Some individuals were born to excel at careers in golf. These are the natural sports enthusiasts who are dedicated to the game and are blessed with not a little bit of skill. You might find them teeing off next to famous golf professionals or working as pros in country clubs and golf courses around the globe. Other individuals might love the game, but simply not have the incredible amount of skill necessary to play golf for a living.



Fortunately, careers in golf are much more diverse than the players you see out on the course. In fact, golfing careers are as varied as the people all over the world who have a passion for the sport.

Business Careers in Golf

Golf courses, country clubs, and tournaments require quite a bit of behind-the-scenes maintenance. As with all businesses that expect to turn a profit and succeed, golfing ventures require accounting departments, human resources professionals, marketing plans, and general office coordinators.

When you combine a love of the sport with a business degree or background, you become a highly marketable professional with room for advancement. Although most of the people who work behind the desks of golf courses may find themselves indoor for several hours every day, they also get to spend quite a bit of time in the great outdoors, clubs and tees in hand.

Customer Service Careers in Golf

When you walk into a golf resort, you are probably greeted by someone working behind the counter in the pro shop or serving your food in the dining room. Although many of their job responsibilities are similar to those in other customer service related fields (including such activities as cash management, taking phone calls, offering help to consumers, and coordinating schedules), they usually get the additional perk of getting free rounds of golf and great networking opportunities with other golf enthusiasts.

These types of careers are ideal for individuals looking to get their feet in the door or those who simply want a paycheck that comes with free rounds of golf. Oftentimes, they lead to promotions to starter (the individual who takes care of tee times and getting everyone on the course in a timely manner), caddy, or other professional golfing careers.

Maintenance Careers in Golf

Maintenance careers include everything from taking care of the physical state of the golf course to monitoring play on the course. If you have a green thumb, you may find yourself taking care of the golf course's surrounding environment or keeping up the lawn. If your skills run to a more technical bent, you might be called on to repair golf carts and keep them in clean, working condition.

At more upscale golf resorts, you might even be able to work in a locker room or as hospitality staff. Like the customer service options, these jobs typically come with incredible golfing perks.

Getting Your Career in Golf Started

Regardless of your skill level, there are a number of available options if you are interested in pursuing a career in golf. Before you embark on any concrete plans, however, it's best to assess your other skills and interests. If you plan on attending college, consider a golf management course. If you're looking for part-time work you'll simply enjoy, customer service might be right for you. If you've spent years working as a car mechanic and want to fuse your love of machinery with golf, cart maintenance might be just the thing.

No matter what you choose, make sure you save some time to hit the course and play the game. After all, what use is a career in golf if you can't work on your handicap from time to time?