Head Golf Professional
Head Golf Professional
Department: Golf Operations
Reports To: General Manager
Supervises: Golf operations employees
Location: Cottonwood Country Club, Holladay, Utah
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About Cottonwood Country Club
Cottonwood Country Club is a private, member-owned club located in Holladay, Utah, just minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. The Club serves approximately 550 member families and offers a nine-hole, par-3 golf course, multiple dining experiences, event and banquet services, tennis, pickleball, fitness, and aquatics.
Our mission is to provide our membership with the highest quality of service and a truly exceptional club experience. We employ individuals who are genuinely enthusiastic about hospitality and approach member service with a positive, professional attitude. Our employees are the cornerstone of the Club, and their commitment to excellence creates an unparalleled experience for our members and guests.
Position Summary
The Head Golf Professional is responsible for leading all aspects of Cottonwood Country Club’s golf operation and creating an engaging, welcoming, and well-organized golf experience for members and guests.
Reporting directly to the General Manager, the Head Golf Professional serves as an integral member of the Club’s senior management team and oversees daily golf operations, member play, tournaments, instructional programming, junior golf, merchandising, handicap administration, golf communications, and golf staff development.
The Head Golf Professional serves as the primary ambassador of the Club’s golf program. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership position requiring consistent interaction with members, regular participation in Club activities, and a genuine enthusiasm for building relationships. The successful candidate will continually look for creative ways to strengthen participation and elevate the overall golf experience.
Leadership Philosophy
The Head Golf Professional is expected to lead through visibility, communication, organization, and genuine member engagement. This individual must build trusted relationships with members while providing clear leadership, professional development, and accountability to the golf staff.
This leader embraces the Club's "One Club, One Team" philosophy by supporting fellow department leaders and recognizing that every interaction contributes to the overall member experience.
Success requires a collaborative relationship with the General Manager, Golf Course Superintendent, fellow department heads, Golf Committee, and the Club’s accounting and administrative teams. The Head Golf Professional must balance golf traditions with fresh ideas and understand that every interaction contributes to member satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
Essential Responsibilities
Golf Programming and Member Engagement
- Develop, organize, and facilitate weekly Men’s and Ladies’ golf programming.
- Plan and execute the Club’s annual calendar of golf tournaments, invitationals, social events, clinics, and monthly member events.
- Lead the Men’s and Women’s Invitational Tournaments and other signature golf events.
- Develop creative formats and programs that encourage participation among golfers of varying ages, interests, and skill levels.
- Provide programming for adults, juniors, seniors, beginners, and experienced golfers.
- Maintain a highly visible, engaging, and approachable presence during member play, leagues, tournaments, and golf-related events.
- Regularly play golf with members of different ages and skill levels to build relationships, encourage participation, and better understand the member experience.
- Communicate golf schedules, policies, tournament information, and program updates clearly and professionally.
- Educate members and guests regarding golf course policies, etiquette, pace of play, and responsible course stewardship.
- Regularly evaluate participation and member feedback to improve existing programs and introduce new experiences.
- Build an inclusive golf culture that promotes enjoyment, community, and a strong sense of belonging.
Instruction and Player Development
- Provide high-quality private and group instruction for members of all ages and skill levels.
- Develop and facilitate summer junior golf programming for a variety of ages and abilities.
- Create player-development opportunities that make golf approachable, enjoyable, and engaging.
- Develop and promote clinics, private lessons, group instruction, and other player-development programs.
- Maintain current knowledge of teaching methods, technology, equipment, and golf industry trends.
- Provide professional club-fitting services and equipment recommendations.
- Establish appropriate annual goals for instructional participation and revenue.
- Promote instruction and player-development programs through consistent member communication and personal engagement.
Tournament and Daily Golf Operations
- Oversee daily golf operations and ensure members and guests receive attentive, friendly, and professional service.
- Coordinate tournament registration, pairings, scoring, rules, awards, and event execution.
- Maintain the Club’s member handicap system and assist members with handicap-related questions.
- Ensure golf events are properly planned, staffed, promoted, communicated, and financially managed.
- Collaborate with other department heads to coordinate food and beverage service, event setup, communications, and other operational needs.
- Conduct post-event evaluations for major tournaments and events, including participation, member feedback, revenue, expenses, and opportunities for improvement.
- Maintain accurate operational records, participation information, event results, and golf-related reports.
- Establish and monitor annual goals for tournament participation, instructional activity, merchandise performance, and overall member engagement.
Marketing and Communications
- Actively promote golf programs, clinics, tournaments, instruction, merchandise, and special events.
- Work with the Club’s Membership and Marketing team to develop timely and professional golf communications.
- Ensure golf information provided through the Club’s website, mobile application, emails, calendars, and other communication channels is accurate and current.
- Use participation trends, member feedback, and operational results to strengthen future programming and communications.
- Promote golf as an important social and recreational component of the overall Cottonwood Country Club experience.
Merchandising and Retail Operations
- Design and manage an annual merchandising program that includes apparel, accessories, golf equipment, and other soft and hard goods.
- Maintain a merchandise selection that reflects current styles, member preferences, and the Cottonwood Country Club brand.
- Pursue creative and innovative merchandising opportunities that generate member interest and strengthen retail performance.
- Develop relationships with vendors and negotiate appropriate pricing, purchasing terms, and delivery schedules.
- Establish and monitor annual merchandise sales, margin, and inventory-turnover goals.
- Monitor sales, inventory levels, margins, shrinkage, and merchandise turnover.
- Conduct accurate inventory counts and provide monthly inventory reporting to the accounting team.
- Maintain an attractive, organized, and professionally presented retail environment.
Financial Stewardship and Planning
- Assist with the preparation and management of the annual golf operating budget.
- Develop accurate revenue and expense forecasts for golf programming, tournaments, instruction, payroll, and merchandise.
- Monitor departmental financial performance and respond promptly to budget variances.
- Establish appropriate pricing for tournaments, instructional programs, retail merchandise, and other golf services.
- Review participation, revenue, expenses, and overall program performance to support informed decisions.
- Identify and plan for long-term golf-related equipment, technology, facility, and capital needs.
- Protect Club assets and maintain strong internal controls over inventory, cash handling, billing, purchasing, and financial reporting.
Leadership and Team Development
- Recruit, hire, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate golf employees.
- Establish clear service standards and hold the golf team accountable for consistently meeting them.
- Conduct regular departmental meetings to maintain strong communication, consistent procedures, and clear expectations.
- Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional-development opportunities.
- Inspire and empower employees while fostering a culture of accountability, professional growth, and shared success.
- Foster a positive workplace culture built on teamwork, professionalism, respect, integrity, and accountability.
- Ensure golf employees understand Club policies, member-service expectations, and their individual responsibilities.
- Manage departmental scheduling and payroll responsibly while maintaining appropriate service levels.
- Work cooperatively with all Club departments to provide a seamless member and guest experience.
Golf Course Coordination
- Maintain a strong, collaborative working relationship with the Golf Course Superintendent.
- Assist in planning the annual golf course maintenance program and golf calendar.
- Coordinate course closures, maintenance schedules, tournaments, and special events.
- Communicate course conditions and maintenance activities to members in a timely and professional manner.
- Support the Superintendent’s efforts to protect playing conditions and encourage proper member stewardship of the course.
Committee and Club Leadership
- Serve as the staff liaison to the Golf Committee.
- Work directly with the Golf Committee Chair and General Manager to prepare agendas and guide productive monthly discussions.
- Provide accurate updates regarding programming, participation, financial performance, course matters, and upcoming events.
- Follow through promptly on appropriate committee recommendations and action items.
- Participate actively in management meetings and contribute to broader Club planning and decision-making.
- Handle confidential member, employee, and Club information with discretion and professionalism.
- Demonstrate sound judgment and uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the General Manager.
Qualifications
- Active PGA membership, with Class A status attained or actively being pursued.
- Previous experience in a private club, resort, or comparable golf operation preferred.
- Demonstrated experience organizing tournaments, leagues, junior golf, instruction, and member programming.
- Strong teaching and player-development experience.
- Experience with club fitting, golf equipment, and retail merchandising.
- Working knowledge of handicap administration, tournament software, point-of-sale systems, and golf-management technology.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Strong financial understanding, including budgeting, forecasting, inventory management, payroll control, and capital planning.
- Excellent leadership, problem-solving, organizational, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities.
- Ability to work independently while remaining a collaborative member of the management team.
- Professional appearance, sound judgment, discretion, and a genuine commitment to hospitality.
- Ability to appropriately handle confidential Club, member, and employee information.
- Availability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on the golf calendar and operational needs.
- Enthusiasm for continued learning and the ability to independently research solutions to complex issues.
Success in This Role
Success will be measured by the Head Golf Professional’s ability to:
- Deliver a consistently exceptional, welcoming, and professionally managed golf experience.
- Increase member participation across golf programs, tournaments, instruction, and social events.
- Build strong and authentic relationships with golfers of all ages and skill levels.
- Serve as a visible and trusted ambassador of the Club’s golf program.
- Recruit, train, develop, and retain a professional and service-oriented golf team.
- Develop creative programming that keeps the Club’s golf experience fresh and engaging.
- Achieve responsible financial results in instruction, tournaments, merchandising, payroll, and overall golf operations.
- Maintain accurate inventories, operational records, and financial reporting.
- Communicate effectively and follow through consistently on commitments.
- Work collaboratively with the Golf Course Superintendent, Golf Committee, management team, and other Club departments.
- Positively contribute to overall member satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
- Represent Cottonwood Country Club with professionalism, integrity, enthusiasm, and genuine care for its membership.
Compensation and Benefits
Cottonwood Country Club offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, which may include:
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
- Performance-based bonus opportunity.
- Golf instruction and club-fitting income opportunities.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with the Club covering a substantial portion of the overall cost.
- Paid time off and floating holidays.
- IRA retirement plan.
- Cell phone reimbursement.
- Professional uniform and apparel allowance.
- PGA membership and professional association support.
- Continuing education and approved industry conference support.
- Employee meals and Club-related discounts.
Specific compensation and benefit eligibility will be discussed during the interview process and is subject to the terms of the Club’s applicable policies and benefit plans.
Cottonwood Country Club is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Why Cottonwood Country Club?
Cottonwood Country Club is one of Utah's premier private clubs, serving over 550 member families in the heart of Holladay. Our Club is built upon a tradition of exceptional hospitality, family-centered experiences, and continuous improvement. We are committed to investing in our people, fostering leadership, and creating an environment where both our members and employees thrive. If you are passionate about hospitality and inspired to lead with integrity, professionalism, and service, we invite you to become part of our leadership team.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the individual assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify responsibilities as business needs evolve.
