A Golf College Degree Means a Better Golf Job
Oct 29, 2008
Whether it is a degree from a golf college or from a general university, you need a degree to land the best careers in the field of golf.
It seems obvious that if you want to pursue a career in golf that going to a golf college would be the logical thing to do. These golf colleges, most of which are accredited, are schools tailored to people who are looking to do more than just golf. However, in this field, there are many other positions available that also require obtaining higher education from a specific golf college or general university.
What kinds of positions would require attending a specific golf college? The most obvious answer would be that of golf pro. You literally go to school to learn how to teach other people to golf. So if your passion is golf, this just might be the perfect career path to travel. Imagine getting paid to hang out at a golf course all day practicing putting and playing golf.
Another career that might require a degree from a golf college would be that of a general manager or superintendent of a golf course. The golf industry is always looking for people who understand the various pieces involved in the puzzle of golf course management. There are a lot of components involved, and keeping everybody on the same page is important. Plus, everything has to be done within an operating budget. After all, golf courses whether public or private need to make money to survive.
Some positions require education that one would not think of when attending a golf college. A perfect example would be the head greens keeper. This individual needs to be educated in horticulture. Nobody wants to play golf on a brown golf course. Some of the attraction to playing on the best of golf courses is the course's beauty. This requires knowledge of fertilization, watering (too much watering is just as bad as not enough), grass and plant diseases, insect control and much more. Take golf courses in Arizona for example: they have one kind of grass during the hot summers, and another type of grass in the cooler winters. The greens keeper needs to know how to make the transition from one kind of grass to the other as seamlessly as possible.
The person who runs the food and beverage department may not have thought of attending a golf academy, yet would benefit from the business aspects of this type of college. Food and beverage is a large component at the nicer golf courses. Whether it is the beer cart person, the bartender at the "19th hole," the waiter or cook in the 5 star restaurant, somebody has to be in charge. The restaurant business is a difficult one, and that's why the best golf resorts hire the most educated professionals to run the business end of their food and beverage departments.
The business side of attending a golf academy can also be seen for those running the onsite golf shops. The golf shops at better courses are retail shops selling golf supplies and golf related items. The profit margin at these shops is usually fairly high, and many managers are paid based on performance (a salary plus a commission).
Golf is a booming industry. The bottom line is that the best jobs within the industry are going to go to people who have pursued higher education. So whether you go to a specific golf college or even a general university, there might just be a dream job waiting for you in the golf industry.