How many of you work in the field of golf

[Aaron Katz]

Obviously everyone here is passionate about the game, especially when the game is played "as it was meant to be played."  I'm curious how many on the board have been able to turn this passion into a career.  I'm a lawyer and question my career path on a daily basis.  I'd love to know how those who have gone "into" golf have gotten there.

[Kyle Harris]

I spent five years as a PGA Apprentice and have now switched careers to become a golf course superintendent.

Making this game a career will FULLY test your love and passion for the game.

[Steve Okula]

I'm a lawyer and question my career path on a daily basis.  

That's ironic. I'm a golf course superintendent and I question MY career path on a daily basis. The hours are long, the pay low, the jobs insecure.

I got into golf because I was too lazy to study pre-law at college. Agronomy was less demanding.

[Ryan Farrow]

I spent my last 2 summers on the grounds crew at Chartiers CC and Oakmont CC. Hopefully those days are over.

[Cory Lewis]

I'm a PGA Professional.  I love to get up and go to work every day. I got into this profession because it was important to me to choose a career that I really enjoyed,  it's not really work if you enjoy it as much as I do, plus there are the obvious benefits of interacting with people who enjoy the game on a daily basis.

[Brian_Sleeman]

Started in the bagroom and on the driving range at the age of 14, continued up through the ranks and have spent the last 10 years in the front of the pro shop and as a PGA apprentice.  Half my life I've been working for Marquette Golf Club and I'm only 27.

I also question my career path on a daily basis, and as Kyle says, this will test your love of the game.  In addition to the long hours and low pay, you also get less play.  And when you do get spare time, you more than likely do not want to spend it at the course, as you're never really not working when you're on the property.

I know many more who've gone *out* of the golf industry than in.  Still, it's got its moments and rewards and there are times I absolutely love it.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Aaron,

I am a golf course architect and wanted to be one since the first day I played golf (on Medinah No. 3 as a guest of a neighbor) at age 12.   You should have heard the howls of laughter from parents and teachers when I announced that!

Before discovering golf, I would have been a building architect or city planner - I was a doodler from a young age and was always drawing something.  Beside falling in love with golf, I figured golf courses couldn't fall down making me party to a lawsuit.

I went to the nearest gca office, buying my first sport jacket for my "interview" but they told me I was too young (man, I had visions of starting the next monday!) and I had to study landscape architecture, etc. to be employed. I went back every summer to no avail, but did get golf course and landscape jobs, and they did hire me right out of college.  I apprenticed seven years and opened my own office in 1984.

The funny thing is, if you talk to pros or supers, or other gcas', you would probably get the same basic story, with details changed.  While it may be folly to make a hobby your business, things have worked out okay for me.

[Matt_Cohn]

I work at Golfsmith in San Francisco, and if you love the game of golf, don't work retail.

Of course, you knew that already.

Nothing beats the guy who insists on being put on the launch monitor and hits these three drives:

1) High slice, >3000 rpm sidespin, 180 yards.
2) Cold top
3) Total skyball, launch angle >35 degrees.

Then he turns to you with total seriousness and says, "I really caught those last two, how did they look on the computer?"

Anyway, I know that most golf jobs (head pro's, GM's, brand reps, etc.) are notorious for how little golf those people actually get to play. That's part of my current employment dilemma - can I find a job in golf, where I'll also get to play a lot of golf (and if I do, will it be overload?) Or am I OK with a job completely unrelated to golf, but that allows me more opportunities to play?

Thanks for this thread Aaron. And if anyone has any sage advice for me, I'm all ears!

[Bruce Katona]

I'm on the business side of the business, spending lots of time on permitting and capital improvements on our clubhouse facilities.  Guaranteed I spend more time at golf facilities  than you, but you play much more then me.

if you enjoy business, the business of golf is rewarding (not always financially).  If you run a golf facility as a business and have a decent location (close to major thorofares or population centers), you have a chance of being financially successful.

Good luck.

[Paul Payne]

Brian,

I bet half your life ago you would have never envisioned they'd be building Greywalls in your backyard. You are one lucky guy.

I mentioned before, but having grown up in Marquette during the '70's, having any decent job that can keep you up in God's country is a blessing. I will certainly say hello next time I get a chance to come up and play.

[Brian_Sleeman]

Paul:

Oh definitely, Greywalls sealed the deal in my choice of careers.  It's an amazing thing to witness how a new golf course can affect a community, and the resulting changes to the local culture as private jets descend upon Sawyer International carrying foursomes of players from all over the country.

I do consider myself lucky!  But I look forward to the day when more professional help is available!

[Joe Hancock]

Golf Course Superintendent- 22 years

Golf Course Owner- 9 years

Golf Course Shaper- 2 years

Golf Design Associate- 2 years

Value of loving almost every step of the way- priceless!!!!!!

Joe

[Brian Joines]

My 8th grade career paper was on Golf course design and I used to sketch courses on my free time daily. While my passion for the game never faltered, I chose to stick with the family company instead. Not a day goes by that I don't question that decision.

[cary lichtenstein]

I've often toyed with the idea of developing a course...and everytime it pops up, I just dismiss it because it becomes the next business with all its problems

[Ian Andrew]

Joe,

No wonder I like your posts, nothing beats a full perspective.

[Alfie]

Aaron,

I worked in a "golf field" for a few years and even though it didn't work out - it was the best thing I've done in my life !

as the man once said ; find the job you like doing - and you'll never work another day in your life !

Back at work now though  

Alfie

[Ken Fry]

Aaron,

I've been a golf professional for 12 years.  Along the way I've caddied for two well known PGA Tour players, Hall of Fame Baseball and Football players and numerous large comapny CEOs.  I've given lessons to a number of professional athletes.  I was part of opening three new golf courses.  I've met a number of golf course architects and got to work with two of the best in the industry.  (God I wish I knew then what I know now so I could pick their brains more!)  I've been lucky to meet many different people from all walks of life and all professions in life who love golf.

This is my first year away from "the business" in a new job in the medical field.  What don't I miss?  Crazy long hours away from my family on every holiday and every weekend.  What do I miss?  More of the same experiences listed above which is a mere sampling of the past 12 years.

Good luck finding your path.

Ken

[Troy Alderson]

I have been working on a golf course since 1986.  Starting as a range boy, moving onto maintenance and working my way up through the ranks to superintendent for the last 7 seasons.  Now I am changing gears and taking the roll of territory sales manager for Rocky Mountain Turf Equipment in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  I always thought I would be a superintendent forever, but my current employer does not share my passion.  I am looking forward to weekends and holidays off though.  My next step is ownership...

Troy

[Jim Thompson]

Guilty...

From kitchen to bar...

Then the books and operations...

Then planning, design and construction...

Now books and operations again.

Cheers!

JT

[John_Conley]

I caddied, picked the range, worked the bagroom, and serviced the golf cars.  All totaled up?  10 years.  From that it was pretty obvious to me I wanted to be a MEMBER at the club and not working there.

My advice to anyone that really wants to play golf would be to see if there were ways to get into a career that afforded the income and free time necessary to play a lot of golf.

While I was in graduate school a guy from Minnesota was down at Grand Cypress where I was working for minimum wage plus playing privileges.  He seemed surprised I was in school.  Then he said, "I guess you can't make six figures doing this."  No kidding!!  My check was something like $140 for a week of work.  A set of new irons costs how much?

Fortunately professions like Jeff's and the world of instruction have advanced to a point where many more people can earn a good living.

In general, the life of a PGA professional today is the worst of all combinations - hard to get into a low paying once you get there.  Like on-air radio or becoming a HS football coach.

Of course, if you love it and will always be happy that will overcome everything else.  I just know I've spoken to a few guys that have left the golf profession and never regretted it.

[Jon Wiggett]

Started of as a Golf Pro (PGA), then played two years on tour (Europe), spent several years in construction (site supervisor, shaper, grow- in) and ended up in greenkeeping (GTC level IV).
I have loved every day of it!

[Dan_Lucas]

I knew as a kid that I wanted to work outdoors. I couldn't sit in an office all day. After caddying through high school I found out about the Turf Program at Michigan State. I tried it and it worked for me. I've been a Supt. for 20 years now.

I love my job. My family doesn't love my job during the summers, but we make up for it in the winters.

[Andrew Thomson]

caddied, cleaned carts, worked retail and picked up range balls.

Then I graduated and now work in advertising.

I'd like to work on the golf field but lack the skills for the jobs in that field that would pay enough to support a family (and an appetite for golf trips)

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I feel in love with golf at age 10 and my life has always had golf as a big part of it whether through literature by authors like Herbert Wind and Bernard Darwin or playing the game. I have worked in the proshop of my childhood country club during the summers and caddied in events as a child. I like many of the posters on here dream of owning a golf course or courses. I spent seven years preparing to do such in the mid to late 90's. I secured the land, had market studies, land plan etc and was ready to go forward in August 2001. You know the rest of the story. I will revisit the dream in a few years after all future personal and project financial issues have been addressed.

[Mike Vegis @ Kiawah]

I came to the golf industry in a totally round-about fashion.  In high school, I worked at our local country club in Battle Creek.  I went to Michigan State and got an engineering degree but couldn't see doing that as a career.  Got into national politics in Washington working as Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director to two mid-level Republican congressmen (during the Reagan Admin and the first two years of Bush 41).  After 10 years of 16 hour days, I wanted to have fun and get as far away from politics as possible.  Got a job as head of PR and marketing for Windjammer Barefoot Crusies in Miami and the Caribbean.  During 5 of my 8 years there, spent my vacation working on the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.  Then, after spending the worst 6 months of my life working for a PR firm in Tallahassee, this position opened up an I've been pushing Kiawah on y'all since October 1999...