Birchy
Money List Winner
Hardly ridiculed. He said kids playing off 5 basically knowing nothing about the game. You cant play off 5 and know nothing about golf. Therefore it does have a bearing on their knowledge of the game does it not?
Assistant pro's
- Thread starter shivas irons
- Start date
Hardly ridiculed. He said kids playing off 5 basically knowing nothing about the game. You cant play off 5 and know nothing about golf. Therefore it does have a bearing on their knowledge of the game does it not?
ger147
Tour Winner
I agree - age is just a number.
Some young folk will be well clued up, others not so. Exactly the same with older folks.
And while experience can be invaluable if the right person has it, I work with many people in my industry with years of "experience" who are still useless.
Birchy
Money List Winner
I fail to understand your point....I left to earn more elsewhere, take your trolling elswhere mate I'm not responding anymore
Im not trolling one bit. You said young assistants playing off 5 basically know nothing about the game and i say rubbish.
The bit in bold and underlined sounds like a very jealous comment imo.
Sweep
Journeyman Pro
Being good at golf does not make you a good communicator. Nor does it give you genuine enthusiasm and interest in your customers needs and providing for thier requirements or any of the other myriad of skill sets needed to work in a sales / customer service environment supplying often high value, technical products. Those pro's who have these skills will undoubtedly do very well and the pro shop provides a good way for the young assistant to either earn a living while trying to make it as a playing pro or as an 'apprenticeship" for a future as a club / shop pro. Sadly, you can't expect too much from a youngster who sees his work in the shop as divorced from his higher aspirations. In other words, "I am only doing this until I become the next Rory". That attitude can only be addressed by his boss.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Er. no he didn't!
Here's what he said! "They can play the game but lets face it most of them have no sales skills." That I'm inclined to agree with - at least until trained.
it was you that made the, incorrect imo, assertion that "if somebody plays off 5 they will know the game". I'm rather dubious about that blanket statement!.
That also seems to me to be the opinion of most other posters in the thread!
I'm sure AG have their reasons to use such employees though - but that's up to them! It seems at least 1 of their (prospective) customers is happy that they do.
Last edited:
Birchy
Money List Winner
Try pasting the full comment rather than just the bit that suits your argument. Below is what he posted.
Even thou I play off 14 I like to think I have a high knowledge of gear and golf past and present and am expected to listen to local assistants that basically know nothing about the game.If I ran a golf club I would employ somebody who knows the game and not some bratty kid who plays off 5 with no people/sales skills!
Foxholer
Blackballed
Now you really are being ridiculous!
That's absolutely NOT the full comment!
Until you obey your own 'rule', don't even bother replying!
TheClaw
Q-School Graduate
I would say in all honesty that the majority of staff I have dealt with in golf shops / pro shops have been total knobs.
'Serving' people that they are better than doesn't seem to sit well with them.
'Serving' people that they are better than doesn't seem to sit well with them.
bobmac
Major Champion
This thread is ready to be closed down now I think
Foxholer
Blackballed
Birchy
Money List Winner
You know the rest isnt even relevent. Your just dodging it now.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Again.... Ridiculous!
And, of course, the fact that I play off 9 and you play off 16 means I'm right and you are wrong!
Last edited:
Scrindle
Head Pro
On the subject of American Golf and selling in general, the local American Golf shop near me is one in Worcester. There's a guy there called Sam about my age and he's helped me immeasurably in choosing a few key clubs.
He knows his stuff, his advice was sound, he didn't pressure me into purchasing anything, the clubs I purchased have improved my game.
I don't care what his handicap is, nor do I know.
He knows his stuff, his advice was sound, he didn't pressure me into purchasing anything, the clubs I purchased have improved my game.
I don't care what his handicap is, nor do I know.
Last edited:
Foxholer
Blackballed
Exactly the way it should be!
Marshy77
Journeyman Pro
I fail to understand your point....I left to earn more elsewhere, take your trolling elswhere mate I'm not responding anymore
Sounds like its you thats trolling and trying to have a sly dig at AG. IMO
I think nowadays anyone that walks into AG/Direct Golf etc has generally had a good browse online to see whats on offer and very rarely will be suckered into buying something they don't want, need or pay over the odds. I also think that you'll probably get a better service and maybe deal if you go direct to to your pro at your club, if you are a member of a club that has a club shop.
Not at all ive been using AG since 98 and still do. The point I am making is that the golf world assumes good players are good sales people and employ them, I simply dont agree and this seems more evident with younger staff.
But I do agree its about time this thread was over......
Birchy
Money List Winner
Again.... Ridiculous!
And, of course, the fact that I play off 9 and you play off 16 means I'm right and you are wrong!
Touche
I did fear that one may come out of the locker :rofl:
Having worked in a club pro shop I know from my own experience that I had a good knowledge of the brands of the day, could serve members wanting their cards for the monthly stableford or a few balls but I knew nothing about the intracasies of the swing and how to apply it to teaching, nothing about running a business and precious little about life itself. I could do repairs, I could serve and that was as far as it went.
What I didn't do was assume because I had a nice position that I was some kind of be I AM. Plenty of good golfers, nay, better golfers than me, ready to put me in my place. Turn up, clean up and serve. It isn't too hard.
In the modern environment I would expect the assistant at my place to have a decent but not encyclopaedic knoweldge of products, be able to play a bit and be personable. Ours meets all these criteria and can teach quite well (according to feedback from members and the junior acadamy he helps run). No complaints and I guess it varies from club to club.
As for AG....most seem devoid of much knowledge on products and I wouldn't trust any advice from them on my game or with them to carry out even basic repairs. Too many bad experiences from more than one store.
What I didn't do was assume because I had a nice position that I was some kind of be I AM. Plenty of good golfers, nay, better golfers than me, ready to put me in my place. Turn up, clean up and serve. It isn't too hard.
In the modern environment I would expect the assistant at my place to have a decent but not encyclopaedic knoweldge of products, be able to play a bit and be personable. Ours meets all these criteria and can teach quite well (according to feedback from members and the junior acadamy he helps run). No complaints and I guess it varies from club to club.
As for AG....most seem devoid of much knowledge on products and I wouldn't trust any advice from them on my game or with them to carry out even basic repairs. Too many bad experiences from more than one store.
a bit harsh I feel as every store has at least one qualified PGA. I've used 3 near me and been pretty happy with the service overall.
Foxholer
Blackballed
So may support the OP's case?
When was the last time you went into an AG Homer?
Certainly a different set-up to the way they were a few years ago - and for the better. I think their 'Pro in every shop' was/is an inspired strategy.
