Are you passionate about golf and looking to turn your love for the game into a fulfilling career? The golf industry offers a wide range of career paths and opportunities that can allow you to turn your passion into a profession.
From playing professionally on the world's top tours to managing and marketing golf clubs and facilities, the golf industry has something for everyone.
And with the growth of the sport, there's never been a better time to explore the many diverse roles available in this exciting field.
So whether you're an avid golfer or simply interested in the industry, let's explore some of the many golf career paths and opportunities waiting for you.
1. Golf Cart Attendant
Average Salary: $26,000 per year
Job Description: Provides customer service and caddy duties at golf courses or for traveling professionals
Primary Duties: Greeting guests, driving carts, maintaining and organizing clubs, raking sand traps, and learning about course operations
2. Golf Course Greenkeeper
Average Salary: $29,500 per year
Job Description: Maintains golf course appearance and playability
Primary Duties: Setting pins and tees, measuring green speeds, marking hazards, and collaborating with horticulturists to maintain course landscaping
3. Golf Sports Writer
Average Salary: $31,000 per year
Job Description: Covers golf events and writes articles related to the sport
Primary Duties: Writing match recaps, player profiles, and speculative articles about future competitions; potentially authoring biographies or instructional texts
4. Golf Course Professional
Average Salary: $31,000 per year
Job Description: Skilled golfer managing golf course operations
Primary Duties: Setting daily and event tee times, addressing customer inquiries, managing pro shop operations, and coordinating events
5. Golf Coach
Average Salary: $38,500 per year
Job Description: Trains and mentors golfers to improve their skills
Primary Duties: Organizing practices, managing team budgets and equipment, providing instruction on golf techniques, etiquette, and strategy, and recruiting team members
6. Golf Marketing Associate
Average Salary: $47,500 per year
Job Description: Develops promotional materials for golf companies, country clubs, and equipment manufacturers
Primary Duties: Crafting email campaigns, pitching design ideas, managing social media content, and developing packages to attract and retain members
7. Golf Sales Associate
Average Salary: $47,500 per year
Job Description: Sells golf products and services in various settings
Primary Duties: Assisting customers in pro shops or retail settings, managing accounts, generating leads, and reaching sales quotas
8. Golf Event Coordinator
Average Salary: $49,000 per year
Job Description: Manages golf-related events, from tournaments to banquets
Primary Duties: Scheduling events, coordinating with various department heads, ensuring guest satisfaction, and arranging travel accommodations for guests
9. Golf Course General Manager
Average Salary: $53,000 per year
Job Description: Oversees daily operations and staff at a golf course
Primary Duties: Recruiting, training, and managing staff, growing club membership, and implementing marketing efforts
10. Golf Agent
Average Salary: $54,000 per year
Job Description: Supports golf professionals in managing their careers
Primary Duties: Booking meetings, interviews, and publicity events; handling administrative tasks; and securing sponsorships or partnerships
11. Golf Course Director of Operations
Average Salary: $87,000 per year
Job Description: Supervises staff and daily operations of a golf course
Primary Duties: Creating and implementing budgets, determining marketing strategies, evaluating course quality, and ensuring high-quality guest experiences
12. Golf Tour Professional
Average Salary: $80,000 - $200,000 per year (varying significantly based on performance and sponsorships)
Job Description: Competes in professional golf tournaments at various levels
Primary Duties: Participating in major or satellite tours, honing golf skills, building earnings, and working towards competing in high-profile tournaments
13. Golf Rules Official
Average Salary: $45,000 - $70,000 per year (depending on experience and level of competition)
Job Description: Enforces golf rules and regulations during tournaments
Primary Duties: Providing advice to players, participating in course setup, and ensuring fair play during competitions
14. Golf General Manager / Director
Average Salary: $70,000 - $100,000 per year
Job Description: Manages and operates a golf club or facility
Primary Duties: Overseeing golf course maintenance, generating income, and ensuring smooth daily operations
15. Golf Head Teaching Professional
Average Salary: $50,000 - $75,000 per year
Job Description: Supervises golf instruction and pro shop operations at a club or facility
Primary Duties: Managing retail assistants, training PGA apprentices, and providing golf lessons to members and junior players
16. Golf Retail Staff
Average Salary: $25,000 - $40,000 per year
Job Description: Works in golf pro shops or retail stores selling golf equipment and apparel
Primary Duties: Assisting customers, managing inventory, and maintaining knowledge of current golf products and trends
17. Golf Sales Representative
Average Salary: $40,000 - $70,000 per year (including commission)
Job Description: Represents a golf brand and promotes its products to potential clients
Primary Duties: Meeting with club professionals and general managers, pitching products, and maintaining strong relationships with clients
18. Golf Marketing Director
Average Salary: $60,000 - $85,000 per year
Job Description: Develops and implements marketing strategies for golf clubs, facilities, or equipment and apparel brands
Primary Duties: Raising brand awareness, increasing sales, and managing marketing campaigns across various platforms
19. Golf Course Development Specialist
Average Salary: $60,000 - $120,000 per year
Job Description: Designs and constructs golf courses, working as an architect or in an ownership or management capacity
Primary Duties: Collaborating with land planners, engineers, and construction teams to create functional and visually appealing golf courses
20. General Manager of a Country Club or Resort
Average Salary: $168,000 per year (according to the PGA compensation survey)
Job Description: The general manager manages all aspects of the resort and maintains relations with members, guests, and employees. Develops operations policies and procedures and manages budgets while monitoring products and services at country clubs and resorts.
Primary Duties: Overseeing the daily operations of the club, maintaining a high level of service and hospitality for members and guests, developing and implementing strategic plans for growth and improvement, managing budgets and finances, hiring and training staff, and ensuring compliance with local and state regulations.
21. Sales and Marketing
Average Salary: $50,000-$80,000 per year (depending on experience and company size)
Job Description: Sales and marketing specialists are responsible for recruiting new players, attracting sponsors, and generating revenue for golf courses, clubs, and equipment manufacturers.
Primary Duties: Developing and implementing sales and marketing strategies, building and maintaining relationships with customers and sponsors, creating and distributing marketing materials such as emails, brochures, and social media content, analyzing market trends and competitors, and providing sales support to other departments.
22. College or High School Golf Coach
Average Salary: $38,500 per year (according to Glassdoor)
Job Description: Golf coaches train and mentor players to improve their skills, both on an individual and team level. They also have responsibilities beyond coaching, such as teaching and publishing.
Primary Duties: Organizing practices and matches, managing team budgets and equipment, providing instruction on golf techniques, etiquette, and strategy, recruiting team members, and serving as a role model and mentor for student-athletes.
Popularity of Golf
The Bottom Line
The golf industry offers a wealth of diverse career paths and opportunities for individuals with a passion for the sport. From entry-level positions like golf cart attendants and greenkeepers to management roles like general managers and marketing directors, there are a wide variety of roles to suit every skill set and interest.
Additionally, the industry offers the potential for high earnings and personal fulfillment for those who work hard and are dedicated to their craft. So, if you're interested in turning your passion for golf into a profession, we encourage you to explore the many opportunities available and find your perfect fit in the exciting world of golf.
