Combine technology with a sport steeped in tradition and the resulting jobs can be surprising.
“The golf industry is quite large,” says Tim Zado, co-ordinator of Georgian College’s two-year golf industry management program. “It’s $15 to $20 billion to the Canadian economy every year, so it’s multi-faceted.”
The sport actually received a bit of a shot in the arm during the pandemic, when it was still possible to hit the links when many other activities were severely curtailed or cancelled.
The industry continues to benefit from that uptick and maintains its momentum, Zado reports.
And with dozens of courses ranging from exclusive to affordable, both private and public, within easy driving distance, Barrie seems to be in the centre of it all.
Students attracted to the program are often enthusiastic about the sport, and they’re seeing opportunities, says Zado.
Typically, that involves working at one of the many area golf courses and progressing to more senior positions.
But technology has introduced a whole other dimension to many of those jobs and created opportunities for new ones.
There are now indoor golf simulators, both at the commercial and personal level as well as phone applications designed to help golfers improve their game.
There are tracking maps, which follow the golf ball.
Pros now can analyze the golf swing through technology to make suggestions on how to improve it.
There is also a tool available that creates a 3D rendering of the golf swing.
At its core, of course, is the sport itself, which remains relatively unchanged.
“I feel like I haven’t worked a day in my life … I love coming to work every day,” says Barrie Country Club general manager and director of golf Ryan Ennis, marvelling at the 100-acre manicured expanse of the private facility where he works.
Initially teeing up for a career in accounting, Ennis decided to simply follow his passion, completing Georgian’s golf program and launching a whole different career, which began in 1996. He is currently transitioning to a new role as general manager of the private Port Carling Golf Club.
Over the years, he’s noticed the roles at golf clubs have changed, over and above technological influences.
The role of a golf professional has "changed quite a bit,” from that of a good golfer to one who focuses the business side, Ennis says. “Now … they don’t golf as much, but they’re very good at business, at merchandising, at running events, at HR (human resources), at all the skills you need to be a good manager.
“Whereas teaching golf used to be done by the head professional as well,” but has been separated into just a focus on teaching, separate from business and related tasks, he adds.
Another trend he’s seen develop over the past decade or so is that the role of general manager is increasingly being filled by golfing professionals, instead of coming from the business areas in a club, such as food and beverage.
While many of those are top-tier roles at golf courses, Ennis says they’re attainable for those who are enthusiastic.
“I think there’s tremendous opportunity for anyone who is super keen and eager to get started at the ground level,” he says. “If you have your heart set on this career path being in the golf industry, if you work very hard and work at a club you could probably progress quite quickly.”
He says there appears to be a shortage of a young people entering the industry to fill the vacancies that he expects to see in the near future as people retire. The result could be younger, dedicated people entering into more senior roles, moving along the career trajectory more quickly.
At Georgian College, Zado says the golf program introduces the 25 to 30 new every year to the different aspects of the industry. The college itself has a simulator lab where students can work on their game. It also gives them the opportunity to mix and network.
Networking has become an important aspect of job searching in most industries. At Georgian, golf grads are often invited to return to meet students and talk about the game and the profession, allowing the students to make contacts before they graduate.
And the industry is happy to oblige. Zado regularly sees roughly 10 jobs available for each of the program’s graduates, although the competition for the top jobs can be tough.
Michael Fudge reflects upon his experience in the golf industry when the program graduates returns to speak to students every year.
“As I got into the industry more and more I realized how much more business there was,” says Fudge, the head professional at Port Carling. “I try to tell all the kids to pay attention to your economy class, pay attention to your accounting class … for me it was project management class.”
Every day he interacts with the different specialists at the course, from the superintendent, who takes care of the grounds and the greens, to the food and beverage manager.
More than a dozen years in, Fudge says the industry has been good to him. While it’s hard and fast during the summer months when he notches 70-hour weeks, he has found opportunities during the winter months when he often travels as a pro or run a tournament.
