Types of Jobs in the Golf Industry

There are many employment possibilities in the golf industry. If you have a love of golf and want to work closely with the industry, it's easy to find a job that involves golf every single day. For some people, working in the golf industry is a dream job. What kinds of positions are available?

Golf Pro

This golf job requires that you are a very good golfer with consistently high scores. Usually a golf pro job is held by someone who has been to golf teaching school and is a member of various professional organizations.

Greenskeeper
The greenskeeper position is one of most important golf job at a golf course. A greenskeeper is responsible for taking care of the greens (obviously). This person must have a knowledge of chemicals and know how to apply them so that the greens are lush and - well - green. The greenskeeper is also responsible for mowing the greens and taking care of the fringe.

Course Manager

This job can be one of the most intense jobs at a golf club. This individual is responsible for directing and overseeing all operations of the golf course including management of personnel.

Golf shop staff

The people with this job assists and registers customers for play. They oversee merchandise control, take money for greens fees, and often assist with running of tournaments.

Starter

The starter maintains the starting times and tee sheet, and ensures that golfers get off the first tee in a prompt and orderly manner. This job is crucial in keeping the tee times on time. The starter also helps golfers find a game if they are by themselves. The starter is an important part of making sure customers will have a pleasant golfing experience.

Equipment Mechanic

Golf courses use many different types of hand tools, cutting devices and motorized vehicles. This mechanic's job would be responsible for keeping everything in working order is crucial to the facility's smooth operation.

Golf Course Maintenance

People most suited to work on the golf course maintenance team are those especially fond of nature and working with the land. This position usually reports early in the morning and is off work by 2:00 or 3:00 pm. This outside position could be responsible for cutting grass, irrigation, sodding, trimming, applying fertilizer and pesticides and much more.

Professional Golfer

As with any other sport golf also does have a professional level. The difference between playing professional golf and amateur golf, however, can be a very fine line. There are a lot of amateur golfers that can score at the professional level, however, they are unable to do it consistently and often miss out on the tournaments that can qualify them to get on the tour.
Nonetheless, it is a dream of many golfers to play professional golf one day and make a living doing something that they truly, truly love. Your office is the course, and your co-workers are people who love the game just as much as you do. You share common interests at the professional level of golf and it can be a very satisfying career. But isn't that obvious?

Qualifying to play professional golf is another story altogether. The field is very competitive and it can be extremely difficult to break through. Some people try their whole lives to qualify and always come up short. It takes a lot of practice, a lot of dedication, and an ability to take a lot of disappointment to play professional golf, so know what you're in for!

To get started playing professional golf, you will first have to qualify for "Q School" or Qualifying School. Q Schools are annual qualifying tournament for leading golf tours like the PGA and the LPGA. In Q School, a fixed number of players win membership to the tour for the following season. In professional golf, this is referred to as your "tour card". You will then be able to play in most of the tour's events without having to qualify.
Getting through the Q school is very competitive and most professional golfers never achieve it. There can be up to four stages to negotiate each of them like a regular golf tournament with only a small number of players going on to the next state. The final qualifying school may be played over up to six rounds compared with the standard four rounds in a professional golf tournament. However, players who are successful at Q school can reach the elite level of competition very quickly.

You can also qualify to play professional golf in other ways. Finishing near the top of the money list on the tour's developmental tour, winning a tournament on the tour after qualifying or as a sponsor's invitee, or winning enough money on multiple events on the tour to meet whatever criteria the tour may lay down for promotion to full membership. This last one was how Tiger Woods gained his first tour card. Playing professional golf is not an easy career to pursue, but it is a great way to make a living! Persistence, patience, and a great game of golf can all get you on your way to playing professional golf, but be realistic and know that it will take time.

Having a job where you work at a golf course is a great way to get out on the links as an insider at the golf club. When you pursue a job at a golf course, be sure you are qualified and then enjoy your new position!