Golf Pro's in The Villages
 

Jus received The Villages Golf Magazine.

What do golf pro's in TV do???

They don't set up the course for play.
They don't give lessons..............compared to most club/teaching Pro's.
They don't develop a junior program.
They "front & center".
They don't manage pace-of-play.
They don't promote the game.

(IMO)

I've never seen one except in the Magazine.

:posting:

They do give lessons.

You're kidding, right?

They don't set up the course for play.

Generally not, sometimes in tournaments. Usually, the outdoor manager is in charge of that, and more often than not they are just following the pin position chart on the scorecard. I'll admit the workers that actually put the cup in the ground could use a lot more training/supervision.

They don't give lessons.

Take a look at page 13 of the insert you've referenced and see the 11 teaching pros. The "club pros" are really facility managers, not teachers

They don't develop a junior program.

In a 55+ retirement community??? Really???

They "front & center".

No idea what that means in this context

They don't manage pace-of-play.

No, that's the job that the "ambassadors" DON'T DO

They don't promote the game.

Golf Fest, Pro shootout, website including pro's corner, advertisements, specials. What would you suggest?

My friend, this time I think you were way off the mark.

Yes, (appears I meant zero) I should have put in quotes or been more specific......I changed my OP.

:thumbup:

That's okay.............I know/understand your responses.

I'm jus comparing what I see in a normal Country Club Pro and what I don't see in a Villages Pro.

They are behind the scenes and not in the forefront.

"Front & Center"........out in the pro shop, out on the golf course, seeing how his customers are doing, taking feedback, being the ambassador to the country club and assuring the golf experience.

The guys driving around the golf course are not ambassadors, they just have the label.

:beer3:

My guess the next folks receiving criticism at the pro shops will be the folks accepting your payment.

I see the confusion. A "normal" country club has a head pro and an assistant pro, unless it is a huge club where there may be a few layers of pros.

The 2 pros run the pro shop, give lessons, rent the carts, supervise the greenskeepers, run tournaments and much more---in short they "do it all". Here, they have split the "club pros" and the "teaching pros" at the academy. The teaching pros essentially do just that--teach. The club pros manage the country clubs

Great questions!! Bet they do give lessons at the courses with driving ranges.

Actually, it's the Academy teaching pros, not the "club" pro who gives lessons there--at least Palmer and Lopez, and I've never seen a pro giving a lesson on the range at Glenview---although there are plenty of very bad amateurs that think they can teach the game. I suppose the old adage--"those who cannot do, teach" is highly applicable to them. To quote C-3PO from Star Wars episode 2---"It's a nightmare" :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

You are way off the mark, the pros run each facility they are assigned to, a few oversee several courses. BTW junior programs are developed at the schools and run at the County Clubs. We need to check the facts first before stating wrong information..

As are you. :oops::oops:

I stated IMO.........if you don't understand, that is In My Opinion.
I was not stating facts, I was stating my opinion, from over ten years of observations (in TV)...........comparing Country Clubs I've been associated with vs. TV clubs.

:ohdear::ohdear:

I saw something with my own eyes yesterday, that I have never seen in The Villages before.

Quite honestly, I was flabbergasted and almost asked about it, but didn't have an opportunity.

I was hitting balls at the range at Palmer Legends and along came a woman and a portly but well dressed gentleman behind her, carrying a bucket of balls.

Mr. Mark Verkey himself (PGA Golf Professional at Palmer) in the flesh, spent at least 45 minutes giving a woman golf instruction. Had I an opportunity to tease him about it, I would have ... it was a novelty.

So some golf professionals in TV do give lessons, but in my limited experience, those lessons are heretofore, confined to students of the left-handed and female variety.

BTW, Mark is a very nice guy and I understand he's a pretty good player.

In all the years we have been here, once while playing BG a gentleman drove behind carts. Into as _______ golf pro for BG. Asked how the round was going, then do you mind if I play couple holes with you. We were three, no worries. Long drives and putted well, very personable. Played 3 holes thanked us for the opportunity, he said I enjoy talking to residents and get thoughts on course. Then headed for a meeting.

So 17 years I met one.

Apples and oranges, the Country Clubs (2) that I belonged to charged between $8 and $10K for a membership after an inititian fee (yeah I know, they weren't that great as far as clubs go) The Clubs here charge nothing. I also had a $60 - $75 minimum for food each month. The Clubs here charge nothing. The clubs closed for tournaments, sometimes for a week plus, and our memberships weren't adjusted. We also paid for bag storage but don't remember that cost. The Clubs here are Country Clubs in name only and I don't understand why some try and convince others we have Country Clubs.

They also run the “Good Golf” school, which was very beneficial 20 years ago in helping us become acquainted with the local golf hierarchy and course rules. I wish golfers and especially would-be golfers would take the course. Of course, it was free then. I think there is a fee now. 😝