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What does a Head Golf Professional do?
Dee Saale
Dee Saale
A head golf professional manages a large portion of the routine functions associated with a private or a public golf course. Generally, she may hire staff, create a budget, and host tournaments. If a golf course has a pro shop or snack bar, she may be responsible for creating revenue at the shop or snack bar as well. In addition, she may also oversee group golfing clinics or private lessons and, in some cases, she may teach a few classes as well.
Overseeing the routine functions of the golf course is expected of many head golf professionals. For example, the professional may oversee the enforcement of golf course regulations and rules through the use of golf course marshals or rangers. She may also be in charge matters associated with a golf course’s golf carts. This can include managing the upkeep of the carts, the cart maintenance records, and the cleanliness of the area where the carts are stored. Other routine functions that the head golf professional may supervise include the overall upkeep of the course, the golf bag storage area, and the driving range or practice area.
One of the main duties of the head golf professional is to oversee and manage other staff members at the golf course. For example, she may be responsible for golf cart attendants, pro shop attendants, golf course marshals, snack bar staff, and golf cart mechanics. Her management duties may include hiring and firing; setting wages; work schedules; training; and performance reviews. In addition, she may be responsible for setting up and attending staff meetings.
At many golf courses, the head golf professional is responsible for implementing and following a budget. For example, she may be required to create a budget and purchase retail items for the golf pro shop and the snack shop. In addition, she may work out a budget regarding the operating expenses for the golf carts. In some cases, she may collect green fees, make bank deposits, and keep accounting records. In other cases, she may prepare reports that summarize financial information about the golf course for the course general manager to review.
Some golf courses have golfing tournaments throughout the year and others offer golf lessons. The head golf professional may oversee the planning and execution of the tournaments. In addition, she may establish clinics or instructional programs. In some cases, she may be required to teach lessons as well.
Dee Saale
Dee is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She has a B.A. in English Literature, as well as a law degree. Dee is especially interested in topics relating to medicine, legal issues, and home improvement, which are her specialty when contributing to GolfPutting.
Learn more...
Dee Saale
Dee is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She has a B.A. in English Literature, as well as a law degree. Dee is especially interested in topics relating to medicine, legal issues, and home improvement, which are her specialty when contributing to GolfPutting.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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By: sculpiesGolf professionals usually give golf lessons to club members. -
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By: Blair HowardA head golf professional may help redesign a country club's course. -
![Some golf professionals oversee the management and routine functions of a golf course.]()
By: Malcolm BoydSome golf professionals oversee the management and routine functions of a golf course. -
![The duties of a head golf professional may involve overseeing the maintenance of a course's golf carts.]()
By: Denis GladkiyThe duties of a head golf professional may involve overseeing the maintenance of a course's golf carts. -
![A head golf professional may hire the caddies who transport a golfer's bag and clubs from hole to hole.]()
By: Warren GoldswainA head golf professional may hire the caddies who transport a golfer's bag and clubs from hole to hole.
Discussion Comments
@kentuckycat - I agree. I have had experience working at a golf course and I can say that there needs to be someone at the top to provide appropriate leadership in order to administer duties.
I was someone at the course that was very low level so I could not say or do anything about some of the things that needed to be done, but if there is not a golf professional there to administer duties than what happens is what happened in my case.
The guy that was the de facto head of the place did not administer duties the way a golf professional would and what happened was people became lax with their jobs and would do the bear minimum as far as course maintenance is concerned.
That is why it is important for a golf course to have either a golf professional or a guy at the top to provide leadership and be able to effectively administer duties.
The place that I usually play at is a rinky dink type of place that does not have a golf professional running it.
Because of the fact that this place does not have a person with knowledge of the game to run it the place is always in terrible shape and the administration of the course is just flabbergastingly bad.
I find it really sad because all they need is someone to provide some leadership, which is something a head golf professional provides and keeps the inmates from running the asylum at places like where I play.
@jcraig - You are absolutely correct. I have thought about becoming a head golf professional but I always thought that I was not a good enough golfer in order to become one.
I usually average around 75 when I play a round, but I always envision guys who are golf professionals shooting in the 60's on a regular basis and playing in some serious professional tournaments.
However, I guess that is not the case and as far as a golf professional goes the courses are looking for someone to more or less manage the place and has the knowledge of the game in order to manage effectively.
I also guess that they would need to be capable of teaching people how to play and be able to give lessons and this requires more knowledge than necessarily playing ability.
I believe that as far as how good of a player a head golf professional is, the requirements by the USGA only list that one needs to be under a 10 stroke handicap, which means if they average about an 80 they could become a golf professional.
I was surprised to see this because when I think of golf professionals I think of guys I see on television or guys that are usually the best players at a club.
However, when one thinks about it there are some places in the country that focus more on their facilities than their golf course. I know this one guy in my town that is a golf professional in a nearby town at a place that is more of an entertainment center with a very average nine hole course.
So, if anyone has aspirations to be a golf professional they should really look into it and they would be surprised how easy it is to become certified.
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