would you miss your pro?

[Imurg]

I hardly ever see our Pro. His car isn't in the carpark often, he's rarely in the shop, rarely gives lessons (no range so they're all on course), in fact I 've only seen him givng 2.
What I don't know is how much the club pays for the priviledge of having a Pro. He must give lessons elsewhere, the shop doesn't turn over much stock and there's 3-4 lads who run the shop/bar anyway.
I can't see that we'd miss him at all.

 

[percy_layer]

I think the role of the club Pro is changing over the years. A lot are becoming Director of Golf and Club Managers. It is very important that the club pro is a proactive part of the golf club.

Some concentrate on retail, some on coaching....etc

But it is important for them to contribute to the success of the golf club as a business, benefits themselves and the golf club.

 

[Doh]

Our pro lives at the club with his Wife and toddler they are very much part of the club.

He has the responsibility to promote societys gives lessons (top coach) gives the juniors free lessons, he has a well stocked shop and will price match anyone.
he will even sell clubs for you with out taking any commission.

Would we miss him yes i believe we would would we let him go yes if the circumstances dictated we had to. But we would try to find other ways to keep him first. not just out of loyalty but he is part of the club and generates business for it. The right man is a valuable asset.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Our pro is also director of golf and takes on a great deal of responsibility with marketing and so on. He's a great coach, will price match internet prices, has an extensive repair service and is also a thoroughly nice bloke.

The club would be a much worse place without him.

 

[Aztecs27]

At my club? No. Only ever seen one of the assistant's once who was a helpful bloke, but is never around (along with the other pro's). This doesn't bother me too much as my home course is too far away from my house to go and have lessons/used the driving range, which is why I go to another course to use their driving range.

At my local course/driving range? Yes.

It's where I've started having lessons, and all of the pro's there (2 "full" pro's and 3 assistants) are more than happy to give you helpful, free advice outside of lessons and all seem to know their onions. And there's always at least one on hand (usually more) sat in the pro shop drinking tea or milling about the range.

Also, they all seem to be there because they enjoy it. Outside of the head pro, they're all self employed, so unless they're doing a shift in the pro shop, they're there waiting for their bookings and always on hand to help out and nothing is too much trouble.

 

[need_my_wedge]

You'd still have to pay someone to take the green fees and sell the mars bars which will probably cost you £12-15K per annum, might aswell pay the extra 5K and have a professional mars bar salesman!

£12-£15k per annum? Will they ony collect green fees and sell mars bars 5 days a week for only part of the day, for just 47 weeks a year?

Not sure whether you are suggesting that is an overpay, or that you'll only pay them for 47 weeks? Do you not get paid holiday in your work?

The pro and the assistant pro at my gaff are both thoroughly nice chaps. Always there to offer help and advice, whether you take lessons with them or not - I don't currently. This is not because I wouldn't use them, but because I was having lessons with a different pro long before I joined the club. I go to the pro at a club closer to home, with a driving range on my doorstep. Equally good chap, again, always happy to offer advice, answer my questions if/ when I have them. I think a club is better with a pro.

I suppose that it if the club is having financial difficulties, then looking at the staffing level is always a possibility, but you may be cutting of your nose to spite your face if you get rid of them.

 

[brendy]

Absolutely, We have one of the top teaching Pros in the UK (Rorys Coach) the amount of little free hints and tips have been fantastic as well as being a well liked guy, the asst pro is a decent guy too.

 

[GB72]

I have given this question quite alot of thought as I find it an interesting point.

My initial reply would have been no. I do not use him for lessons (not keen on the teaching style) and all we have is a practice ground and as I take lessons in winter this is not ideal anyway. I do not use him to buy kit from unless it is with pro shop credit. He only stocks Ping and Titleist and neither have been top of my list for recent purchases. I am not sure that he custom fits any more either as with the brands he stocks he simply books people in at Gainsborough or Branston. I do not use him for balls either as he does not stock the brands I use. He will also not agree a discount, ever. Is there any free advice? Not for me, I have had some lessons but I only get a general, how is the golf going but nothing more. Does he interact with all the members etc. Not with me he does not. He spends his time with the older, long standing members and the known faces and the team players but that is it. Yes he coaches the juniors etc at weekends and gets involved in pro-ams and various club events but none of this involves me if I talking selfishly.

Surprisingly though, the conclusion I reached is that we do need a pro. The club needs a public face and he is it. We do not have a manager and the committee are volunteers and so the club needs a public face to deal with societies etc and this is where the pro now comes in. The alternative would be to hire a general manager and you would not get one for £20000.00. At the end of the day, the club gets a number of roles filled whilst having to pay a reduced salary that is subsidised by other income.

 

[viscount17]

Our 'club' does not employ the pro but then we don't own the course or shop or anything else.
There is a large pro staff. It's always puzzled me how they can support so many.
The pro is a GM Top 25 and England youth coach, his full-time assistant is an experienced fully qualified PGA pro, and a very good coach in his own right. They have taken on a new PGA trainee who also is one of a rota of three or four shop staff.
They do Titleist, Mizzie and Ping fitting - no 'toys' though, and take green fees. They don't run comps or do any marshalling and have little direct impact on the 'club'.
Would we miss them - I think we would.

 

[Aztecs27]

I have given this question quite alot of thought as I find it an interesting point.

My initial reply would have been no. I do not use him for lessons (not keen on the teaching style) and all we have is a practice ground and as I take lessons in winter this is not ideal anyway. I do not use him to buy kit from unless it is with pro shop credit. He only stocks Ping and Titleist and neither have been top of my list for recent purchases. I am not sure that he custom fits any more either as with the brands he stocks he simply books people in at Gainsborough or Branston. I do not use him for balls either as he does not stock the brands I use. He will also not agree a discount, ever. Is there any free advice? Not for me, I have had some lessons but I only get a general, how is the golf going but nothing more. Does he interact with all the members etc. Not with me he does not. He spends his time with the older, long standing members and the known faces and the team players but that is it. Yes he coaches the juniors etc at weekends and gets involved in pro-ams and various club events but none of this involves me if I talking selfishly.

Surprisingly though, the conclusion I reached is that we do need a pro. The club needs a public face and he is it. We do not have a manager and the committee are volunteers and so the club needs a public face to deal with societies etc and this is where the pro now comes in. The alternative would be to hire a general manager and you would not get one for £20000.00. At the end of the day, the club gets a number of roles filled whilst having to pay a reduced salary that is subsidised by other income.

Where do you go for lessons Greg? Just out of interest?

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Would miss the guy's banter if he left but i dont buy clubs off him so wouldnt at the same time

 

[richart]

Yes, runs a good shop, arranges all the junior coaching, is great with guests, societies etc. Our pro shop is the first part of the clubhouse you come to, and you always get a good reception, from someone who is enthusiastic about the club.When you first join will get you games with other members, as he runs the start sheets for comps.

 

[GB72]

I have given this question quite alot of thought as I find it an interesting point.

My initial reply would have been no. I do not use him for lessons (not keen on the teaching style) and all we have is a practice ground and as I take lessons in winter this is not ideal anyway. I do not use him to buy kit from unless it is with pro shop credit. He only stocks Ping and Titleist and neither have been top of my list for recent purchases. I am not sure that he custom fits any more either as with the brands he stocks he simply books people in at Gainsborough or Branston. I do not use him for balls either as he does not stock the brands I use. He will also not agree a discount, ever. Is there any free advice? Not for me, I have had some lessons but I only get a general, how is the golf going but nothing more. Does he interact with all the members etc. Not with me he does not. He spends his time with the older, long standing members and the known faces and the team players but that is it. Yes he coaches the juniors etc at weekends and gets involved in pro-ams and various club events but none of this involves me if I talking selfishly.

Surprisingly though, the conclusion I reached is that we do need a pro. The club needs a public face and he is it. We do not have a manager and the committee are volunteers and so the club needs a public face to deal with societies etc and this is where the pro now comes in. The alternative would be to hire a general manager and you would not get one for £20000.00. At the end of the day, the club gets a number of roles filled whilst having to pay a reduced salary that is subsidised by other income.

Where do you go for lessons Greg? Just out of interest?

Last lot were at Stoke when I had some 'time off' in the Summer due to redundancy. The lessons were OK but was not given any drills to help me work in the changes and did not feel that I moved on that much over 4 lessons. Problem with Stoke is that would like lessons in Winter to work on any swing changes before the season starts. We only have a practice ground so not ideal for learning in Winter conditions. Also not sure if the pros at Stoke give weekend lessons as never seen anyone having a lesson on the practice ground at the weekend and I am not available in the week. There are also no lights on the practice ground so evening lessons are out of the question. Have heard good reports about a pro in Spalding who integrates video etc into his courses of lessons that I may try.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Very interesting about the pro being the face of the club and becoming Club Managers etc. My wife works at Sand Martins which is owned by Andrew Hall (one of the top coaches) and while he obviously has a vested interest to make sure he makes a profit he does a lot of work to try and make sure the club is well used. I know he isn't everyones cup of tea there but he works very hard on trying to do what is best for the course and has doen a lot of work promoting society bookings and more importantly corporate custom both on and off the course.

Add in his teaching and playing committments and his team of pros and he really is the face of the club which. I have to be fair to the professional and assistant and both are very good teachers in their own rights and they do keep a well stocked shop with great front of house service. My own club pro isn't quite the same. I've know him for years (socially as well) so I do get very good deals but I do think he could do more to promote himself.

I guess at the end of the day the rpo is only as good as he wants to be in terms of making an effort to draw trade in and keeping members happy. It's like most things in life you only get out what you put in

 

[Deleted member 1740]

We don't have a pro/pro shop at our club due to costs.

There is a pro who comes to the club to teach but he doesn't have a shop.

At times its a bit crap when you need a glove or tee's and that just before you play and you've forgot to pick them up etc but, i never use the current pro so i wouldn't miss him.

The starter sorts out the scorecards for the comps and the handicap sec inputs the scores the day after.

If we had a pro shop and a permanent pro there i'd definitely use him for lessons and gear though.