working in the golf industry.

[Oddsocks]

is there anyone here that works within the golf industry (except bob mac), and more importantly does their own personal enjoyment vary because its their job aswell.

The reason i ask is because my old hobby was off road motorcycle parts, and when i got badly injured i started a shop selling parts, what i found is slowly but surely as your friends become customers i found myself losing interest really quickly qs my work become my social life, and it was very hard to get that switch off between work and private/social life.

So does anyone, for example work within the trade such as a rep for a golf related company, and how do they find it effects their game, with the obvious exception of all their mates wanting cheap gear.

i dont expect anyone to release their company details etc.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Tricky one. I was offered a job at AG and whilst I weas looking forward to it and some of the perks the hours were going to cut down on a lot of golf with my friends especially at weekends. When HID had a job at golf club I did get some good deals and perks and so I had all the privileges and none of the hassle. Of course if GM want to offer me an intern job for a pittance and the right to make the office tea all day every day (I''ll even do the sandwich run) then I'll give it a bash and feed back

 

[Oddsocks]

interesting homer, see i think working in a pro shop would be different as your dealing with "joe public want everything for nothing" which is what ive suffered with in the shop, but i think working for a brand as a rep or something would be different.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Did the working in the pro shop bit. To be honest I was too young to really think about it and to me it was good cash, regular golf, on hand tips and a chance to chat up the girls from the stable next door and in Wimbledon VIllage. I think a club pro job would be harder as everyone knows you and your expected to be at their beck and call and can wave a magic wand and conjour up some ridiculous price for a bit of kit or give them a tip or lesson and expect it to transform their game. Better to serve nameless punters but try and give a decent level of service and not the jack of all trades a common pro is expected to be these days

 

[Hobbit]

Had the chance to work in the trade but decided against it for the very reasons you describe. I've done the odd spell in my lad's shop and enjoyed it but that was only for a few hours and it was members I knew who came in.

 

[Oddsocks]

hmmm,its interesting that pro shops seem to get teh same abuse as my current trade. im more interested for example working for a manufacture and visiting shops as a trade rep, im currently seriously thinking of a career change

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have a look at AG's website as they always have vacancies. Similarly look at the big names local to you (Cally etc) and see if they have anything

 

[Oddsocks]

ive found a few sites with jobs specifically within the industry, but im very keen to steer away from proshop sales so to speak, but the chance of working for a manufacture does have its appeal.

 

[chris661]

From speaking to a few reps it seems to be a fairly hard way to make a living, basically living on commission and in a suitcase. I know titleist cut their fitters hugely so much so that at a demo day I got fitted by the same guy that had just come from the tour and working with Adam Scott to me :rofl: bet he loved that!

I would think it would be next to impossible to get into that as they were all fairly strong county players from what he was telling me and at that job he was hardly ever home.

 

[USER1999]

Some of us on here met quite a few guys from ping, at Walton Heath. Most of them really enjoyed working for ping, but most did not seem to play much.

 

[Val]

I know a Titleist technician very well who has had spells custom fitting at the fitting centre and also on the tour in the tour van and he now struggles to play golf regularly, granted he had the chance to have a wee chipping comp with a colleague in Dubai last year along with Rory Mcilroy and has met some of the games finest players but he no longer does what made him love the game initially which is play.

 

[SocketRocket]

I have considered starting my own club fitting business using something like Wishon gear. It would mean obtaining a proffessional club fitting qualification but that sould be interesting in itself.

I still like the Mizuno MP63's though.

 

[Oddsocks]

So general views is we would all like a job in golf, and tour bus stuff is for county level players who don't want to play anymore lol

 

[NWJocko]

I have considered starting my own club fitting business using something like Wishon gear. It would mean obtaining a proffessional club fitting qualification but that sould be interesting in itself.

.

I've thought about something similar to this.

Plan is to hopefully make enough money in the next 15/20 years to jack in what I do now and do something I would enjoy more and without any financial pressure.

Probably never happen but hey ho, I can dream

 

[Val]

So general views is we would all like a job in golf, and tour bus stuff is for county level players who don't want to play anymore lol

Tour bus stuff is for PGA qualified pro's mate, ex club pros or assistants.

 

[Piece]

I don't work in golf myself, but two of my close friends work as UK and Europe distributors and licensees for the GC2 launch monitor and the Full Swing simulators.

They've found it tough initially due to the world economic situation but recently things are picking up. The main part is getting their foot in the door with the GC2 as all major manufacturers are reliant or tied into Trackman and Flightscope. They've persuaded most manufacturers in the UK to go with the GC2 and alot of the top Tour pros use them too.

It's alot of hard work, apparently!, but they make good contacts and their game has improved!

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Tour bus stuff is for PGA qualified pro's mate, ex club pros or assistants.

When the forum lads played the PING tour van, PING had an 18 handicapper on their team.

Obviously, I can't confirm whether he actually worked on the van or was just roped in for the day.

Happy to be corrected.

 

[RichardC]

It seemed to me that the guy's on the Titleist fitting day loved working for them.

If I remember right they all seemed to play to a good standard. Scott who fitted me was off +2ish (i think)

 

[Val]

It seemed to me that the guy's on the Titleist fitting day loved working for them.

If I remember right they all seemed to play to a good standard. Scott who fitted me was off +2ish (i think)

Was he Scottish?

 

[Val]

When the forum lads played the PING tour van, PING had an 18 handicapper on their team.

Obviously, I can't confirm whether he actually worked on the van or was just roped in for the day.

Happy to be corrected.

Really?

That surprises me given the level of tech knowledge these guys need to have, granted you can learn it like an apprentice I suppose.

Titleist van guys are pro's, I've met a few, they work there socks off every day during tour events building clubs, tweaking lofts and lies, grinding and working on trackman with the pros.