When you are looking for new golf courses to play and doing the necessary research what factors influence your decision making?
Does it really matter who the Director of Golf, GM or Head Golf Pro is at course as it relates to you deciding on whether you are going to play there or not?
When looking at golf course directories online you pretty much always see this information, I’m guilty of including it myself on a golf guide site that I manage. As I was building out pages today I asked myself why am I including this information? Does it really matter? Is there more important information that is more relevant to why a golfer would want to play this course? I’m sure there is. Unless the head pro is Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods or Fred Couples …. does it really matter to “joe golfer”?
I’m thinking or dropping that piece of info from future listings. I’ve pretty much convinced myself that for the most part it doesn’t really matter. Come to think of it does “grass type” matter? As long as fairways and greens aren’t listed as “dirt” do you take “grass type” into consideration?
What are the important decision making factors?
January 7, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Fees, attire and other course-specific rules
January 7, 2009 at 10:30 pm
As a PGA Professional myself, sadly I would have to agree with you on that one. In fact, most golfers who play recreational golf do not even know the difference between a PGA Professional and PGA Tour Professional. I’ll tell people I’m a golf professional and they immediately ask me about the tour. Unless you are a member searching for a private club to join, the GM or Head Pro has little to no bearing on where people play. Espcially now that the economy sucks, people are searching for one thing….VALUE. I have a blog where I discuss the golf swing, fitness, etc at http://blog.pgaclay.com
January 7, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Thanks Clayton .. I agree it is sad that the PGA “club professional’s” role seems to be diminishing. Though “we” have no one to blame but “ourselves”. For those still out there, on the front lines, so to speak should take a long introspective look and start doing something to change that perception. Specifically at the public access level.