A golf career sounds like an exciting and glamorous dream to many who love the sport. However, it is more accessible than you may believe. According to a 2005 study by Golf Digest, there are over 35,000 golf courses currently operating worldwide, over half located in the United States. This translates into a booming job market filled with exciting golf careers of every description. You may not be the next Tiger Woods, but many golf jobs are open to those of varying levels of skills and a wide variety of professional interests. Here is what you need to know to make your dream a reality.

Types of Golf Careers

You may never have given much thought to all of the available golf-related job titles. Here are just a few popular and in-demand career positions available at golf resorts:

Golf Professional: If you love to play and are good at the sport, this might be the position for you. You can build a career track, starting as an assistant and working your way to the top. Of course, you must be a highly skilled player for this career choice.

Marketing and Sales: Golf is big business, and resorts compete heavily to draw in customers. If you have marketing education and experience, you may want to take your skills into an industry that you truly love.

Course Design: Each new golf course must have its own unique hook to draw in players. If you have engineering and architectural expertise along with a passion for golf, it is possible to combine the two in a career as a golf course designer.

Golf Course Superintendent: If you have a passion for landscaping and maintenance, and a desire to pioneer new environmentally friendly means of course maintenance, consider a career as a golf course superintendent.

Golf Management: Qualified managers are always in demand at golf resorts around the world. If you have what it takes, you can work your way up to a highly profitable career.

Education and Experience Requirements

Traditionally, golf jobs have not had specific educational requirements beyond those that are expected for the specific position (computer science education for an IT job, for example). Experienced golf players with a passion for the sport were hired and trained on the job. It is still quite possible to begin a golf career this way. However, if you want to make yourself more competitive in the field, you may want to consider a golf degree. A two or four year specialized degree will give you an edge over other competitors for available jobs.

A Golf Career for a Non-Player

If you love the sport but do not play, you can still find a great career in golf. Many of the available jobs required specialized knowledge and training in other fields, from marketing to telecommunications. Attending a golf academy in a management program can familiarize you with how the sport is played, adding additional knowledge to your repertoire and making you a more competitive candidate. Ultimately, however, it will be your personal skill set, combined with your passion for the sport, which will lead you to the perfect career.

If you love golf but never thought you could find a career in the field, now is the perfect time to explore golf career options. Golf has become big business, and thousands of professionals from a wide variety of fields are necessary to make the golf industry a success. Even if your playing skills are less than stellar, you may find a golf career that is perfect for you.