What are the different jobs in the golf industry? Career opportunities in golf

What are the different jobs in the golf industry? Career opportunities in golf

Lenah Ann
May 10, 2024 at 5:58 PM

Golf is a famous sport in which players use clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in the fewest strokes possible. There are different types of jobs in this industry, and all have different qualifications depending on the position. Some of the best jobs in the golf industry include coaching, caddie, and golf professionals and their assistants.

Caddie Mike "Fluff" Cowan and golf coach Claude Harmon III
Caddie Mike Cowan (L) walks from the second green on 2 May 2024. On the right, golf coach Claude Harmon III smiles on 9 April 2024. Photo: Tim Heitman, Andrew Redington. (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

There are different roles depending on what position and qualification you need to work in this industry. The opportunities in the sport vary from entry-level to executive and lucrative positions. So, for a particular job, there are different qualifications ranging from the level of education to duration of experience and passion.

Best jobs in the golf industry

After an in-depth analysis from various online sources such as ZipRecruiter and Indeed, Sports Brief has compiled a list of 10 of the most popular jobs available in the golf industry, ranked from the least paying to the highest.

Job

Annual average salary

Golf sales

$34,500

Assistant golf professional

$39,218

Golf coach

$44,039

Caddie

$47,950

Recreation coordinator

$49,874

Social media manager

$55,933

Head golf professional

$63,862

Brand manager

$71,835

Purchasing manager

$79,610

Golf finance

$92,000

10. Sales

  • Average annual salary: $34,500

Golf sales are personnel that oversee most of the back-office activities, which include membership sales, accounting, and, most importantly, marketing the club. It is one of the sales jobs in the golf industry and pays between $30,000-$39,000 per year.

9. Assistant golf professional

  • Average annual salary: $39,218

Assistant professionals are in charge of customer care service and day-to-day operations at a club. They check athletes in and out according to their schedules, tend to the club's fittings and repairs, and perform general attendant duties. Their skills are excellent, and they master the industry well.

8. Golf coach

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg warms up
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg warms up under the watchful eye of his swing coach, Peter Hanson, before the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament on 14 April 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. Photo: David Cannon.
Source: Getty Images
  • Average annual salary: $44,039

Coaches work in public and private centres. Their main function is to teach the fundamentals of the sport. They also support and guide professional golf athletes.

They are in charge of demonstrating new skills to athletes in the sport, devising instructional methods, and assessing the team. Coaching is one of the best jobs in the industry, with a flexible schedule and numerous applicants.

7. Caddie

A caddie looks through a finder
A caddie looks through a ranger finder before THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch on 1 May 2024 in McKinney, Texas. Photo: Tim Heitman.
Source: Getty Images
  • Average annual salary: $47,950

Caddie is among the entry-level jobs in the golf industry. Applicants in the position are expected to be knowledgeable about golfing in general and the equipment used for specific shots.

Caddies help professional athletes by caring for their belongings, holding their bags, and polishing their clothes and tees. They supply and assess the appropriate sporting equipment before and after games and tournaments.

6. Recreation coordinator

  • Average annual salary: $49,874

A recreation coordinator organises instructional courses, facility events, client relations, and customer services. They communicate with facility managers and sports professionals to create recreational timetables and schedule plans.

They also plan sporting activities where members, guests, competitors, and sports enthusiasts familiarise themselves with the club.

5. Social media manager

  • Average annual salary: $55,933

Social media management is one of the remote jobs in the golf industry. The manager's role is to maintain the club's online presence across all social media platforms.

They oversee client interactions, attract social media followers to help build the club's online reputation, and develop promotional aids that sell the club.

4. Head golf professional

Alan O'Sullivan, head golf professional
Alan O'Sullivan, a head golf professional, poses with the new signage to help enforce social distancing at Howth Golf Club in Dublin on 14 May 2020. Photo: Paul Faith.
Source: Getty Images
  • Average annual salary: $63,862

The personnel in this position run all sports operations, such as managing a golf shop that is part of the club and training guests on the basics of the sport.

Other functions include developing a training and coaching schedule for members and overseeing the maintenance of the sports equipment at the shop. Most individuals in this position start as assistant professionals and work their way up the ladder.

3. Brand manager

  • Average annual salary: $71,835

Brand managers monitor the industry's recent trends and conduct thorough market research to clearly understand their position among competitors. They can then understand how to advertise products, equipment, and various services to the target market.

They devise effective marketing strategies to create awareness and attract customers. A brand management opportunity is among the highest-paying jobs in the golf industry.

2. Purchasing manager

Jeff Barber holds one of the hard-to-find and buy Titleist Pro V1 balls
Jeff Barber, manager of the Griffith Park Golf Shop, holds one of the hard-to-find and buy Titleist Pro V1 balls. Photo: Rick Meyer.
Source: Getty Images
  • Average annual salary: $79,610

Purchasing managers are in charge of a club's procurement activities. They arrange with suppliers and sign contracts for the maintenance of balls, club equipment, and supplies. This work opportunity is among the highest-paying jobs in the industry.

Purchasing managers are also responsible for overseeing purchasing teams depending on the amount of inventory an organisation needs to keep in stock.

1. Golf finance

  • Annual average salary: $92,000

This is one of the finance jobs in the golf industry. Those working in the finance and related departments earn an approximate annual salary of $92000, thus being among the highest in the sports industry. The primary role of these employees is to ensure proper cash flow, budgeting, and sound financial reporting in a club.

Other jobs in the golf industry

A member of the cleaning crew squeezing water out of the golf field
A grounds crew member squeezes rainwater off the court in the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on 21 April 2024 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Photo: Jared C Tilton.
Source: Getty Images

In addition to the work opportunities mentioned above, other jobs are available in the renowned sports industry. Here is a list of some of them.

  • Maintenance staff
  • Valet
  • Marketing Assistant
  • Client success manager
  • Corporate golf
  • Bag room/cart staff
  • Professional shop staff
  • Club manager
  • Marketing Assistant
  • Customer service assistant
  • Photographer

How to get a job in the golf industry

Before landing a job in the industry, one needs to possess some basic requirements. These qualifications entirely depend on the position an individual wants to secure. All candidates need to have primary knowledge about the sport.

A high diploma is required for entry-level opportunities such as caddie work. Other jobs require technical training, a college education, and some years of skilled experience.

Senior-level positions require a master's degree and extra work experience. Effective work in this industry requires excellent communication skills, understanding the game's rules, and attention to detail.

Frequently asked questions

Golf is an interesting and popular sport; many people want to be involved in it, either by playing, working in the field, or even being a fan. Here are some frequently asked questions about the various work opportunities in the sport.

A member of the course grounds crew prepares the ground
A member of the course grounds crew prepares the ground before the final round of the Veritex Bank Championship at Texas Rangers Golf Club on 28 April 2024 in Arlington, Texas. Photo: Sam Hodde.
Source: Getty Images

Who is the richest golfer in the world?

According to Golf365, Tiger Woods is the world's richest athlete in the sport as of 2024. As a player, he has earned approximately $2 billion in career earnings, and according to Forbes, he has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion.

Who is the richest female golfer?

Annika Sorenstam is the richest female athlete in the sport, with a net worth of approximately $40 million as of May 2024. She is also the highest-paid individual, with career earnings estimated to be $22.5 million.

What do you call a person who takes care of a golf course?

A groundskeeper is a person who takes care of a golf course. Since they generally deal with landscaping, they do a variety of manual work. They must also have general knowledge about the sport since they assist with almost everything.

Final Word

There are different jobs in the golf industry, which vary from position to level of experience. Since the sport demands players to maintain composure under pressure, it aids in developing mental toughness. It is also an excellent method to maintain physical health and fitness since it requires athletes to walk long distances carrying their clubs.

READ ALSO: Top 20 highest-paying sports jobs in the world right now

Sports Brief has compiled a list ranking the world's top 20 highest-paying sports jobs. People who love sports but are not professional athletes can still work in the industry they love as managers, coaches, athletic trainers, or part of a team's medical support staff with suitable qualifications. Click on the link above for more details.

Authors
Lenah Ann photo
Lenah Ann
Lenah Ann is a Kenyan-based content creator with 2 years of experience. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media and Communication from Dedan Kimathi, Kenya in 2021.