Assistant Pros - what are they teaching them these days?

[nemicu]

Anyway, long story short - I normally do my own re-gripping. As a range session coincided with a re-grip with 1 club, rather than have the hassle of having to buy some solvent and grip tape (which I'd run out of) I enquired if the (alleged) assistant pro could do a quick re-grip while I hit some balls. "Nah - sorry mate. We only do gripping on a tuesday".
Not that gripping a single club seemed all that taxing, or moreover because at least 3 individuals sat around the pro shop with nothing to do but play angry birds or play with their mobiles, it seemed to me that a "pro" seemed rather reluctant to earn a quick fiver (I even supplied the grip) for two minutes (tops) work. I even suggested that I could use the facilities myself for a modest fee - they declined. It later occurred to me that perhaps the hapless 18-20 year-olds didn't have the first clue how to perform this basic task.

 

[macca64]

Service, the thing I find lacking in a lot of places,

 

[golfdub]

I had a mare a while back to get a shaft pulled on a 3 wood, I'm sure I could do it myself but lone behold 4 courses that I had spoke to don't offer this service and even when I did find someone they managed to glue the head to the work bench and made a nasty mark on the head.

Support our pros ? Most of them can't support them selves

 

[stevie_r]

Support our pros ? Most of them can't support them selves

Await the indignation of many, that could be a real 'popcorn' statement, many on here see them as deities

 

[golfdub]

Await the indignation of many, that could be a real 'popcorn' statement, many on here see them as deities

yea maybe but there is plenty of proof, but the pro at my new club is one of the good ones, there is just still a lot of careless pro's

 

[Foxholer]

Dying art is club repair by Pros!

An old club didn't have a lot of room, but still did re-grips and the occasional cutting-down or plugging.

The 'Muirfield Pro' still kept his hand in if not busy, though most tasks were shipped out to others.

What was Workshop space is now almost certainly Stock storage space - or a Buggy Battery charging area!

 

[stevie_r]

Dying art is club repair by Pros!

An old club didn't have a lot of room, but still did re-grips and the occasional cutting-down or plugging.

The 'Muirfield Pro' still kept his hand in if not busy, though most tasks were shipped out to others.

What was Workshop space is now almost certainly Stock storage space - or a Buggy Battery charging area!

Just how much room does a vice take?

 

[Blue in Munich]

Just how much room does a vice take?

Depends on what your vice is…….

Seriously, the last 3 I have had done & supplied the grips for I haven't been charged for. Old fashioned pro, done lots of bigger stuff for me, odd stuff like that he throws in as part of the service. Interesting to watch to; no double sided tape, very little solvent & lots of compressed air…...

 

[drawboy]

I want my TM CB's flatting to -2 degree and can I get it done?....can I buggery! I have contacted our new pro he has only been in the club a few weeks. "No sorry I cannot do that" was his reply. I contacted a different club pro only to be told "We will send them back to TM" Er, no you won't I thought. Keep selling the Mars bars lads, it is all you are good for....Oh and do not forget to constantly moan about the internet and Ebay forcing you out of business, you have brought it on yourselves. I say take their retainers off them and make them earn a living. Where else can you get a job with guaranteed income for doing nothing more than being in a shop waiting for someone to come in?

 

[Oddsocks]

Drawboy, I had mine tweaked -1* at Ag - less than £30 for the set!

 

[drawboy]

Cheers OS I'll try there mate.

 

[shivas irons]

Incredible with the decline in the interest in golf these days that pro shops cant provide the basic services they did in the past, is it any wonder pro shops cant support themselves......

 

[Crow]

Incredible with the decline in the interest in golf these days that pro shops cant provide the basic services they did in the past, is it any wonder pro shops cant support themselves......

It may partly be due to the comparative wealth of people these days, rather than maintain an older set of clubs people just buy a new set, so offering a club repair service is barely worth the effort.

 

[MashieNiblick]

We have been very lucky with our assistants. Will get a grip or two off and on while you wait if the shop is quiet.

Re-gripping is basic but I can see why a lie adjustment might be a bit harder as I gather the proper gear costs a bit and for most pros it won't be worth it as I suspect the vast majority of players would never request it but we do have a couple of pro shops in the area offering a full range of adjustments and repairs.

 

[LIG]

Loft and lie check/adjustment required. Only competent pros need apply!

 

[Foxholer]

Just how much room does a vice take?

It's a bit more than a vice, though not much more than a work area in a garage.

Vice and bench, compressor, heat gun, l/l machine, swing-weight calibrator tools. Then space for gear and room to move. Size of a shed (or bathroom) really, but always under pressure from the demand to store stock! And with the demand really only being 'occasional', hardly justifiable - unless you are also servicing other nearby clubs/ pro shops.

 

[GB72]

I note all the reasons why a pro may not offer these services but to my mind the aim should be to do everything you can to stop people going in another shop. The person may only be spending a fiver but if he goes elsewhere and gets good service and has a good experience then the temptation is to use that place in future. That is a long term customer possibly lost. To me a shop has to do the little things and do them well if they are going to be used for the big spend. Why would I buy a set of custom fit irons from a pro who cannot tweak or maintain them after purchase

 

[stevie_r]

It's a bit more than a vice, though not much more than a work area in a garage.

Vice and bench, compressor, heat gun, l/l machine, swing-weight calibrator tools. Then space for gear and room to move. Size of a shed (or bathroom) really, but always under pressure from the demand to store stock! And with the demand really only being 'occasional', hardly justifiable - unless you are also servicing other nearby clubs/ pro shops.

Agreed, if you are providing a full range of club maintenance services; to go back to the OP, re gripping requires sod all.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

It was not that long ago [less than 10 years] that part of the PGA course included putting molten lead into a wooden club head.
Knowing the PGA as I do it is probably still included!

 

[Wayman]

I want my TM CB's flatting to -2 degree and can I get it done?....can I buggery! I have contacted our new pro he has only been in the club a few weeks. "No sorry I cannot do that" was his reply. I contacted a different club pro only to be told "We will send them back to TM" Er, no you won't I thought. Keep selling the Mars bars lads, it is all you are good for....Oh and do not forget to constantly moan about the internet and Ebay forcing you out of business, you have brought it on yourselves. I say take their retainers off them and make them earn a living. Where else can you get a job with guaranteed income for doing nothing more than being in a shop waiting for someone to come in?

Drawboy go and see James harper at the golf dome in seaton Carew he was class with me would recommend him