Non-Playing Golf Careers

Buceph

I've been up all night, and read through 100 pages of threads in here, considering my options. A few years back, when I was working on a course doing general summer maintenance(as I mentioned in another thread) I was waiting on my leaving cert results to see if I'd get into uni. Prior to the results I was sort of offered a position as a greenkeeper, where the club would keep me on as staff while I did my greenkeeper training and give me a job after as a proper greenkeeper (this was all during the height of the boom.) The greenkeeper gave me a good taste of the job, explaining everything he did to me. However, I did get my results, and I did go to Uni, and I graduated last August with a fairly decent degree in business.

I'm now half regretting not doing the greenkeeper course (only half regretting it in a sleepless night, I know the degree was the right thing to get.) Looking back at my time on the golf course I had an asbolutely laugh. Cycling to and from the course in the early hours was terrible, but the actual time on the course I really enjoyed. I liked learning about why we were doing what we were doing, I liked being outside (during the summer, I know) I liked dealing with the people and I was quite proud of the state of the course and my greens.

During my degree in business, I learned I liked dealing with "brand communities" and their analogue of hobby groups, neo-tribes, fans, etc.. Brand communities being my catchall for guys dedicated to something to such a degree that it takes up part of their life and influences their life, almost as an obsession. I like dealing with the friendliness of it and the rivalries and the passion in it, something I don't see in business in general. I figured the only places I really see it with businesses in general is with small start up small business, technical industries, and businesses based around a hobby or entertainment, so computer games (a big one,) the film industry, the porn industry :eek: and sports. And I just put two and two together last night, golf is one of the biggest hobby/sports businesses with a substantial industry around it, that needs lots of staff. And even better, I've already experienced a little bit of it with my summers on the course, and I think I'd like to get back into it again.


However, I don't play golf, I was brought up around it, and hacked a ball around the garden since I was old enough to stand (broke many windows) but I never developed the grá some people have for it. I'm going back to the driving range, no matter what happens with my career, yet I was thinking that maybe I could do something in the business side of it. It matches up with what I've learned to be my "business" interests. Though first I'd have to show some dedication to it that would put me ahead of all the guys who play off a scratch handicap. Maybe doing a year's course on greenkeeping would be that way in.

What do you think? I know it's a bad time for people in the golf industry, with clubs going into receivership left, right and centre and staff on reduced weeks and wages. But I think this might give me something I can enjoy as a career ("go way with yourself and your fancy "enjoying work" notions," I hear you say.) Reading through those 100 pages of threads I saw there were a few green keepers on here, a couple of guys on committees, some in the wider industry (and a lot of opinionated people.) Is there a spot for a guy with good business knowledge, and who is willing to show a bit of dedication, and at the very least can share in a passion you all hold so dearly.

Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated. This may be a flight of fancy fuelled by a lack of sleep, but sometimes you have to do a bit of looking into your notions to put your mind at ease. Either way, I'll be heading to the driving range once I get a chance.

The_Architect

Great post.

You’re right though – It’s not the easiest business to get in to.

It’s perhaps worth remembering that there are two types of employee that work in the golf business:

• Those who work with the golf course e.g. Architects, greenkeepers, constructors, agronomists, irrigation consultants, plant manufacturers etc…
• Those who work with the golfers e.g. Pro’s, high street retailers, equipment manufacturers, travel consultants, course guides etc…

Be passionate about looking for work and you’ll get there eventually.

All the best.

golfwallah

There are FAS schemes, whereby people on the live register can be taken on by employers for up to 9 months in management training roles (including golf course management, sales / marketing, website management, etc.). I think the idea is that you can work for the golf club in a defined role as agreed between FAS and the club and continue to receive your unemployment benefit.
The club has a obligation to provide the trainee with guidance / training / work experience and in return receives the benefit of the trainee's work. So it could be a win/win situation all round. I have an idea that the employer may also make a contribution towards travel expenses, etc.
You can check this out with the FAS site by looking for info on their Graduate Placement Scheme.

Buceph

Thanks for the help I've had. Obviously this isn't something many people can help with, but I do appreciate what has been said. And I also appreciate the offer of a job interview with a course. It's on the otherside of the country so not possible for me, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.


One more thing though, could someone recommend some other golfing forums? I've been thinking about this every day since last week and discussed it with a few friends and I'm coming more and more around to it as a serious possibility. And I'd like to see if I can get more opinions and a bigger pool could be of assistance.

Martin567

Buceph wrote: »

Thanks for the help I've had. Obviously this isn't something many people can help with, but I do appreciate what has been said. And I also appreciate the offer of a job interview with a course. It's on the otherside of the country so not possible for me, but I appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.


One more thing though, could someone recommend some other golfing forums? I've been thinking about this every day since last week and discussed it with a few friends and I'm coming more and more around to it as a serious possibility. And I'd like to see if I can get more opinions and a bigger pool could be of assistance.

Try www.606v2.com.

This is an offshoot of the official "606" sports forums on the main BBC Sports website. BBC are shutting down their forum at the end of next week in a cost cutting measure. The above site is new one set up by users of the BBC site who wanted to continue with a similar format.

cellosid

PM sent..............

Sid

david

Where are you based?