G o l f P r o f e s s i o n a l T r a i n i n g P r o g r a m
Golf Management I
Work Experience Activities
TheProfessionalGolfers’
AssociationofAmerica
A PGA Publication
© 1997 PGA of America
All rights reserved.
Copyright contents may not be reproduced in any manner without
the prior written permission of the PGA of America.
Publication date:January 1997
Work Experience Activity 1:
Critique a Golf Facility Mission Statement
Directions:
•Make a photocopy of the worksheet for this activity (next page).
•Do the activity and complete the worksheet as directed.
•Place the completed worksheet in your Work Experience Kit.
Activity:
Write two or three paragraphs discussing your facility’s mission statement. How successful is it? Does it meet the criteria for a good mission statement as described by your instructor in the seminar? Is it realistic? Is it believable? Are there any vague generalities or empty phrases? Do employees as well as management believe in it? Make your comments as specific as possible.
If your facility does not have a mission statement, write a draft of one in the space below. Give it some thought. What sort of a facility is it? What is its primary focus? Its strengths? Its weaknesses?
Work Experience Activity 1:
Golf Facility Mission Statement Critique
Work Experience Activity 2:
Create a Golf Facility Organization Chart
Directions:
•Make a photocopy of the worksheet for the activity (next page).
•Do the activity and complete the worksheet as directed.
•Place the completed worksheet in your Work Experience Kit.
The worksheets you put in your kit will be reviewed at the checkpoint by the work experience counselor.
Activity:
In the space on the next page, either draw or attach a copy of an organizational chart for your golf facility. At a minimum, it should include all positions that report directly to the general manager. If possible, also include the job positions for the next level down—e.g., positions reporting to the head golf professional or golf course superintendent, etc. At the checkpoint, be prepared to talk about your facility and why it is organized the way it is.
Work Experience Activity 2: Worksheet
Golf Facility Organization Chart
Name of Facility:Work Experience Activity 3:
Investigate Operational Problems
Directions:
•Make a photocopy of the worksheet for the activity.
•Do the activity and complete the worksheet as directed.
•Place the completed worksheet in your Work Experience Kit.
The worksheets you put in your kit will be reviewed at the checkpoint by the work experience counselor.
Activity:
Interview (one at a time) any two of the managers who report to the General Manager, for example, the head professional and the course superintendent. Ask the manager to describe areas where he or she must (or should) coordinate activities with the other manager. How is the coordination done? How frequently do they meet to discuss areas where they have overlapping or complementary responsibilities? Ask them to discuss any areas where problems or conflicts either have occurred in the past or would have occurred if specific actions had not been taken to prevent them. How was the issue resolved or prevented from occurring in the first place?
Use the worksheets to write down the results of your interviews.
Work Experience Activity 3:
Investigate Operational Problems
(Name and Title)
Work Experience Activity 3:
Investigate Operational Problems
(Name and Title)
Work Experience Activity 4:
Conduct an Operations Analysis
Directions: In this work experience activity you will analyze the procedures, forms, and control documents at the facility where you work. You’ll be looking to see if they are comprehensive and adequate to get the job done. You can select any one of the operational areas below:
•Security•Safety
•Telephone•Booking Lessons
•Scheduling Tee Times•Daily Procedures
•Locker Room and Shoe Care•Club Storage
•Handicapping
On the pages that follow, you’ll find a worksheet on which to record your analysis of the area you select.
Follow these steps:
•Select one of the operational areas.
•Make a photocopy of the worksheet for the area you plan to analyze.
•Read the material in “How to Conduct Your Analysis” on the following page.
•Do the analysis and complete the worksheets as directed.
•Place the completed worksheets in your Work Experience Kit.
The worksheets you put in your kit will be reviewed at the checkpoint by the work experience counselor.
How to Conduct Your Analysis
To conduct your analysis of the operational area you select:
•Review all relevant materials including:
–Written policies and procedures
–Employee handbooks and/or training materials
–Forms and control documents
–Job aids or “cheat sheets” showing how to perform a
specific task
–Performance evaluation forms
Are they complete? Easy to understand? How do they compare with what you have learned about operations in the Golf Management I seminar?
•Observe and interview employees performing duties in this area. Find out how they learned to do the job. Ask them to evaluate the training they had. Ask them how confident they are that they understand what is expected of them in the job and know how to do it. Are they aware of any problem areas or areas where things could run more smoothly or effectively? Do they have any ideas for improving productivity or efficiency? Making the operation more profitable, etc?
•Talk with the person responsible for managing the area. Discuss the operational procedures. Have there been any problems in the past (or are there any current ones). If yes, how were they solved? Are there any areas where management would like to see improved efficiency or productivity? How would they rate member/customer satisfaction in the operational area? Based on what? Are there any particular problems or opportunities that are unique to your type of facility, location, clientele, etc., that are relevant to the running of the operational area?
When you have completed your analysis, answer the questions on the worksheets that follow.
Work Experience Activity 4:
Operations Analysis Worksheet
Type of Facility:
Are there comprehensive written procedures for this operational area? If yes, describe them below. Photocopy representative samples and attach them to this worksheet. Be prepared to discuss them at the work experience interview. If no, how are employees taught to do their jobs and how do they know if they are doing their jobs correctly?
How good a job do you think your facility is doing in this operational area? Give specific examples of things done well or areas where improvement could be made.
Give one example of a current or past problem (or an opportunity to improve) in this operational area. If you discovered the problem or opportunity during your analysis, indicate this in your write-up. Describe how the problem was solved or the opportunity was implemented. If the issues are current, list what steps can be taken to correct the problem or take advantage of the opportunity to improve.
Work Experience Activity 5:
Handicapping; Rangering;
Slow Play
Directions: This work experience activity has three options:
•Analyzing your facility’s handicapping system (must be a computer-based system)
•Investigating the job of a course ranger
•Investigating slow play problems
You are required to do only one of these activities. (On your own, of course, you may do more if you wish.) On the pages that follow, you’ll find worksheets for each of these activities.
After deciding which activity to do, follow these steps:
•Make a photocopy of the worksheet for the activity.
•Do the activity and complete the worksheet as directed.
•Place the completed worksheet in your Work Experience Kit.
Be prepared to discuss your activity at the checkpoint.
Work Experience Activity 5.1:
Analyze Your Facility’s Handicapping System
Note: To do this work experience activity, your facility must have a computerized handicapping system.
Directions: Read the documentation that came with your facility’s computerized handicapping system (User’s Guide, Installation Manual, etc.) and interview the person responsible for maintaining the system. Answer the following questions:
How is a golfer’s handicap calculated and maintained by the system?
What are the steps involved in entering a new player into the system?
How do you purge a player from the system?
How do you change a person’s name on the system?
If a score for a round is entered incorrectly, what can you do about it?
Assume your facility has just purchased this handicapping system. What are steps involved in getting it up and running?
Work Experience Activity 5.2:
Investigate the Job of a Course Ranger
Directions: At your facility, review the job description for a course ranger or marshal. If your facility has no formal job descriptions, interview one or more rangers and create a job description. Attach the job description to this worksheet.
Spend one full day accompanying a ranger as he or she goes about the job. In the space below, in diary format, record the various activities the ranger undertook and the tasks accomplished (For example: 9 a.m.: warned foursome of slow play. 9:15 a.m.: instructed golfer on how to repair ball marks, etc.).
Ranger’s name:Date interviewed:
Work Experience Activity 5.3:
Investigate Slow Play Problems
Directions: Conduct interviews with the head professional, greens superintendent, and a ranger and write a report that answers the following questions. Attach a copy of your report to this activity page. Put another copy in your Work Experience Kit.
In your report, cover the following issues:
1.How much of a problem is slow play at your facility?
2.List the factors that contribute to slow play.
Examples:
•Player/Public Factors (player demographics, playing habits, player perceptions, etc.)
•Management Policies (course maintenance policies, starting systems, monitoring procedures, management or club attitudes, etc.)
•Facility Design Factors (overall course design, individual course components, facility layout, etc.)
3.List measures being taken to improve speed of play (or measures that were taken in the past). If no actions have or are being taken, what could be done to improve the speed of play at your facility?
Examples:
•Players/Public Programs (player education, player development programs, etc.)
•Management Policies (golf course maintenance, golf play management, etc.)
•Facility Design Improvements
Work Experience Activity 5.3:
Investigate Slow Play Problems