Golf Management Careers Combine Business Skills with the Love of the Game Golf management can be a rewarding choice for anyone seeking a career in this multi-billion-dollar industry. Careers in golf management are wide ranging; you may choose to manage a golf facility or a department within a facility, work for a professional golf management consulting company, or start your own business specializing in certain areas of golf management. Golf management requires proficiency in several different fields, such as customer service, food and beverage management, golf course development and maintenance, golf shop management, and marketing. An education that provides solid business-skills knowledge along with a thorough understanding of the golf industry as a whole will help prepare you for a career in golf management. Golf management in any form must be sensitive to the need for exceptional customer service. As in any hospitality-centered organization, the staff of the golf facility sets the tone for the overall business climate. Whether your golf management career is with a daily fee course, a private golf club, or a golf resort, your members expect impeccable service and an enjoyable experience whenever they visit your facility. Customer service extends across an entire organization, from member services and the pro shop to the dining facilities. Investing in a specialized customer service training program is essential to creating a staff that caters to guests’ needs and delivers the highest level of service. Ongoing employee training and opportunities for employee feedback help ensure that employees are committed to the goals of the organization. Food and beverage is another key component to successful golf management. Golf facilities must be able to accommodate various food and beverage needs, from snack bars and barbecues to formal dining. A career in golf management means making sure that dining experiences run smoothly for your guests and that every guest need is met. Food and beverage golf operations management also involves maintaining successful vendor relations, acquiring quality products while keeping costs low, controlling inventory, complying with health code regulations, and managing equipment and staff. Professional golf management companies may wish to specialize in golf course development. In developing a high-quality course that is challenging and aesthetically pleasing, careful consideration must be given to choosing an appropriate architect and location, while also accounting for environmental needs of the area and overall marketability. Courses must be playable yet challenging for all skill levels, invite players to return, and encourage guest recommendations. Closely related to golf course development is golf course maintenance. The overall quality of a course is the key reason players will return and recommend the course to others. Top-quality courses should be impeccably maintained at all times. Golf course superintendents should be trained in horticulture and landscaping requirements of the geographic region. Golf course superintendents must also be skilled in supervising people, sensitive to environmental considerations, and capable of managing the facility’s maintenance budget. Golf management companies often handle golf facilities’ marketing needs. While word-of-mouth recommendations can be a golf course’s most valuable advertising, a well-developed marketing plan is key to establishing a facility’s place in the national market. Professional golf management companies work closely with golf facilities before opening to ensure that all marketing collateral and branding strategies reflect the values, climate, and mission of the organization. Other tasks handled by an outside golf management company may include public relations, tournament organization, pricing analysis, development of an annual marketing budget, and ongoing modifications to the marketing plan.   If any of these areas of golf management sound appealing, you could be suited to careers in golf. Business acumen, a commitment to customer service, and a love of the game can help you reach success in this profitable industry. Added By Admin Email Admin Category Associate Degree Author Admin Added On 2009-05-21