Careers in Golf
If you think the only way to have a career in golf is to be a Tour Professional then think again. There are lots of career opportunities in the sport, and you don’t have to be a great player! Okay, if you want to compete at The Open or the Women’s Open then you’ve got to be pretty good, but just look at all the other careers there are:
i) Tour Professional: Not many people make it to this level. Click here for some advice.
ii) Teaching or Coaching: Qualified coaches are needed at every level of the sport. Contact the Professional Golfers Association for advice or click here for more info.
iii) Director of Golf: You’ll have to work your way up to this level. Click here for more info
iv) Facility Management: To learn how to run a golf facility, contact the Golf Club Manager’s Association. Click here for more info.
v) Course Management or Greenkeeping: Someone has to look after the course. The Greenkeepers Training Committee offer courses from National Certificates to Masters Degrees! Click here for more info.
vi) Golf Course Architecture: Specialists are needed to create new courses and improve existing ones. Contact the European Institute of Golf Course Architects. Click here for more info.
vii) Golf Journalism: Someone’s got to write about everything that’s happening in golf…
viii) Magazine Production: … and someone’s got to produce the magazines for the articles to appear in!
ix) Retailing: There are lots of golfers out there looking to buy equipment …
x) Equipment Manufacturing: … but someone’s got to make it first …
xi) Marketing and Sales: … and someone’s got to promote the equipment …
xii) Golf Clothing: … and the same goes for clothing.
xiii) Player Management: Top players need to be looked after …
xiv) Sports Science: … and they’ll need advice on how to keep fit or how to stay focused.
xv) Broadcasting: We all like to watch the golf on TV or listen to it on the radio …
xvi) Event Management: … but someone’s got to organise the events first …
xvii) Catering: … and someone’s got to feed the spectators at the event.
xviii) Golf Development: You could help to encourage more people into the sport …
xix) Property Development: … or build new facilities where they can play.
xx) Golf Tourism: Many golfers like to go on golfing holidays but someone’s got to make the arrangements.
xxi) Administration: There are a number of governing bodies that look after the long-term future of the sport. Click here for more info.
If you’d like more information on any of these careers, click on the link below the organisation you’re interested in or click on the link to the right of this page.
If there’s no link, why not have a look at the range of courses available at Colleges and Universities across the UK which focus golf. A special education and careers booklet can be downloaded from the English Golf Union’s website. Click here for more info.
One way to get a foot on the ladder is to do some volunteering. Who knows where this might lead! Click here for more info.
Whatever you choose to do in golf, we hope you have a great career!
