Guide categorises pros & managers together
5th February, 2012 by Alistair Dunsmuir
A new guide that identifies the skills golf professionals can bring to a golf club places a head golf professional in the same category as a golf club manager.
PGA Role Descriptors, published by the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and the United Kingdom Golf Course Owners Association (UKGCOA), is designed to assist golf facilities in securing the most suitable candidates for their needs.
The guide is divided into six categories, including PGA assistant professional, PGA club professional, PGA director of golf, PGA academy manager and PGA teaching professional. The other category is defined as ‘PGA golf manager / head professional’.
The document states that a PGA head professional will have experience in understanding how golf course maintenance, food and beverage, corporate functions and golf club administration can impact on the business of the whole golf club.
The Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA) has warned clubs in recent times not to cut costs by appointing the PGA professional to manage the facility when an existing manager may have skills better placed to improve the financial performance of the venue.
However, Paul Keeling, club services manager for England Golf, and Andy Salmon, Scottish Golf development manager, believe the guide could help bring more people into spending time and money in golf clubs, helping both the club and the PGA professional.
“The landscape of golf has undoubtedly changed over the last few years and is backed up by golf club membership statistics,” said Paul.
“In a difficult climate England Golf and the PGA recognise that in order for both the club and PGA professionals businesses to succeed, a well-structured partnership is imperative. England Golf fully supports and recommends that our affiliate clubs use the guidance document when appraising and developing a good working relationship.”
“There is no question that our aims of increasing participation, supporting clubs and developing talent are all dependent on the positive involvement of PGA professionals,” added Andy.
“The role of the professional can go way beyond coaching and we welcome the development of role descriptors which will support employers in future in their efforts to recruit the right professional for their business objectives.”
Richard Dixon, chief executive of the Golf Union of Wales, added: “In the current challenging economic climate it is more important than ever that golf clubs have a fit-for-purpose workforce.
“The Golf Union of Wales firmly believes that a PGA professional is an essential element of any successful club and that the introduction of role descriptors by the PGA will benefit employers enormously in helping them identify the right professional for their specific needs.”
There are some really great models that show the two positions help an establishment. DC Ranch in Phoenix. That property has a tremendous amount of work too.
If the club goes with a golf professional only, then that person needs to be dynamic, like an ex-Tour pro. The models for that one have a property with limited work with no real estate sales and limit club house facilities.