Golf Career Paths: Beyond Professional Playing
If you’re passionate about golf and all that goes with it, you might wonder how to translate your love for the sport into a viable career. The good news? Achieving professional playing status isn’t the only way you can turn your passion into a fulfilling job. There are numerous ways golf enthusiasts can find compelling careers in golf outside of playing, without the stress and pressure of being on the competitive circuit.
What are some golf career paths you can explore? Learn more about some of the most popular industry jobs, along with the steps you’ll need to take to pursue them.
The Lure of Professional Playing
Many people who love to golf dream of someday competing in a professional league, and for good reasons. Not only can a career as a professional golfer be incredibly fulfilling, but tournament winnings can also be rather lucrative. Additionally, professional golfers enjoy a certain level of fame and recognition that accompanies the chance for sponsorships and endorsements, as well as unique travel and networking opportunities.
At the same time, the inherently competitive nature of golfing as a professional can be stressful — and it’s not uncommon for the pros to suffer from repetitive stress injuries. Plus, golfers must spend a significant amount of time traveling away from home during tournaments and other events, which may be challenging for some.
All in all, while a career as a professional golfer may seem alluring, it’s not without its challenges.
Golf Career Paths
Fortunately, becoming a professional golfer is far from the only career worth pursuing in the field. No matter where your unique interests and strengths lie, plenty of rewarding golf industry jobs don’t require you to be a scratch golfer yourself.
Golf Facility Management
Have you ever considered what goes into the design, management, and maintenance of golf courses? These professionals are responsible for creating functional and beautiful course layouts while collaborating with other professionals (including landscape architects and engineers) to bring their ideas to fruition. This could be an excellent career path for golf lovers who want to put their creativity to work.
Golf Coaching and Training
Another option to consider among golf industry jobs is becoming a golf instructor or trainer. In this type of role, you can work at just about any level — teaching beginner golfers, intermediate golfers, or even full-fledged professionals. Who knows? Through junior golf coaching, you might even be involved in nurturing future professional talent.
If you decide to go this route, you’ll likely want to pursue your golf instruction certification and explore Keiser University College of Golf’s Master’s in Golf Teaching and Learning.
Equipment Design and Sales
Fascinated by the science behind golf club design technology or the features of various golf equipment? If so, a career in golf equipment design and/or golf equipment sales and marketing may be ideal for you. This type of role calls for an in-depth understanding of how different materials and components (such as club heads and grips) can affect performance, along with a solid background in science and performance testing. Working in this area of the field gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your designs make the game better for players.
Events and Golf Tournament Organization
Golf event coordination and tournament organizers are behind what makes your favorite golf events possible, juggling every aspect of each tournament with confidence. From choosing a venue and working around budgetary restrictions to marketing and securing sponsors, event organizers are the unsung heroes of golf in many ways.
Education and Training
If one or more of these golf career paths appeals to you, you might be wondering what it takes to break into the field. The right education is paramount.
Specifically, an undergraduate degree in golf management could help you build foundational knowledge in relevant areas of the field, like:
- Golf instruction
- Tournament management
- Golf course design and maintenance
- Club management
- The business of golf
- Golf marketing
In addition to a formal degree, many professionals working in the field will have some hands-on training under their belts. To gain practical experience that helps you prepare for the competitive job market, you might consider pursuing golf industry internships at local golf courses or clubs during your education. From there, you can bolster your resume while building your confidence as you gear up to enter the field.
Building a Network in the Golf Industry
A quality education and some hands-on experience can help you get your foot in the door when it comes to pursuing roles in golf course management, event/tournament organization, or golf equipment design. However, as is the case in many industries, advancing your career in the golf world is just as much about who you know as what you know.
With this in mind, it’s never too early to begin networking in the field. You might start by seeking golf association memberships or simply joining a professional organization, such as:
Aside from joining professional organizations, attending golf industry networking events and seminars can also be a go-to way to develop professional connections. The more robust a professional network you’re able to build, the more opportunities you may have to be invited for job interviews, partnerships, and other exciting endeavors. Of course, never underestimate the power of LinkedIn for industry networking.
Find Your Niche in the Golf World
Working in the realm of golf holds great potential to translate your enthusiasm for the sport into a fulfilling career. Whether you aim for a position in golf course management and design, teaching and coaching, or anywhere in between, the right education can make navigating the job market easier than a flop shot.
At Keiser University College of Golf, we’re proud to offer multiple golf-focused programs to suit your needs. Get in touch to learn more or get the ball rolling by applying today.
Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, together, we can elevate your game to new heights. Give us a call today at 888-355-4465.
