Meaning of term "Professional" during the Golden Age.

[Philip Gordillo]

During my continuing research of Metairie Golf Club, I often see Joe Bartholomew referred to as "professional" in certain instances but also as "greenskeeper" on other occassions.  Makes me wonder if the primary responsibility of club pros during the golden age was maintenance rather than instruction or management of golf operations.  Has anyone else run into this nuance?

[Thomas Dai]

The title “Professional and Keeper of the Green” goes back a long, long way.
Atb

[Sven Nilsen]

By the time the Golden Age started, and when Bartholomew would have been engaged with Metairie, there was a pretty distinct line between professionals and greenskeepers.  In both cases, what those roles entailed is exactly what you would think of for someone in the same positions today, with the idea that many pros were in the club making business as well.


There were some courses/clubs where one individual took on both roles, but it certainly wasn't the norm.  Probably makes sense to keep in mind that for every Olympia Fields CC (four courses with over a thousand members) there was a Lucas GC (a small town 9 holer). 

[Duncan Cheslett]

When Henry Cotton visited Reddish Vale in 1940 he described the course in a magazine article as being in immaculate condition and maintained by the professional Charles Chevalier and only two men.


This does not seem to have been out of the ordinary at the time. There was a war on, of course.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Until about 10 years ago the Norfolk CC was maintained by its Pro and Superintendent, Joe Bunk. Not too many left.