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Golf Pro or No Pro

15 posts
  1. Christopher Boldreghini
    Christopher Boldreghini avatar
    0 posts
    12/6/2012 7:12 AM
    Looking for some advantages and disadvantages of working at a course with out a golf pro.

    Thanks,
    Charlie B.



  2. Niemier Rick A
    Niemier Rick A avatar
    12/6/2012 12:12 PM
    Christopher Boldreghini said: Looking for some advantages and disadvantages of working at a course with out a golf pro.

    Thanks,
    Charlie B.



    How could a golf course survive without a golf pro/turf expert/donkey kisser/sweater folder/coffee drinker/superintendent's best friend? :roll:



  3. Wahlin Scott B
    Wahlin Scott B avatar
    12/6/2012 1:12 PM
    I would say that if you are going to be the GM, you need a Pro. If you are going to be the Superintendent it really does not matter.



  4. James Schmid
    James Schmid avatar
    1 posts
    12/6/2012 1:12 PM
    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: I would say that if you are going to be the GM, you need a Pro. If you are going to be the Superintendent it really does not matter.



    Who is going to perform the functions of the golf pro if there isn't one? would it be you? I can tell you in my situation my job would be much more difficult if I was asked to some or all of the duties of the golf pro. I can't teach lessons either



  5. Christopher Boldreghini
    Christopher Boldreghini avatar
    0 posts
    12/6/2012 7:12 PM
    I would be the Superintendent and a tournament committee would run tournaments.



  6. Wahlin Scott B
    Wahlin Scott B avatar
    12/6/2012 7:12 PM
    Christopher Boldreghini said: I would be the Superintendent and a tournament committee would run tournaments.


    Who is going to take care of the hour-to-hour complaints? If this is you, a Pro would be nice. Most Golf Pros absorb and deflect a lot more grief for us than many give them credit for. We give them a hard time about folding shirts, but I have been a GM and it looks like that is coming back to me again. I want a Golf Pro.



  7. Jackson Reiswig
    Jackson Reiswig avatar
    0 posts
    12/7/2012 4:12 AM
    A tournament committee will run the tournaments? Good luck with that. Sounds like an imminent implosion. For your sanity during tournament season, I would suggest a pro to work with in lieu of committee...



  8. Clay Putnam
    Clay Putnam avatar
    33 posts
    12/7/2012 6:12 AM
    There are quite a few courses that operate without a pro. The golf shop is generally operated by a manager, similar to any other retail store. The only advantage I can imagine would be a cost savings.



  9. Whitehead Kyle J
    Whitehead Kyle J avatar
    12/7/2012 7:12 AM
    Where I'm at, there isn't a golf pro. We have a pro-shop manager, but she isn't knowledgeable in golf, so I spend a lot of my time helping her. She didn't know what a shot-gun start meant, what a green was, etc. I help her with scoring and I usually get the tournaments started....ie: the announcements. It isn't really a lot of fun, but i'm thankful that I have a job. Hopefully one day my extra work will pay off.
    But to make a long story short....i wish there was a golf pro here.



  10. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    12/7/2012 10:12 AM
    I have been at places that didn't have pros and we survived just fine, it was a county golf course people were there just to play golf. If we had a customer issue I would deal with it, usually not a big deal. I don't miss pros when I've worked at places without them, and then I've worked at places where we had them and I wish we didn't. Probably because the guy was an ......... I have also been at places where I have worked with some great pros.

    I guess the question is, what is the course's mission, just to provide golf? Then you probably don't need one, if it is to increase play, run outings, encourage beginners with lessons and build the business. It probably wouldn't hurt to have one. He can always be paid a fair base salary and with incentives? But if all you really need is someone collecting the money, then I don't see much of an issue. Just my opinion.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  11. Spotts David A
    Spotts David A avatar
    12/7/2012 2:12 PM
    No pro here. The owner runs all the outings and if someone wants lessons we let a local pro use our range and course when available. The last place I worked at the pro was grossly overpaid and not a friend of the maintenance crew at all.



  12. Wahlin Scott B
    Wahlin Scott B avatar
    12/7/2012 2:12 PM
    I have been in a co-department head management situation with our head pro for the past five years. We both answer to the city manager. My partner is retiring soon, so I have been tasked with designing and implementing a re-organization of the department with me as GM. I have been working on my proposal this week and am thrilled that I seem to have come up with a plan that includes a head pro and also provides for $70k reduction in total payroll. I'll do it and have done it before, but I really do not want those responsibilities again.



  13. Robert Crockett
    Robert Crockett avatar
    4 posts
    12/10/2012 11:12 AM
    Christopher Boldreghini said: Looking for some advantages and disadvantages of working at a course with out a golf pro.

    Thanks,
    Charlie B.

    What about contracts....I'm thinking every 2 yrs? Just in case you get that DUD who can't break 90,fat,lazy... ect



  14. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    12/10/2012 11:12 AM
    Robert Crockett said:
    Christopher Boldreghini said: Looking for some advantages and disadvantages of working at a course with out a golf pro.

    Thanks,
    Charlie B.

    What about contracts....I'm thinking every 2 yrs? Just in case you get that DUD who can't break 90,fat,lazy... ect


    But hey! I can fold a mean shirt!

    Seriously, somehow the contract should be written that you don't have to wait 2 years to get rid of the person if they are that bad.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  15. Robert Crockett
    Robert Crockett avatar
    4 posts
    12/10/2012 3:12 PM
    Melvin Waldron, CGCS said:
    Robert Crockett said:
    Christopher Boldreghini said: Looking for some advantages and disadvantages of working at a course with out a golf pro.

    Thanks,
    Charlie B.

    What about contracts....I'm thinking every 2 yrs? Just in case you get that DUD who can't break 90,fat,lazy... ect


    But hey! I can fold a mean shirt!

    Seriously, somehow the contract should be written that you don't have to wait 2 years to get rid of the person if they are that bad.

    Mel

    This guys horrible Mel....Worst I've ever come across.



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