Chain of command

[Michael Moore]

Does the superintendent report to the pro?

Does the pro report to the superintendent?

Neither of the above?

What's the story?

[RJ_Daley]

MM, there is no official chain of command.  Various course have vastly different chains of command, depending on things as broad as if it is muni, private, daily fee, CCFAD, CC, multi-facility, etc.  And then, one private is completely different than the next, as are one CCFAD from the next.  

Perhaps the user, customer, or consumer is the boss in the end.

[Michael Hayes]

RJ Daley is correct in saying there is no offical chain of command.  As to what is fairly typical at private CC's, I can shed a little light...At many CC's the pro is his own business owner and is not a "CC employee". In this environment the pro is an island to him/herself and the cooperation that the super and pro have is based on respect and the need to work together...Most of the time the super answers to a GM or to the green committee chairperson.

[Andy Doyle]

So then who is the "Director of Golf?"  And where does he fit into the org chart?

AD

[Michael Hayes]

The DOG would supplant a GM in the chain of command and oversee both pro and super, this situation is common in CCFAD's and resorts...

[Andy Doyle]

OK,thanks.

AD

[TEPaul]

"Does the pro report to the superintendent?"

Michael:

I've definitely never heard a club that's that way but you're putting some great thoughts in my head. Next Board meeting at my club I'm gonna suggest the pro, all the committees, the entire Board of Directors and the president too report to the superintendent!  

[RJ_Daley]

At our muni, the superintendent has county department head status.  He calls all the shots.  He reports to a rec department committee. Their members couldn't tell you what the difference between bermuda grass and fescue were.  They think warm season turf is what it becomes in July...  But, to their credit, they follow the super and his inclinations, so long as his budget makes sense.  He returns a surplus in operations back to the county every year, so he is their hero.

I believe Adam Clayman had a different type of super relationship in Farmington...

There just isn't a standard model chain of command.

[Nick Pozaric]

My course the super and head pro both report to the General Manager

[Ryan Wharton]

Growing up at the club I played at (only 23 now), the Superintendent didn't have much more power than the pro, and they both reported to the board. If the super said the course was closed because of the weather conditions, than that was the final decision. The pro would direct the super on how to set up the course (pin positions, tee locations) for tournaments and other outings. Of course, this was at a public course where the pro performed many other duties including being the general manager.

I read an interesting article in Golf Digest a few months back on how the role of the club professional has changed over the years. The professional used to be encouraged to play with the members and to keep their games in shape. Now I know many pros out there who barely get the chance to play because they are working 60 hours a week behind the pro shop counter. Within this article, a very good point was raised. How is a PGA professional supposed to keep his game in shape when he barely gets a chance to practice? They are in a really tough position because they are expected to play well when they do play, but also expected to be in the pro shop whenever needed. I thought it was a very interesting article, and from what I have seen personally there seems to be a lot of truth in it.

[Michael Hayes]

Not to hijack this thread,   but I think it is important to understand that the pro and super must work together on some level... I have a great relationship with my pro, we golf and travel together, because of this there is a great mutual respect and I have an advocate and first line of defense inside the shop and on the first tee .  This situation is invaluable but unique when I talk to my fellow supers...some of my peers feel that their pro is only concerned with getting play out on the course and don't give a rip what goes into managing the course for consistent daily conditions

[Kyle Harris]

Ryan,

It all depends on the professional. Some of what you mentioned is the reason why I am getting out of the golf professional business. There are increasing hurdles to jump between the golf shop door and the first tee, and a lot of it just doesn't become worth it.

Same goes for the golf shop door and the lesson tee.

In general, the distinction between GM, DoG, and HGP is one of responsibility.

Directors of Golf typically occur at places that do a lot of outings and tournament type things, and a head golf professional may be under him to run the day-to-day operations of the golf shop. The DoG then handles outings and tournaments (from marketing to set-up).

A General Manager also handles the rest of the club for the most part, with an emphasis in golf. While this is most common at a golf only club with a small Food and Beverage portion, it is becoming increasingly common for a GM to be at larger "country" clubs. This further dilutes the golf portion of things.

[Kyle Harris]

To address the original question of Chain of Command:

It depends. And the more experience I gain in the business, the more I am convinced it is bottom-line focused. My experience has ranged from a synergy where the Head Pro and Super have a "you'll-take-what-I-give-you" attitude all the way to a complete synergy where the super is consulted on all golf management issues including cart use and tournament tee times.

[A_Clay_Man]

I agree with Tom Paul, the super should be the leader when it comes to the courses needs. BECAUSE...

You can have a golf course without a pro, but you cannot have one without a super.

[Michael Hayes]

I agree with Tom Paul, the super should be the leader when it comes to the courses needs. BECAUSE...

You can have a golf course without a pro, but you cannot have one without a super.

This would be great, but who would fold all those sweaters

[Mark_Rowlinson]

In the UK at many clubs even into the 1960s the professional was also the head greenkeeper and probably also served at the bar.  He was also caddie master and very likely had to supervise members' car parking.  Of course, he also looked after and repaired members' clubs and possibly made clubs himself.  He was not given freedom to play in tournaments - he had to seek permission from the club board or committee for occasional leave of absence to be able to play in such as the Open Championship.  But he would have to arrange cover for all his other duties.  Almost invariably his boss was the Chairman of the Greens Committee.

Nowadays the professional is usually managed by the Chairman of the Greens but there will also be a separate course manager or head greenkeeper who is also subject to the Greens Chairman.  It is rare for the professional to have much input into the management of the course, although some enlightened committees co-opt both professional and course manager onto them.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

There is an interesting set up at Sherwood Forest where the professional, Ken Hall, is also the club secretary.

[Mike_Young]

It has been told to me that the the PGA requires that a supt work under the professional if he is to hold the title of director of golf.  thus the chain of command would be General manager(CMAA), Director of Golf(PGA) with the supt.(GCSAA) and possibly a head professional under him.  The problem I see today is not with the individuals but the associations they belong .  The CMAA doesn't want anybody over them.  The PGA will not take a stand because they the boards that are capable of making a statementwork for CMAA members at their home clubs and the same for Supts.  thus the CMAA has a stronghold on the golf business right now and IMHO has really hurt the value of PGA membership for many.

[Andy Hughes]

He was not given freedom to play in tournaments - he had to seek permission from the club board or committee for occasional leave of absence to be able to play in such as the Open Championship.

Mark, with so many responsibilities, it's extraordinary that such a pro would have enough game to play in such events!