4. John Brown, PGA
Email: jbrown@hpcountryclub.com
916 Abbotts Creek Church Rd., High Point, NC 27265 * 302.229.9766
OBJECTIVE
To obtain the Head Golf Professional position at a private family-oriented golf facility. To continue to
grow as a professional and challenge myself while creating a successful business; as well as to promote the
game of golf and teach all who are eager to learn.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION
Master of Business Administration
Methodist University, May 2011
Professional Golfers’ Association of America
Certified PGA Golf Professional since April 2010
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Professional Golf Management Minor
Methodist University, December 2009
Merit Scholarship Award
Recipient, 2005-2009
Delaware State Golf Association Scholarship
Recipient, 2005-2009
WORK EXPERIENCE
High Point Country Club, High Point North Carolina
Willow Creek Golf Course, designed by Willard Byrd, opened in 1964 and measures 6,982 yards from
the back tees. Three shorter sets of tees make the course playable for women, juniors and those just
starting out in the game. Considered one of the top 30 courses in North Carolina, Willow Creek has
hosted numerous tournaments of regional and national significance, including qualifying events for the
US Open and U.S. Amateur, as well as hosting the LPGA’s Henredon Classic for a number of years. In
2012, Willow Creek Golf Course underwent a series of renovations that included installing Champion
Bermuda greens. Better-suited for the warm, humid summers, Champion has been a welcome addition
to an already impressive golf facility.
Direct Supervisor: Jim Brotherton, Director of Golf
Head Golf Professional, August 2015- present
• Manage the outside service staff at High Point Country Club.
• Supervise and delegate bag-room staff of 10 employees.
• Responsible for staffing, scheduling, and training new hires.
• Head Junior golf instructor:
o Started a SNAG golf program from scratch within the first two weeks on the job that was
filled with 32 juniors that participated in a six-week series that had a 4:1 teacher to
student ratio spread over four different groups of eight juniors.
5. o U.S. Kids Golf Program Instructor: Youth Junior Kids 7-12.
25 juniors split into two afternoon classes. The program promotes getting the
juniors out onto the golf course and learning to score from different yardages.
o Developed the following marketing material and curriculum:
Slide show demonstrating to the parents the learning process and program
details.
Created an online form to gather junior information to benefit the juniors from
day one of the program and provide a personalize touch.
Met with other staff, and developed a budget for staffing, purchasing equipment,
and dates that would be most effective to benefiting the juniors.
Trained staff on how to teach juniors and develop a successful program.
• Ladies’ 9-Holer leader:
Started a Ladies’ 9-Hole golf group from scratch for 2016 that has 35
participants.
Created a calendar of events for the year.
Developed a clinic series to build a foundation of fundamentals and rules of golf.
• Manage a fleet of 54 golf cars as well as bag storage for approximately 120 golf bags.
• Developed and implemented Staff Best Practices Manual which includes:
Golf Shop Procedures
Outside Staff Procedures
Job Responsibilities for each area of the operation
Outside and golf shop scheduling
Carmel Country Club, Charlotte North Carolina
Carmel holds tournaments from March to November, including the very popular Pro-Am, a Spring and
Fall Member-Member, two Member-Guest events and Club Championships. The Club is home to two
Ladies’ Golf Associations: 9-Holers and 18-Holers. Our Junior Golf Program is unmatched with
everything from clinics, to one-on-one instruction, to summer camps. The 36-Hole Private Country Club
has a membership of 1000 and accommodates approximately 50,000 rounds annually.
Direct Supervisor: Jeff Nichols, Director of Golf
Assistant Golf Professional, August 2013- August 2015
• Manage the outside service staff at Carmel Country Club.
• Supervise and delegate bag-room staff of 15 employees.
• Responsible for staffing, scheduling, and training new hires.
6. • Manage a fleet of 120 golf cars as well as bag storage for approximately 1000 golf bags.
• Developed and implemented Staff Best Practices Manual which includes:
o Golf Shop Procedures
o Online tee sheets management, and online calendar for members using Club Essentials.
o Outside Staff Procedures
o Job Responsibilities for each area of the operation
o Outside and golf shop scheduling
• Coordinator for the following golf associations:
o OMEGA senior golf group that includes approximately 60 players
Create and distribute OMEGA schedule that includes weekly qualifiers & matches
Manage food & beverage budgets
Coordinate with other golf professionals in the area for events
o Jr. Inter-Club Coach
Won the 2015 Jr. Inter-Club Championship that competed against 16 other clubs
in Charlotte, NC. This is a team event with 16 players from each club that
compete in weekly tournaments to qualify for the overall championship.
Oversee practice for approximately 50 junior participants and travel to
competitions on a weekly basis
Tied for 1st in the Pro-Junior and was the 4th overall team in the 2014 Jr. Inter-
Club Championship in Charlotte, NC.
• Tournament coordinator for the following events:
o Helped with two member-guests events that had 216 players with 40 teams on the wait
list for 2015.
o Ryder Cup for 72 members of Carmel.
o High School Shootout that had 64 players who played in a stroke play event.
o Spring Member-Member that increased participation from 192 players the year before to
216 players for 2015, which is an increase by 11% over last year.
o Helped introduce a Player’s Partner’s tournament for every major of the year that the
members participate in to win golf shop credits.
o Carmel Jr. Invitational that increased participation from 132 players the year before to
144 with a waiting list of 6 players for 2015, which is an increase by 12% over last year.
7. o Parent Child Twilight that increased participation from 47 players to 72 players and
utilized all 18-holes for the tournament for 2015, which is an increase of over 34% over
last year.
o Parent Child Championship that had participation of 200 players in 2015 that sustained
90 players more than any other year prior to last year’s record turnout.
o Carmel Jr. Invitational that increased participation from 106 players the year before to
132 players for 2014, which is an increase by 20% over last year.
o Parent Child Twilight that increased participation from 27 players to 47 players with a
waiting list of 10 players for 2014, which is an increase of over 100% over last year.
o Jr. Club Championship that offered an opportunity for a junior to play in the Men’s Club
Championship.
o Parent Child Championship that increased participation from 110 players the year before
to 220 players, which is an increase by 100% over last year.
• Created a marketing video highlighting Carmel’s family–oriented mission that is used to attract
new membership to the club.
• Created merchandise displays in the golf shop that helped win the 2013 Carolinas Merchandiser
of Year Award.
Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte North Carolina
Our 18-hole Donald Ross golf course was restored by architect Ron Prichard and was awarded the 2009
Best Remodel of the Year by Golf Digest. Our course is ranked #63 in GolfWeek's 2012 Classic
Courses. The yardage is 7,335 yards with a 75.9 rating and 146 slope. Our Club has hosted three USGA
championships: 1972 U.S. Men's Amateur, 2000 U.S. Senior Men's Amateur, and 2010 U.S. Women's
Amateur. The club has 650 members and does approximately 28,000 rounds per year.
Direct Supervisor: Andrew Shuck, Head Golf Professional
Assistant Caddie Master, February 2011-May 2013
• Created work schedule for outside bag staff of 10 employees.
• Managed a fleet of 65 golf cars as well as bag storage for 800 golf bags.
• Assisted in coordinating golf tournaments.
• Taught clinics for the Junior Golf program.
Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Linville, NC
Ranked #2 in Top 100 Courses for 2012 -Ranked #1 in the Western Region -Rated Best Shot Values in
Western Region -Eighth hole listed as favorite #8 on North Carolina Golf Panel’s “Dream 18” -Ranked
#2 in Most Coveted Club Memberships -Ranked #1 in Best Greens Complexes in Western NC. The club
has 400 members and does approximately 12,000 rounds per year.
Direct Supervisor: Chip King, PGA Director of Golf
Assistant Golf Professional, April-November 2010
• Created work schedule for outside bag staff of 10 employees.
8. • Managed a fleet of 100 golf cars as well as bag storage for 200 golf bags.
• Assisted in coordinating golf tournaments.
• Taught clinics for the Junior Golf program.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Carolinas PGA Section Annual Meeting, 2009-present
• Titleist Club Fitter, Accredited 2014
• Mizuno Club Fitter, Accredited 2014-present
• Top-100 fitter for Mizuno nationwide 2014-present
• U.S. Kids Top 50 Honorable Mention Instructor 2015-present
INTERNSHIPS
• Highland Country Club, Fayetteville, NC, 2009
• Westmoreland Country Club, Wilmette, IL, 2008
• King’s Creek Country Club, Rehoboth, DE, 2007
• Lakewood Country Club, Colorado Springs, CO, 2006
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, Outlook, Excel, and Power Point, Jonas Point of Sales.
• Exceptional Interpersonal Skills and ability to establish and maintain relationships quickly.
• Can type over 50 words per minute.
• Proficient in GHIN’s Tournament Pairings Program as well as EventMan.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
• Exercising
• Training my dog
• Reading
• Fishing and hiking
• Spending time with my wife, family, and German Shepherd.
9. REFERENCES
Jim Brotherton, PGA
Director of Golf
High Point Country Club
916 Abbotts Creek Church Rd.
High Point, NC 27265
Phone: 336.869.2416
Jeff Nichols, PGA
Director of Golf
Carmel Country Club
4735 Carmel Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28226
Phone: 704.945.3300
2014 Carolinas Section Golf Professional of the Year
2013 Carolinas Section Merchandiser of the Year
Jason Toryk, PGA
Head Golf Professional
Carmel Country Club
4735 Carmel Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28226
Phone: 704.945.3300
Andrew Shuck, PGA
Head Golf Professional
Charlotte Country Club
2465 Mecklenburg Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28205
Phone: 704.334.0836
10. Chip King, PGA
Director of Golf
Grandfather Golf & Country Club
2120 N Carolina 105
Linville, NC 28646
Phone: 828.898.4531
2015 Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame Recipient
12. Providing excellent customer service begins at knowing your customers name and what drives them.
These fundamentals of customer service are essential with running a smooth business. My staff will work
toward recognizing members by name, because that is the cornerstone of starting a relationship. Besides
being a relationship expert the golf professional will be asked to wear many different hats among these
things are, manager, mentor, a teacher, merchandiser, a coach, an entrepreneur, a leader, an ambassador
of the game, and sometimes even a weather person. Establishing relationships and my hard work are two
of my most coveted attributes that I can provide to any club. By providing an excellent member
experience, your members will be motivated to a bring guests to the club, and they will also serve as your
greatest advertisement by recommending you to friends and associates. My goal will be to mentor the
best golf professionals that will provide an exceptional experience that will win awards that bring positive
recognition to your club.
My keys to providing First-Class Customer Service
• Know your membership.
o You are in the business to service the needs of your members, and you can only achieve that if
you know what your members want or require. Building relationships with members on
many different levels is important. The more you know about your membership the better
equipped you will be to identify and anticipate their needs.
• Be an excellent listener.
o Pinpoint your customer’s needs by asking specific questions and keying in on what their
responses are. Pay attention to the tone of their voice and their body language. Always give
your undivided attention. When you truly listen to your members they will tell you exactly
what they require and how you can provide that to them.
• Always make your members fell important and appreciated.
o Treat your embers as individuals, make sure you use their name and if possible find a way to
pay them a sincere compliment. People value sincerity; it helps build a good rapport and
trust. Let you members know how much you value their business and support, and thank
them every opportunity you get.
• Always offer to help but beware not over extend yourself.
o Offer your assistance to your members whenever you can. Have a full appreciation of the
power of “Yes”; when a member has a request (as long as it is reasonable) tell them you can
do it. Be careful however, it is easy to trap yourself by making a promise you might not be
able to keep. Always do what you say you will do. It is much better to tell a member you
might not be able to help them with a certain request, rather than to make a promise and fail
to deliver.
• Know how to apologize.
o When something goes wrong or a member is unhappy, apologize. Deal with problems
immediately, and let you member know how you have resolved the situation. Value their
criticism and use it as a tool to improve your operation. Go out of your way to make a difficult
situation comfortable for all parties involved.
• Treat your employees well.
13. o Your staff is your main tool for helping provide customer service and they need a regular dose
of appreciation. Thank them and let them know how important they are to the operation. By
treating your staff with respect they will have a higher regard for the membership and a desire
to follow your examples. Appreciation starts from the top and works down.
15. When it comes to effectively managing a staff my philosophy is centered upon mutual respect. Respect is
earned it is not assumed. As a manager it is important to communicate with your staff your expectations
on their roles for your operation, as well as fulfill their expectations of yourself as their leader. Always
lead by example.
The most challenging parts of a Head Professional’s job is recruiting, hiring, training, and maintaining a
solid staff, while promoting a cohesive team atmosphere. Comprehensive “hands-on” training is essential
to a new staff member’s development. Utilizing a detailed policies and procedures manual will not only
serve as a guide for staff members but will outline what is expected of them in their position. I also
believe in utilizing an “open door policy” to allow staff members the opportunity to address their opinions
and concerns.
Keys to properly staffing a golf operation
• Staff Recruitment
o Friends in the business
o Member recommendations
o Fellow PGA Professionals
o Professional Golf Management (PGM) students from accredited universities
o Network of reputable sales vendor representatives in the section and territory
o PGA Employment Bulletins
• Staff Training
o Provide a detailed policies and procedures manual
o Delegating responsibilities (Men’s, Ladies’, and Junior Tournaments)
o Constant hands-on job training
o Quarterly employee evaluations
o Providing educational opportunities with vendors and PGA Accredited Seminars
o Support assistants with pursuit of their Class A Professional Certification and continuing
education
• Promoting a team atmosphere
o Establish a proper chain of command
o Regularly scheduled employee meetings
o Implement a staff uniform policy
o Invite specific feedback to address problems and make improvements
o Utilize an “Open-Door Policy” to help open lines of communication with your staff
members
18. Club members deserve a professional staff that enjoys playing and teaching golf to the membership. This
allows the staff to develop a more in-depth relationship with the membership, and be able to provide even
more benefits that the membership may have been missing out on previously. For example: during a
playing lesson that I was having with a member he mentioned that he would like to see more club
manufactures provided during the fitting process and demo days that he could hit all of the clubs prior to
purchasing. This information was ever valuable over the last year in half where I was able to host more
Mizuno fitting days with pre-scheduled fittings blocks for example: from 3:00 PM-7:00 PM with dual
fitters to increase the amount of participants and service for the membership. I even learned through my
playing lessons that many of my members had Callaway equipment that was not being bought from our
golf shop. This sparked my interest and we have done year-to-date near $20,000.00 worth of hard goods
from Callaway golf clubs, which is an increase over the $500.00 we have done in all of the years past.
Mizuno sales have also; increase from close to $2000.00 all previous years before I was on staff with them
to $20,000.00 hard goods+plus for the past two years.
As a golf professional it is our responsibility to make sure that members enjoy the game to the fullest. I
am a firm believer that we should use as simple terms and techniques to make lasting impacts on our
student’s development of their game. These easy adjustments are: course management, short game
practice, and reading green procedures.
Keys to providing a successful instructional program
• Be prepared
o Be on time to the lesson tee
o Know your student’s name and introduce yourself promptly
o Have any props or teaching aids you may need for the lesson available and on hand
• Gather background information and establish your students goals
o Start your lesson with a Q & A session to determine your students attributes, abilities,
and/ or physical limitations
o Discover what your student hopes to achieve from the lesson
o Asses his or her dedication level
o Allow proper time for warm-up (preferably before the scheduled lesson-time)
o Lay out a lesson plan for your student and discuss how you will help them achieve their
goals
• Keep the lesson interesting
o Utilize different instructional aids to break up the monotony of the lesson
o Utilize a video coaching system, it is extremely helpful to the student and provides a
professional touch to your lesson
o Vary the scenery, if time permits offer to take your student to the course to practice what
they have been working on
o Demonstrate drills that are specific to the students goals
19. • Know how to properly end a lesson
o Allow time for a re-cap of the lesson
o Prepare a list of drills and key points for the student to work on before the next lesson
o Do your best to book the student’s next lesson before he or she leaves
o End the lesson on time
• Impress the importance of continuing education with your staff
o Encourage staff members to attend teaching seminars and summits to increase their
knowledge base as instructors
o Share your ideas and encourage discussion with your staff about how to improve the
instructional program.
• Constantly promote yourself, your staff, and your programs
o Explore creative ways to expand your teaching business
o Be prepared to offer discounts when lesson activity is slow
o Promote multiple lesson packages as a way to get players to make a commitment to
learning
o Make the student feel as comfortable as possible which will encourage them to continue
the learning process
21. One of the most challenging and interesting aspects of the golf business is properly merchandising the golf
shop to service the needs of the entire membership. It is necessary to know your customer base and to not
only provide them with the highest quality merchandise at affordable prices, but to deliver excellent
customer service as well. Keeping abreast of the constant changes in the marketplace , while keeping an
eye out for new and exciting products, is a constant challenge. The most important elements of
maintaining a successful merchandise concession are managing sales and controlling your inventory
levels.
There are several key principals that will help to develop a successfully merchandised golf shop:
Provide a unique and enjoyable shopping experience
o Employ a well train staff that can assist members and guest as well as provide detailed
product information
o Offer a diverse product selection that satisfies the entire membership
o Maintain a clean environment
o Offer periodic sales and special offerings (Holiday sales, sales racks, and club fitting, etc.)
o Maintain creative and visually appealing displays of the merchandise that are easily and
often changed to provide a fresh look
22. Provide friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive customer service
The value of customer service will be at the fore front of all staff training. Our staff will be knowledgeable
in the following:
• It is not always the product that you are selling; it is the manner in which you are selling it.
• Making all customers feel welcome, greeting them when they walk through the door, and being
available to assist them with their purchases.
• If a particular item of interest is no longer in stock, the staff will attempt to obtain the item
through alternative methods, such as special ordering, merchandise exchange with another golf
shop, or through contacting the sales representative.
• Provide gift wrapping on a year round basis at no charge.
Vendor Relations
It is very important to maintain a good relationship with product vendors to make sure our member’s
needs are met along with streamlining the merchandising of the golf shop.
• Confirm reliability of the company checking their quality control, product warranties, and turn
around times.
• When ordering merchandise, always order enough from one group to make a proper display,
when re-ordering attempt to match the color schemes to maintain the continuity of the display
• Utilize the sales representative as a source of information about existing product lines and new
trends.
• If product is not selling, work with your representative to help exchange or relocate inventory to
another on of their accounts within their territory.
Overall Standards
• Re-order and place pre-booked orders for all items with a high turn over rate (ball, gloves, hats,
etc.)
• Keep a constant rotation of merchandise throughout the shop to refresh to the overall visual
display.
• Maintain a constant attention to detail in the golf shop (dusting, folding shirts, straightening &
restocking the displays)
• Make sure staff members are neat in their appearance
Merchandising is one of the most important parts of a golf professional’s job description. With constant
supervision, the golf shop can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the overall experience at any club. I
was both fortunate and honored to be having been working with the 2013 Carolinas Merchandiser and
2014 Golf Professional of the Year, Jeff Nichols. The accomplishment has given me the ability to learn
and be mentored by one of the most influential PGA professionals in the business. My appreciation and
knowledge of the merchandising aspect of the business has been a reflection of working with not only Jeff
but other outstanding professionals throughout my career.
24. My personal philosophy will incorporate the knowledge I have acquired during my service at two of the
finest clubs in the country. I am committed to administering a first class golf tournament program that
meets the goals and direction of the golf committee. The program will strive to be comprehensive and
professional in nature. My mission is to carry out the golf committee’s vision and make the events
enjoyable for all members, while providing the committee with possible suggestions and solutions to
various dilemmas that may arise. Preparation is essential to managing any tournament program. The
golf staff will be committed to being properly and thoroughly prepared to handle the requirements of each
event. Due to the various types of events, the amount of work necessary for each event varies. The
following sections outline the steps the golf operation takes to fulfill the objectives of each event.
Member Tournaments
• Pre-Tournament Operations
o The Head Professional will contact and meet with the event coordinator or committee
member for that event and complete a pre-tournament information form
o The Head Professional will present and discuss the pre-tournament information form to
the assistant professional that will be managing the tournament
o A current file will be kept with all pertinent information pertaining to the event
o Create the tournament with applicable tournament software
o Notify the Course Superintendent of any special information they may need to prepare
the golf course (tee marker placement, pin positions, etc.)
o Meet with outside staff to discuss number of golf cars needed and their set up
o Prepare scoreboard with scoring sheets, hole assignments, and a tournament rules sheet
o Develop rules sheets, pin sheet, and scorecards; decide how they will be distributed to the
participants (placed of golf cars, handed out at registration or first tee)
o Pre-Tournament announcements begin 10 minutes before scheduled start time of the
tournament
• During Tournament Operations
o Bring scoreboard up to date with any tournament or player changes
o Have the shop manager or other assistant enter all gift certificates into the P.O.S. system
and bill the correct account number for any tournament entry fees
o Make a hard copy of any charges pertaining to the event and place them in the
tournament file
o The Head Professional and assistant who is managing the event shall be visible on the
course as soon as possible to handle any rules questions or pace of play problems
o Make sure there is a staff member at the main scoreboard and scoring area when the first
group arrives
• Post Tournament Operations
25. o Post results to the scoreboard
o List results on the tournament results form, make copies and provide them to the shop
manager or assistant to complete any gift certificate prizes
o Provide the tournament coordinator with the results sheet and any prizes
o During the presentation of awards, make sure the golf shop is prepared for the
redemption of the gift certificates
Outside Outing Operations
• Pre-Outing Operations
o The Head Professional will meet with the tournament coordinator and sponsor of the
event and complete the pre-tournament information form (The assistant who is running
the tournament is encouraged to accompany the head professional during the meeting)
o If rental golf cars are needed, call and confirm the order
o A current file will be kept with all pertinent information pertaining to the event
o Any special gifts should be planned weeks in advance, sample artwork and swatches are
crucial to any successful special gift
o Approve artwork and place the order as soon as possible
o Contact the tournament coordinator one week before the tournament date, and see about
any problems or concerns they might have. This is a good time to ask about a player
pairing sheet
o Create the tournament with applicable tournament software
o Prepare scoreboard with scoring sheets, hole assignments, tournament format, and rules
o Meet with the outside staff to discuss number of golf cars needed and their set up
o Develop rules sheets, pin sheet, and scoreboards; decide how they will be distributed to
the participants (placed on golf cars, handed out at registration or first tee)
o Provide a course map if available
o Make sure all special events are in place (closest to the pin, long drive, etc.)
o Pre-tournament announcements begin 10 minutes before scheduled start time of the
tournament
• During Outing Operations
o Staff members should ride the golf course, starting from the 18th and 9th greens going
backwards, to make sure every group started on the correct hole and on time. They also
available to answer any questions the participants may have.
o Bring scoreboard up to date with any tournament player changes
26. o Have the shop manager or other assistant enter all gift certificates into the P.O.S. system
and bill the correct account number for any tournament entry fees
o Make a hard copy of any charges pertaining to the event and place them in the
tournament file
o The Head Professional and assistant who is managing the event shall be visible on the
golf course as soon as possible to handle any rules questions or pace of play problems
o Make sure there is a staff member at the main scoreboard and scoring area when the first
group arrives
• Post Outing Operations
o Post results to the scoreboard
o List results on the tournament results form, make copies and provide them to the shop
manager or assistant to complete any gift certificate prizes
o During the presentation of awards, make sure the golf shop is prepared for the
redemption of the gift certificates
o Update the tournament file folder with the results, any applicable charges, and
information from days play
28. A successful and comprehensive women’s golf program is vital to a country club. The ideal women’s
program includes weekly events, major tournaments, instructional clinics, individual, group, and playing
lessons, rules of golf seminars, and proper merchandising of the golf shop.
• Ladies Days
o Typically the 9 and 18 hole women’s groups conduct regular weekly events, some of these
matches are unofficial events, but are important to the overall standings at the year’s end
and sometimes are not given the necessary attention.
The following keys will illustrate the objectives of the golf staff:
o Strive to make every weekly event important
o Make-up scorecards & rules sheets
o Start the event
o Provide scoring and summary of results for the event
o Announce the winners at the luncheon
o Post winnings to tournament credit accounts
• Major Tournament
Major events are important for the professional staff to showcase their abilities for the benefit of the
women’s golf program. It all starts from the moment the player arrives at the registration table and
continues through the presentation of awards. My commitment will be to work diligently and foster
team-work between all departments of the club that contributes to the overall success of these events.
The following keys will illustrate the objectives of the golf staff for major ladies events:
o Meet with the tournament chair and department heads to plan functions so all people are
on the same page.
o Insure that the tee gifts and awards are ordered ahead of time and received for the event.
o The professional staff will available for rulings during the event.
o Complete the tournament checklist by the professional staff (See Tournament
Administration section).
o Complete the evaluation form for each event
• Instructional Clinics
Instructional Clinics are a great way for the professional staff to give back to the membership and for the
members to get to know the professional staff. The professional staff will provide free clinics at the
beginning of each season designed to assist the membership prepare for the upcoming golf season.
The following will constitute the foundation of our golf clinics.
o Work with committee to plan times that will best fit into the golf schedule (keeping in
mind the target group).
29. o The clinics will focus on all aspects of the game so there is something for everyone
o Have a scheduled clinic topic for each session (so members can sign up for what they
need)
o Offer club fitting clinics
o Offer rules of golf clinics and proper etiquette clinics
• Golf Lessons
The goal of the golf instruction program will be to provide the students with the individual attention
necessary to further develop their own golf game. The professional staff will be trained in the mechanics
of a female golf swing along with product information to better assist the female golfer.
The Ladies instructional program will adhere to the following principals:
o The professional staff will continue to further their education and training
o Comprehensive and innovative lesson packages will be available
o Incorporate modern technology advances with computer analysis for the benefit of the
students
• Merchandising
The golf shop will do everything it can to maintain diverse offering of ladies equipment and soft goods. As
a staff, we will strive to offer a selection of merchandise that is consistent with the tastes and styles of the
membership. The golf shop will stock a wide assortment of clothing, rainwear, shoes, headwear, and
accessories and will accomplish the following objectives:
o Conduct continuous survey’s to ascertain the membership tastes, likes, and dislikes
o Work within an “open to buy budget” focused on ladies apparel
o Meet with sales representatives to view new clothing lines
o Train staff on new materials, fabrics, and designs
o Provide unsurpassed customer service
o Provide value
It is our commitment to conduct and administer a successful comprehensive program for the ladies at the
club; one that meets and exceeds their expectations.
30. Junior golf is one of the most important programs that any club can offer. A successful junior golf
program will provide a great learning experience for juniors golfers wile creating a strong foundation for
future members. When you teach junior golfers the fundamentals of the game they will utilize the
facilities more while building a found appreciation for the sport. Other learning experiences associated
with a strong junior program are good swing mechanics, rules of golf, etiquette, friendly competition, how
to relate with other, etc.
Outline for creating a successful Junior Golf Program
• Proper Planning
The planning stage is very important because it is your base for success. First, begin with a mission for
the program that outlines and defines what will make the program successful. Then formulate a plan on
how you are going to manage your program and achieve your goals. The following six areas listed are
equally important to the overall success of any junior golf program.
• Establishing the Proper Goals
In this stage, the committee will set both long-term and short-term goals. The following are examples of
appropriate goals:
o Provide a safe and fun atmosphere
o Increase the participation of the program
o Increase the equality of play
o Promote friendly competition
o Develop the best junior golf program around
• Advance Scheduling
This is an extremely important factor due to the fact that today’s juniors are very active in many different
activities. Thus, advance scheduling helps parents prepare and manage their time accordingly. Having a
set schedule allows parents to organize their children’s activities. One must also keep other factors, such
as club schedules and facility rules, in mind when planning junior activities. The following are activities
that should be considered when developing the junior golf schedule:
o Clinic times
o Golf camps
o Playing times
o Tournaments (Club events, Interclub events, local events, state events, and national
events)
• Merchandising
As a full-service golf operation it is my mission to provide merchandise geared towards to junior golfer.
These are a few of the key elements that are utilized as a guide when selecting junior merchandise for the
golf shop:
o Providing clothing that meets club policies
31. o Provide equipment (clubs, bags, gloves, shoes, and balls)
o Training aids that focus on junior golf
• Staff Training
o How to relate with juniors
o Properly fit clubs for a junior golfer (height, strength, and athletic ability)
o How to provide a safe but fun environment
• Evaluation
No matter how successful the junior golf program is, my staff along with the junior golf committee will
continue to strive to make it better. The following three steps will ensure our program will continually
grow and improve.
o Informal assessment with the junior players and parents
o Formal evaluation with the professional staff
o Formal evaluation with the golf committee chairman and junior golf liaison
• Future Growth
This section is designed to incorporate new ideas in hopes of implementing them into the junior golf
program in future years.
o Recruit older members to assist with junior events in an effort to bridge the age gap
o Incorporate parents of junior golfers into junior events; while educating them on how to
aid in the development of their children’s golf game.
33. I strongly believe that the Head Professional and Assistant Professionals should take advantage of every
opportunity to play golf with the membership. This playing experience allows both the staff and
membership to become more acquainted with each other in a relaxed atmosphere. I also feel it is
important but our duty as golf professionals to maintain the highest level of playing ability we can achieve.
It is also a fantastic means of self promotion. Weekend events, informal 9 hole rounds or 18 hole
Professional/ Amateur Tournaments are wonderful methods to facilitate this experience. Below are some
suggestions for implementing a playing atmosphere among the professional staff and the membership.
• Goals
o Provide a relaxed and enjoyable round of golf for the membership
o Meet members in more relaxed and informal environment
o Allow the Professional staff to be more approachable to all members
o If asked, the Professional will provide suggestions and tips on how to improve the
members personal game
• Play opportunities
o Schedule year long weekend events to play with the Head Professional
o Schedule year long weekend events to play with the Assistant Professionals
o Men’s Beat the Professional Day
o Ladies’ Beat the Professional Day
o Professional/ Amateur Tournament in the local section
35. Staying connected with your membership and keeping them informed is a constant challenge. Long gone
are the days when members would anxiously wait arrival of the monthly club newsletter to get updates on
the happenings, events, and programs at the country club. In the midst of this new information age
keeping up with fast pace of social media is imperative. It is extremely important to find a good balance
when conveying information about your country club. With so many options for social networking,
members can become desensitized to club information due to a constant onslaught of emails and
notifications. However if utilized properly programs such as Facebook, Twitter, Constant Contact,
Youtube and Survey Monkey can be valuable tools to assist you in keeping your members engaged and
informed.
• Keep your membership informed at all times
o Using social media you can keep your membership aware of club events in real time.
o Use small surveys to invite specific feedback about your club and the services provided.
o Be creative with the way you convey
o Make information available that members can view at their convenience.
o Post real time photos so that members can see what is happening at the club when they are
away.
• Market your facility using social media
o Help attract new business to the club’s website utilizing search engine optimization
o Use targeted email marketing to reach specific customers within the marketplace
o Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn can reach thousands of potential
customers in one click.
o Having an effective email marketing plan can get the proper information to your clients in an
acceptable frequency and can help avoid overkill.
• Convey your vision, thoughts, and experiences using blogs
o Share with your members your passion and what motivates you in your career.
o Discuss your experiences and career choices that led you to current positions
o Write about specific members and their accomplishments at the club.
o Talk about the current state of the golf industry and the things you believe are having a
positive or negative effect on the game.
o Use creative writing to inform members about recent events at the club.
