Show People, Don’t Tell Them
When asked about where the locker room is or where the cart staging area is, it goes a very long way to show them or lead them there. People want to be led. They want to be shown how to do things or where things are. From a service standpoint, don’t just point your finger and tell them where it is, it’s short and not very personable. When you lead someone to the locker room, it gives you an opportunity to chat and personalize yourself and the golf operation.
Don’t Always Be Asked
It’s great to be someone who does what he’s been delegated to do. But it goes twice as far to be someone who does things without being asked to do them. Don’t be that guy who doesn’t do anything unless he’s asked. Initiative will take you far in this profession let alone any other area of business. A former boss of mine called it “operational awareness”, which means to see something before it might happen (good or bad) and take measures to act upon it.
Fill your downtime with productivity, no matter what it is
In a golf shop or even the outside services department, there is always something to do throughout the day. If you’re not seeing anything that needs to be done, then you’re just not looking hard enough. Obviously our lunch breaks are significant to us and they should be. But it’s those spurts of 5, 10, or 15 minutes of dead time between member/guest action that make the difference in a well kept and well run golf operation versus a poorly kept golf operation.
No Exemptions
Because of a title you might have or because of the seniority you might have, don’t act like you are exempt from certain tasks or responsibilities as an assistant professional.
I know of Head Professionals at Top-100 clubs that pick the range when necessary! When they told me this, I was inspired. Whether you’re a First Assistant or not, the things you did before you moved into a particular role shouldn’t go away entirely. All the title means is that you have added responsibilities now on top of your old responsibilities. Will you have to execute those old responsibilities as much as you did before you got promoted? Probably not. But don’t completely shut yourself off from them and think you will never have to do them again.
Team Work
There may not be a better way to stand out individually than to submit to the team and be a team player. Period.
Remember who you meet
In your conversations with those guests that you meet, ask where they’re from. If they’re asked, people generally enjoy talking about where they’re from and they also enjoy a little conversation with a golf professional that shows interest in them. In this business, you meet many people that come from many places. And many of these people are potentially from great places. Take note of where they’re from and one way or another, remember them. Even if it means compiling a list of those people you meet, it’s a network that can really come in handy when the time comes.
Where ever you are, fill holes
No matter how recognized, how successful, or how small or large a golf operation is, there are always holes to fill. Areas of an operation can always be done a little better. Spend some time asking fellow employees about what can be better, and take advantage of those opportunities. Any time you can leave an area better than what it was when you got there, you’ll be remembered and valued.