Careers in Golf

Here at the Hub, we love our golf. So much so, in fact, that our team devotes all our time and energy towards helping junior players and college coaches connect and realize their dreams. We know that many people feel similarly about golf and would love a career in the golf industry. But how do you get started? How can you pursue your passion and make a living in this great game?

The good news is that there are lots of opportunities! Golf is a $100B+ industry. Golf courses, golf service providers, and industry equipment titans are all eagerly awaiting the next generation of aspiring young men and women to make a positive contribution to their companies and the game.

To get started, it's helpful to understand the types of organizations and companies that exist in the golf industry. Here is a quick snapshot.

1. Golf Courses or Golf Course Management Companies

Includes individual golf courses and management companies such as Troon Golf, ClubCorp, Indigo Golf, KemperSports, American Golf Corp, and more. 

2. Equipment Manufacturers

Broadly defined, including balls, clubs, putters, shafts, and golf carts. Non-exhaustive list includes TaylorMade, Callaway, Acushnet/Titleist, Wilson, Bridgestone, Cleveland/Srixon Golf, Cobra Golf, PXG, Dunlop Sports, Hippo (Europe), MacGregor, Mizuno, Nicklaus Golf, PING, and ClubCar. 

3. Tours

Including professional tours (PGA Tour, LIV Golf, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Epson Tour) and junior tours (AJGA, Hurricane Tour, Future Champions Golf (FCG), and more).

4. Associations or Governing Bodies

PGA of America, USGA, R&A, National Golf Foundation, World Golf Foundation.

5. Golf Course Design Companies

Nicklaus Design, Greg Norman Design, TGR Design, Rees Jones Design, Coore and Crenshaw, Hanse Design, and more.

6. Golf Media

Golf Channel, Golf Digest, Golf.com, GolfWire, golf divisions of major broadcasters (CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Fox Sports).

7. Teaching Centers or Academies

Golf Performance Center, IMG Academy, IJGA, Bishop's Gate Golf Academy, and more.

8. Niche or Specialty Businesses

Golf websites (Junior Golf Hub, GolfWRX), golf gadget companies, specialty media and PR businesses, and more.

That's a lot of companies! As they say, "the world is your oyster." The problem is, you have to (a) find the oyster and (b) crack it open. This is where things get a bit tricky. In general, to achieve your goal of working in the golf industry, you will need a few valuable things, including (1) specific knowledge and skills, and (2) a network to help you reach your goals. The old saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know" is wrong. Here at the Hub, we recognize it's both what you know and who you know.

If you want to work in the golf industry, you'll need to have specific skills that help your employer succeed. These skills generally come in two categories: (1) golf-specific skills (apply only to the position in question), and (2) general skills (apply broadly across many industries). For example, here are a few positions where you need very specific skills:

1. Golf Course Superintendent

Detailed knowledge of the principles of turfgrass management, fertilization, plant pathology, landscaping, and more.

2. PGA Professional

Detailed knowledge of the golf swing, tournament operations, club repair, teaching principles, shop merchandising and inventory management, rules of golf, and more.

3. Golf Club Design

Understanding of the principles of club engineering, physics, materials design, and more.

4. Golf Course Designer

Course layout and routing, playability, green shaping and design, bunker shaping and design, and more.

And here is a list of positions that also require a high degree of skill but are not necessarily golf-specific:

• General Management

• Sales

• Marketing and Advertising

• Accounting and Finance

• Legal

• Procurement

• Engineering

• Manufacturing

• Operations or Customer Service

The general concept is that if you want to work in a position that requires very golf-specific skills, you will need specific training in that area. As you consider college opportunities, keep this in mind. PGM programs, for example, provide the training necessary to become a member of the PGA of America. Consider an agriculture major if you have an interest in being a golf course superintendent, or consider attending colleges with a specialized program in golf turf management. For example, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has a listing of turf programs on its website at gcsaa.org/career/students/turf-program-directory. Remember: specific jobs = specific skills.

Of course, you can also take the more common route and attend college and major in a subject that is not necessarily golf-specific. To work in the accounting department of a public company like Callaway (traded on the NYSE under the ticker MODG after being rebranded as Topgolf Callaway Brands), you'll need to understand the ins and outs of financial statements, the principles of GAAP accounting, and potentially get a CPA license. These principles apply irrespective of whether you know the difference between a tip-stiff or grip-stiff driver shaft. The same principles apply in other functional fields like law, sales, or marketing. Gaining a broad perspective on the principles of the profession is an important first step (through your degree), and it can then be applied systematically to the industry in question (golf!).

The next key question relates to networking. Once you have the requisite skills, your network becomes a critical variable in landing your dream job, particularly if you've taken the "generalist" or non-golf-specific route. To this end, we recommend thoroughly vetting the college of your choice and its career placement office to determine whether it has the requisite connections in the golf industry that can help you land a golf job. Be specific and thorough in your questioning. Ask for specific companies and organizations that the college or university has a relationship with. Do these organizations conduct on-campus recruiting? Can the university identify past students who have gotten jobs out of college in the golf industry? Where? And at what companies?

Also, we highly recommend considering internship opportunities in the golf industry during your college years. Many organizations in the golf industry have active summer internship programs, and these are great for both networking and deciding whether a career in the golf industry is right for you. Feel free to ask the college of your choice whether they have connections that can facilitate summer internships in the golf industry.

Also, remember: a final critical variable as it relates to networking is location. Simply put, if you want to land a big fish, it helps to go where the fish are! If you have your heart set on working for the PGA Tour, and you are a Nebraska native, you can potentially find yourself at a disadvantage relative to someone already located in Ponte Vedra Beach or attending university nearby. Location is not everything, but very often it does matter.

Also, always remember that employers look at not only specific skills, but also passion and competitive spirit. Yes, developing a skill set is important, but equally important are emotional qualities, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn and go the extra mile. Keep this in mind as you navigate toward a potential golf career!

We hope this was useful. Wishing you the best of luck from your friends at the Hub!

Enjoy your Journey!