and is now at a top 100 (private club) and has a dream job. He was up against MANY people and you have to have great resume and even better connections. It worked for him, but that’s the 2-5% of jobs. Gets to travel with members, play anywhere he wants, good pay, etc. 

 

If I knew that route was my outcome, I would have stuck it out, but I have several other college buddies who didn’t come close to that outcome, and have spent 10+ years in the biz. I really hate trying to tell anyone not to “follow your dreams” but this is a brutal biz, even more so the last few years. 
 

Edit: I see after reading again, you mean any position. The route I described above is around club pro/director of golf/GM/etc. if you want a job in a golf firm, I think your best bet is networking and trying to find an in. I knew a major regional rep for Wilson staff, had a finance degree with a few years of “contractor” Type roles with taylormade , Wilson staff, and callaway and didn’t even get an interview with my letter of rec.

 

Similar to above, many people want these jobs and it’s very hard to get in. I don’t mean to dissuade a passion but you really need an in for these jobs as they are very small in number. The best way in IMO is to start in a fitting role local or regional and try to grow in the company, but you will be doing a bunch of fitting events, ball fittings, retail locations, etc. a lot of earning the stripes as they say. 

Edited March 17, 2023 by LoopySwing13

[PedronNiall]

 

TLDR; get a job elsewhere that pays you well and gives you lots of free time to golf. I love golf and I'm glad to no end it is a fun escape from everything else and not also my job. Turning something you love into a job is the fastest way to stop enjoying it, if not outright despise it.

 

Edit: to add, you will probably have a lot more fun going to courses and golf-related events and getting to know people on the inside who can get you unique experiences than you will spending 60 hours a week grinding your way up in the industry just to get a little bit of exclusive payoff here and there. Instead of working in golf, you could make good money doing something else, travel to tournaments to volunteer regularly, and spend more time around pros, reps, announcers, golf celebs, regular celebs, and the best courses while having a relaxed time doing it. You could just make good money and play pro-ams, go to paid events at courses & industry sites, and do unique golf vacations and get a lot more love out of the game that way.

Edited March 17, 2023 by PedronNiall

[MattM97]

I was thinking about this 2 years ago, had 2 people that work in golf message me and basically said "Don't" so I never perused it. Basically what others said above, long hours, little pay, no time to play but that all depends on your role and where you work. 

[amace04]

Seems the dream would be in a position like what Trottie does at Taylormade.  Travel with tour, make clubs, fit for clubs, work with pros, be the face of the organization.

Unfortunately, it takes a specific personality, specific skillset, killer resume, connections, skill and a metric shitload of luck.   For every guy like him who seemingly is living the dream (or at least, A dream), there's thousands of guys who work a job mentioned by others above.

 

I'm sure that position also allows for no personal life.  Always on the road, always committed to the brand.  Definitely not for everybody.

 

The alternative is be a successful Youtube channel, but it's so saturated now that it's going to be real hard to stand out.  Guys like TXG, Al Etches, Rick Shiels, Bob Does Sports, etc. likely make pretty good money now, but it will be an absolute grind to get off the ground.  It is not easy to start making money on Youtube.

Edited March 20, 2023 by amace04

[Ferguson]

[IndyArcher]

Would never say you can't, because there are exceptions in every field. I will say that if you are going to give it a go, you'll have to give it everything you've got. Think of all the people here and around the world that LOVE golf. How many would like to make their living at it? How many do? Your passion will have to exceed that of almost all the others who love the game. 

 

And, you have to be welcoming of the sacrifices. I've been involved in archery for years, first as a bowhunter. Decided I wanted to open a shop because I loved working on bows, building strings/cables, customizing, etc. Opened my first shop. It went well as a business. Then I discovered the reality: I got into the archery business because I loved archery and hunting. Archery and hunting are most popular in the summer/fall. My life because frantic from spring through November. The seasons and activities I loved the most now were overshadowed by the business I had to run. I finally made the decision to give it up. Life was good again. Then, like an idiot, I helped open a second shop and brought in the two biggest names in archery. Fortunately, this one wasn't my shop, so I bowed out after a year or so. 

 

Bottom line, for most of us, we have to decide if we what we love is the SPORT, or the BUSINESS of the sport. If it's the former and you engage in the latter, then there's a strong likelihood that 1) You won't have much time to do what you love, and 2) You'll find yourself loving the sport less over time because the sport ends up meaning work for you rather than play. 

 

Like I said, there are exceptions. There are the 1:1,000,000 who can create their own niche where they get to continually do what they love. Kudos if you have the vision and drive to know and attain what you want. It will probably take everything in life to make that work. 

 

Best wishes! Remember us peons when you get your kingdom! 

[ChipNRun]

On 3/16/2023 at 7:25 AM, snowmangolf said:

Any recommendations or advice to find something within the industry that pays pretty well? I would be willing to take some sort of course or certification if necessary. 

 

First of all, let's take a look at the golf industry cluster - it has a complex structure. You have the four core industries, and then two enabled - or complementor - industries. Plenty of jobs in all.

 

But, finding a good-paying job? It takes both personal venturing and good luck. And...

 

5 hours ago, IndyArcher said:

Bottom line, for most of us, we have to decide if we what we love is the SPORT, or the BUSINESS of the sport.

 

Circa 2018,  about 1.9 million people worked in the core golf industry sectors in the USA.

 

As for me, I'm a retired business professor who often used golf industry examples - and occasional cases - in his strategy classes.

 

I was active as a caddie from roughly 1964 to 1972, and more recently caddied in a Symetra Tour (LPGA developmental) event in 2017.

 

I play in the area Amateur circuit, and have volunteered at six national-level tournaments since 2008.

 

Along the way, I have gotten to know lots of golf industry employees in most of the clusters. Many make a decision around age 30 if they want to stay in golf, or get better jobs.

 

In your situation, you might consider part-time work for entry. Given your high-end auto sales background, you might approach a regional manager for the OEMs - Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, etc. Ask if they need an assistant for golf expos or a traveling fitting team.

 

At recent shows, about half the OEM club reps are golfers, yes... but their knowledge of the OEM's recent products, and general knowledge of how golf clubs works, is pretty sketchy.

 

Brush up on recent club models by the OEM you want to approach. If you really want to get ready, go to the Maltby Clubmaking Academy and take the basic fitting, assembly and repair course. Three days, about $400 and a fun week. (Maltby school is part of TheGolfworks network that sells club components and shop equipment.)

[ShortGameGod]

On 3/16/2023 at 1:25 PM, snowmangolf said:

I’ve been bitten by the bug…. hard. Obsessed with the game, the equipment and everything in between. I have a background in sales (high end auto dealership, mortgage industry, energy efficiency) and would love to work in the field. 

 

Any recommendations or advice to find something within the industry that pays pretty well? I would be willing to take some sort of course or certification if necessary. 

 

Do any of you work in the field currently? If so, what do you do and what do you like/dislike about it? 

My recommendation is to get a non-golf job that pays really good but with as few as possible work hours.

[golfortennis]

So this is probably really just piling on, but I had a similar story but with sports in general.  I played sports in high school, but was never good enough to play anything beyond that(may or may not have been good enough at golf, but I didn't play until 18, seriously till 25).  But I loved sports, and saw a sports management program, so that became my goal.  My dream job was to be president of the Detroit Tigers.

 

Anyway, this being Canada, there is an additional factor they never tell you about, and that is it's a very small sports community.  You have to figure that there are schools pumping out graduates every year from these programs, and there just aren't enough jobs in the industry.  And here's the kicker:  you're also up against the players.  Here in Canada, hockey is king, so I will use that as an example.  I didn't play at all growing up, much less at any kind of level.  Why is that important?  Because a guy who is dumb as a post but played hockey will get several opportunities to show how inept he is at a job in the front office, whereas someone like me may get one shot at a job.  Because the people making the decisions are dealing with a combination thought process of "good player = good coach/front office employee" and "I played with John, and John's son must be smart like him."  Sound familiar?

 

And then let's not forget the pay.  There will be very little.  Why?  Because there is a line over a mile long of people who will do that job for no money if you don't like that.

 

That's the thing you're going to deal with:  lots of people think they want to work in golf, so there is no need for anyone to pay high compensation(unless you're a "friend" of someone with their fingers on the spigot like the USGA or organization like that--but then Carlin's "it's a big club and we're not in it" comes into play), and no matter how smart you are, you have a very good chance of getting beaten out for a job by a guy who makes Dustin Johnson look like a Mensa member because he once played in a Nationwide tour event. 

 

If you are set for life financially and can walk away at any point, go for it.  Otherwise, like others have said, do something that pays well and allows you time to play golf.  Short of that, become a lawyer or accountant and then work in those departments.  You may get some respect in terms of compensation with designations.