|
Trade Schools Directory >
Education & Career Articles Index >
Are You Really Cut Out for Your Dream Career in Golf?
Are You Really Cut Out for Your Dream Career in Golf?
Few things in life are as enjoyable as playing a round of golf on a warm, sunny day when you're on top of your game. The smell of freshly cut grass can signal the beginning of a refreshing escape from the daily grind. So it's only natural to ponder the idea of somehow turning golf into a career, even if you know you'll never make the PGA tour. It makes for a pleasant dream, made all the more desirable as you watch the Golf Course Manager and Golf Professionals happily doing their work around the clubhouse and manicured fairways. But, before you get too serious, there are some things you should know about working in the golf industry.
For starters, golf is an intricate business. And, like many other profit-making enterprises, success depends on a variety of pieces—dedicated professionals, special equipment, hard work, and a lot of ingenuity—all coming together reliably. In this eye-opening article, a General Manager at an upscale golf course in British Columbia, Canada is quoted as saying that a typical day for him involves solving unexpected problems and meeting and consulting with any number of other professionals on staff, including the Golf Course Superintendent, Instructors, and Marketing and Administrative Personnel. Golf makes for a busy and complex work life—very different from the relaxing leisure of playing the game.
Working for a golf course means committing yourself to long, hard hours. You won't find too many 40-hour work weeks in golf. In most regions, for anyone with a management position, up to seven months of the year can involve working 50- to 70-hour weeks. That often means not having much free time to hit the links yourself. You'll be spending your time creating fun experiences for other golfers. You'll likely even be needed to work on weekends and holidays.
But advancing in a golf career takes more than hard work. In many cases, it also requires the ability to adapt and roll with change. That's because employers in the industry like to hire people with varied golf-related work experience. And that can mean having to move around a lot to find diverse opportunities.
With environmental concerns now in the forefront of many municipalities, plenty of golf courses will have to find ways to make their operations more sustainable. It all points to an industry at the beginning of what could be a lengthy transition toward more player-friendly and ecologically favorable golf course designs and operations.
And to add a bit more of a challenge, competition for golf positions is fierce. You have to be very, very good at what you do. Finding and maintaining success as a working golf professional means standing out and always proving yourself.
If you want to gain an edge over your competition, you'd better arrive prepared to play. Knowing the game of golf inside and out is a must. You need to be able to see things from a player's perspective. But you also need a solid understanding of the business side of the game. Nobody should have to question your work ethic. And good communication skills and the ability to think on your feet are also essential qualities.
Attaining your dream career in golf is all about going into it with your eyes wide open. Most of the people who've had long careers in golf love what they do and would never want to do anything else. But you stand the best chance at success if you set realistic expectations. If you'd like to learn more about the points covered here, start with the article "Top five things you should know about working in the golf industry." And good luck in your journey!
If you're ready to start exploring your path to a golf career, this guide to golf schools is a great place to begin!
© 2001 - 2012 Beelineweb.com
Trade Schools Site Map |
Programs |
Blog
|
