Losing Professional’s Shop!

[Doon frae Troon]

Ah, we had the opposite experience. Former pro turned GM, absolute disaster. Drove members away, oversaw a decline in the club. I was one of the members who left, in part due to him. Whenever questions were raised the stock reply was 'I've had 30yrs in this business, I know what is needed'. Oh no he didn't.

It is so much dependent on the person.

I did a Scottish licencees exam a few years ago.
We were sent documentation a couple of weeks before, we then had a morning session and the exam was in the afternoon
One guy was that '30 years in the business, I could probably teach the examiners' sort.
He was the only one who failed.

 

[IanM]

Given all the legal compliance stuff these days, most pros would run a mile. Unless finding alternative roles would be difficult.

Both clubs I'm at have excellent shops. One is club owned, one isn't. Needs someone who meets needs of the folk who use it...

Both are under the Foremost Golf umbrella, which helps.

 

[Orikoru]

Given all the legal compliance stuff these days, most pros would run a mile. Unless finding alternative roles would be difficult.

Both clubs I'm at have excellent shops. One is club owned, one isn't. Needs someone who meets needs of the folk who use it...

Both are under the Foremost Golf umbrella, which helps.

I believe ours is as well actually. Not sure how that works because he still doesn't sell much stuff. Maybe what little clothing stock he has he gets from them.

 

[Chip&Run]

Losing the pro shop would make me reconsider my membership.

Its the hub of our club. Though it might save me money on expensive impulsive putter purchases.

 

[Chip&Run]

I believe ours is as well actually. Not sure how that works because he still doesn't sell much stuff. Maybe what little clothing stock he has he gets from them.

Foremost is basically a big supplier to the smaller pro shops that price match the bigger national stores etc.

If you asked your pro to order you a set of Mizuno pro irons 4-PW Stiff for example, he'd have the means to be able to supply you them even though he doesnt stock them. I think the pro then gets his kick back off foremost.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ours is a Foremost pro. He seems happy

 

[Chip&Run]

Ours is a Foremost pro. He seems happy

Does he have a good selection of equipment?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Does he have a good selection of equipment?

For the size of shop

 

[chico]

I believe ours is as well actually. Not sure how that works because he still doesn't sell much stuff. Maybe what little clothing stock he has he gets from them.

They've got quite a range on their website. I remember ordering shoes through the website years ago and they got delivered to the club shop, not sure if this is something they still do.

 

[Tashyboy]

At one time nigh on all my money stayed “local” as in the pro shop. Now if I have to hand over a quid I need counselling. The pro who runs the shop, for him it’s money money money. Things started going downhill for me over time but when he wanted to charge me £15 for sending a club back to Ping when a weight fell out it was the straw that broke the camels back. Ping do not charge and are fantastic. He forgot that a few months earlier he made a big song and dance about his online website launch. I had a look and a pair of shoes were online for £0. I put in in my basket and they were being delivered.I rang the shop and told them straight away of the mistake. I was assured it was a one off. Five minutes later I called them again and told them of a £350 putter that was online at £0.
I could go on and on. The personal touch has gone from our shop pro, but his staff are fantastic local lads.

 

[PJ87]

About 2 years ago now my club took the range back in house. It had been leased to a pro who kept the profits etc. when they called back the lease I hadn't had lessons for years (COVID and such) , that pro had moved so I was talking to the pro leaving about lessons. He was understandably a bit annoyed about losing the range so he recommended two pros at another club nearby who had built an indoor SIM for lessons. I picked one and went for lessons with him

Fast forward to now I've had a fair few lessons off him and been got for irons and a driver ... Bought my trolly off him this month so I can support local but also anything goes wrong he sorts it out.

 

[Oddsocks]

It’s evident that the success of a pro shop is very much dictated by the demographic of its membership.

My previous club had a pretty young membership with a large volume of societies. The pro shop had two pro’s that were pretty much fully booked a month in advance, two shop assistants, was well stocked with TM, Ping & Titleist clubs as well as Oscar Jacobson, Lindberg, adidas and foot joy clothing and a few other brands. I estimate the shop to be about 600sq ft. The pro shop was a gold mine!

I had a short stop at another club which had a very old membership, every club was bought in back to back from another supplier, shop stock was very low and the pro relied on the money from buggy rental and range balls (which he collected daily). It was piss poor and I never used it. But the pro was a nice guy. Pro shop 300sq ft max.

My current club has a small shop but I’m seeing brands move as younger members are joining so they are definitely moving with the times. The shop is prob 300sq fr but does have a large swing studio out back for lessons which used to be part of the shop. Clearly more money to be made from track man lessons than selling golf gear so I don’t blame them.

The two smaller shops are at members courses with either no range or a very small one, have a long standing older membership and limited visitors, this is clearly impacting money spend. The larger shop is a proprietary course that has a huge range, lots of p&p/societies and a pretty young membership that clearly spend more money.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Our pro; his assistant pros, and our pro shop are core to the life of the club. Loss of pro and/or pro shop would be baaaad.

In our recent clubhouse redevelopment the pro shop lost 2/3rds of its area - obviously a significant impact on stock and scope of stock that can be held. Club owns the shop and the stock - was a club decision. Don’t think the pro was too bothered (hassle of stock take and management being a bug bear of his) though at least one of the assistants bemoaned the loss of the major part of the retail side…though still stocking clubs and some clothing (we are under Foremost golf).

Changes notwithstanding, the pros and pro shop remain the club’s ‘welcome’ and further entrance area developments are likely to maintain and enhance that.

On pros moving role. Previous pro moved to a Golf Manager role working alongside the club Business Manager, and he seems to relish that. Our previous pro to him moved from pro to Club Manager (before Business and Golf Manager roles were split out). I get the impression that the role really did not suit his skill set and aptitudes; nor did it meet his career aspirations. He left the club after only a few years in the role for a job with the PGA UK.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

On pros moving role. Previous pro moved to a Golf Manager role working alongside the club Business Manager, and he seems to relish that. Our previous pro to him moved from pro to Club Manager (before Business and Golf Manager roles were split out). I get the impression that the role really did not suit his skill set and aptitudes; nor did it meet his career aspirations. He left the club after only a few years in the role for a job with the PGA UK.

This reminds me of the move from teacher to head teacher, I come from a family of teachers. If you want to improve your situation financially then you need to move upwards but there is nothing that says a good teacher will make a good head. Very different skillset. There same is true in a golfing situation. It can work but it might not.

 

[Neilds]

This reminds me of the move from teacher to head teacher, I come from a family of teachers. If you want to improve your situation financially then you need to move upwards but there is nothing that says a good teacher will make a good head. Very different skillset. There same is true in a golfing situation. It can work but it might not.

Similar to my journey through the RAF as an aircraft technician. Got assessed every year on how I could fix things, then got promoted through the ranks and stopped working on aircraft and did more admin. Unfortunately you needed to get promoted to stay in when I think sometimes you should just keep those guys who are good technicians and don't want to get promoted as they want to keep turning spanners instead of being sat behind a desk sorting out leave passes and station duties.

(the edit was a spelling mistake I made in the quote. Nothing typed by the poster was altered. LT)

 

[Crazyface]

Early days but Club I understand are considering restructuring with the loss of The Pro Shop. He will be given the role of Golf Manager covering handicaps/ competitions and Course Manager. The Secretary covering Catering/ Office and House matters.

Anybody else have something similar and how successful or otherwise is it please?

Is it a retrograde step to lose The Pro Shop?

Oooo, it's been thought about at my place. Good idea in my opinion. We've discussed that the Pro also goes out and about into local schools to try and get local kids and parents at the club. It's the future of the club Pro.

 

[Crazyface]

Ah, we had the opposite experience. Former pro turned GM, absolute disaster. Drove members away, oversaw a decline in the club. I was one of the members who left, in part due to him. Whenever questions were raised the stock reply was 'I've had 30yrs in this business, I know what is needed'. Oh no he didn't.

It is so much dependent on the person.

Ahhh yes. Our lad is a smashing lad, but could he step up? I think it offers a great opportunity for club Pros to extend their skill set. Maybe even move on to bigger and better things.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We are a members club and our pro has been great for the club. Does a lot and we also have a thriving junior academy and womens academy that is providing a lot of new blood. If we lost the shop chances are we'd lose the pro and that would be a huge mistake imo