As a field in which to work, the golf industry was a well-kept secret until it began its almost unprecedented growth of the past 25 years. Anyone graduating from high school or college who is looking for a satisfying career that is stimulating and offers continuing opportunities for growth and advancement need look no further.
Facts
There are over 35,000 golf courses around the world, and half of them are in the U.S. With the surge of interest in golf, it has become an industry that offers a wide range of job opportunities. Most people enter the field by getting a job at the bottom of the ladder and working their way up to more satisfying and lucrative work. Others may attend a golf school to learn the finer points of the game, as well as the array of opportunities it offers.
Evolution
Twenty-five years ago, except for the potential of working as a golf pro at a club or making a living as a touring professional, there were few opportunities related to the game that people would gravitate to. But with the growth of the game and the extraordinary improvement in equipment, the opportunities to work in the game have become diverse enough to constitute a career.
Types
Many golfers may dream of becoming successful touring professionals, but there are many other ways to work close to the game. For example, since there are so many courses and resorts trying to lure people to play, there are jobs tailor-made for you if you're a skilled marketer. If you're artistic, designing new courses may be your thing. If your interests in the game are more technical, you could consider beoming an equipment specialist and helping match people to the correct clubs.
Effects
Rather than being looked at merely as a summer job for schoolchildren, working in golf has today become big business, and has attracted some of the most talented people in the world. There are universities in the U.S. that offer courses in golf-course architecture and design. Golf-club manufacturers have lured away aerospace engineers who had tired of working for huge defense contractors, and who have contributed mightily to the improvements in equipment.
Size
Today, it is estimated that over 2 million people are directly connected to the golf industry in one way or another. They include club professionals, starters, pro-shop personnel, greens keepers, marketers of resort reservations and club manufacturers There is a career opportunity for almost anyone who wants to work in the business. And the field is growing quickly each year.
