Job Description of a Golf Pro
A golf pro is someone who gives golf lessons for members of a country club or public course. In many instances, golf pros will also manage the golf shop, selling items such as clubs, bags, balls and apparel, and renting out golf carts. Golf pros are often in charge of a staff of caddies, whom the pros hire, train and schedule.
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Duties
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Golf pros instruct their pupils on everything from proper swings, to putting, to which clubs to use in certain situations, to stance and balance. They work with a variety of age groups, and individuals who are at the beginning stages of the game as well as accomplished golfers who are looking to improve specific aspects of their game. Occasionally, golf instructors will play a couple of holes with a new pupil to observe the pupil's game and see where improvements need to be made. Golf pros also organize and oversee tournaments at their course.
Skills
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A golf pro must be an accomplished golfer and possess strong communication skills, as he deals with everyone from pupils to customers at the golf shop to caddies on a regular basis. He must be organized, motivated and analytical. He also likely needs to have basic accounting skills if he manages the club shop. In those instances, he will need to make sure shelves are stocked, invoices are filed and orders are tracked.
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Background
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A golf pro has typically had success as a player at either the amateur or professional level. She usually also has to receive a certification to become an instructor. Certification varies, but normally includes a playing test, as well as extensive courses on the technical aspects of the game as well as golf shop operations and tournament management. Many golf pros also need to serve an apprenticeship before being hired as a full-fledged instructor.
Prospects
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Jobs for sports instructors are expected to grow by about 22 percent during the 2008-18 decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While the BLS provided no data specific to golf pros, it is assumed their jobs will increase at a similar rate to the rest of the industry. "Job growth also will be driven by the increasing number of retirees who are expected to participate more in leisure activities such as golf and tennis, which require instruction," according to the BLS.
Earnings
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Sports instructors such as golf pros earned a median salary of $28,000 to more than $68,000 per year as of February 2010, according to PayScale.com. Much of those figures were based on the instructor's experience, as well as the industry in which he worked. Meanwhile, Salary.com reported that golf pros at private courses earned from $43,000 to nearly $80,000 per year as of August 2009.
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References
- Photo Credit Playing Golf image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
